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I note our last part of our travels as relayed to the group ended at Camooweal where we initially stopped for lunch
at the rest area on the western edge of the town. A council worker approached us and asked about our motorhome. We asked him
about places to stay overnight and he directed us to a spot on the Georgina River just out of town. This turned out a large,
partially shaded water hole with abundant bird life and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. We stayed a few nights then had to
partially "stock up' back in town prior to departing westwards and into the Northern Territory.
Stayed overnight at Soudan Bore (famous for its quantity of flies), Wonarah Bore and onto the Barclay Homestead
where we parked for lunch. Needed some fuel from this remote and traditionally expensive establishment. We turned north here
off the Barclay Highway and onto the Tablelands Highway. Measured 27.4 km of dead straight road!
Found a rest area 151 odd km north of the Barclay where we stopped the night. Next day, while travelling, heard a
loud noise from under the rear of the vehicle .. investigated and found the right rear shock absorber mounting pin had
broken away from the chassis. The shockie had pivoted around on its bottom mounting and dug into the road. So it was
necessary to remove the shockie completely and continue on without it.
Heartbreak Hotel is at the northern extremity the Tablelands Highway at its junction with the Carpentaria Highway. We
initially travelled west, 10 km to Little River where there is a waterhole near the bridge, where we stayed the night. From
there it back east to Heartbreak hotel for fuel and further east passing the Mc Arthur Mine, to Borroloola .. a real black
fella town!
Just a couple of km north is the start of the road to King Ash Bay. This 22 km corrugated section took us one and a
quarter hours. There is a store, servo, fishing club .. the latter providing powered sites at $110 per week. They also appear
to have the only source of water, but one must first pay the $25 fee to join the club. Fortunately we didn't require any.
We continued as far as one can drive another eight km to a large level camp area where we found a nice grassy spot
right on the edge of the water. Here, there is the junction of three water ways .. the Mc Arthur River, Batten Creek and
Carrington Channel. The actual Gulf is still ten or so km away and only accessible by boat. This is meant to be a famous
fishing spot, but little were being caught during our three day stay. Our neighbour had three rods permanently set and only
caught a couple of little 'uns!
I spent some time here trying to work out how to remove the broken shock absorber pin from the chassis. Initially, I
thought it was just pressed into a sleeve and tack welded. I ground the weld away and tried a couple of methods of pressing
it out .. all without any joy. So I commenced to drill it out.
Back along the corrugated road to the Carpenteria Highway, where we turned north towards Bing Bong .. the port for
Mc Arthur mine. This road, commencing at the mine and continuing to the port is maintained by the mine. The port facility
is a restricted area, but there is a circular turning area around an observation platform just to the north of the port
entrance. There is access, via a track, to the ocean .. we are now close to the south west corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Decided to stay one night and noted the port shipping the ore out via a powered type of barge. The water here is quite
shallow, thus the ship which they were loading was a long way off.
On our way back south to Borroloola we were amazed to note a long section of the highway had been resealed since we
travelled north along it the day before. There was no sign of the workers (just some machinery) but the tar appeared still
wet. We noted, later, that the tar was splashed up the rear of the motorhome and the front of the trailer. A number of hours
had to spent removing it!
Needed some fuel at Borroloola .. travelled west a short distance west on the Savannah Way to take a look at the
Mc Arthur River. There is a large causeway over the rocky river bed .. must be a sight when in flood.
Back to the Carpentaria Highway and retraced our steps to Heart Break Hotel. We stayed in the caravan park section a
couple of nights .. obviously plenty of water here as most people were washing their vehicles.
Travelling west from here we noted the road north to Roper Bar .. this initially gravel road loops back onto the
Stuart Highway near Mataranka. Past our camp spot at Little river and found a suitable overnight rest area about 170 km
further on. From there, next day, it's 92 km west to the Stuart Highway at Daly Waters. We noted, the initially single
lane sealed highway, has progressively more dual lane sections as one approaches the Stuart Highway. There is a large
roadhouse at the junction with some groceries, bread, tyre repairs etc. We were without CDMA mobile phone, thus e-mail, over
most of the last couple of weeks.
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