Mt. Isa to Charters Towers

Friday 21st August:- Mt Isa
After visiting the historic underground hospital, we we had a revitalising swim in Lake Moondara, about 13 km out of the Isa, waterskiers and much bird life added to our interest from one of the gazebos on the well mown grass by the lake. There was also a great bird watching spot a few hundred yards from our cabin, so that made up for the poor accom.
We stayed overnight at Cloncurry and enjoyed their pretty landscaped pool for a long time.
On Sunday 23rd, I drove from The Curry to the Burke and Wills Roadhouse and after lunch at a lovely spot by the Gregory River bearby, Irene drove on to Lawn Hill and Adel's Gorge where we stayed. Our pre arranged tent was pitched within its own gazebo, the floor of which was up off the ground and the roof of pitched galvanised iron allowed breezes to flow. It is a beautiful spot but a running river in which we swam as often as possible.
Monday A half day tour of the Riversleigh Fossil installation, the surrounding area and Riversleigh Stn (which is run in conjunction with Lawn Hill Stn) was terrific. In the afternoon we drove to Lawn Hill Gorge and canoed through the gorge sticking to the shady side - beautiful, cool, fun, I was in the back with the double paddle so I let the water run down the handle onto my sarong over my legs - you can't get better than that! Back at Adel's Grove, we walked throught he remains of the original grove of trees planted by Albert de L... now it's used by caravaners and campers as a delightful, sheltered camping area. Worth looking up on the internet I'. sure.
25th
Sunrise at the nearby hill top was beautiful with 360 views and interesting cairn constructions by many travellers. On the road back to the highway, the air was thick with locusts; we say a jabiru (Aus b/w stork), an emu and 3 chicks and 11 brolgas! From the road house I drove 200 km to Normanton. Boy was that big pool a welcome spot; much more welcome than the intruder Irene saw in our cabin at 1:50 am, head inside our doors, but that's all thank goodness. Of course, next morning we discovered our sarongs were missing. Bugger!
26th
Karumba beckoned and I dipped my toe in the Gukf, duly recorded by Irene on my camera. There many bird stops there and back - 170 - 200 brolgas at just 1 of them and 2 jabirus separately caused sudden u turns.
Thursday 27th
I drove to Crodon, stopping on the way at Black Bull Siding where the old Gulflander happened to be stopped - good timing. At Cordon we ate the remains of the prawns for lunch - we had bought them at Karumba and had them for a posh dinner in Normanton. Irene drove on to Georgetown stopping at a beautiful lagoon by the old Cumberland Chimney - I saw my first bee-eater bird.
The cabin at Georgetown was horrendous and was topped off by the smoke alarm which decided to go off several after we went to bed .
Friday
The TerrEastrial display is an incredible exhibition of minerals collected by an amazing man - Ted Elliott. I drove from G. to Mt Surprise where we had a seed removing car wash. Great.Irene drove on to Undara Resort in the Undara National Parl. Our tent accom was fabulous - it looked like a pyramid shaped, hovering space ship.
We enjoyed an afternoon tour of the lava tubes and a campfire talk about the wildlife of the park. Look upwww.undara.com.au I'm sure it will show a bit.
29th
We climbed Kalkani Volcano before I drove to Greendale, flinging Daisy off the atrocious road to doge numbers of big trucks, Bdoubles, trebles and vans!
On to Charters Towers and a spa and swim.