The Last Leg : Off to Mount Isa Rodeo!!

 I've been very slack about doing my final blog and  we're nearly home.  I haven't posted for ages and we really have seen so much.. .

After leaving Adel's Grove we headed for Mount Isa with a few stop offs on the way. First stop to be Camooweal Lagoon but to get there...

 Over 200kms of nothing but dirt!! and some creek crossings

 This sign was at the end of the road!!! Not the beginning..

Bit of a disaster crossing this causeway... The wheels of the caravan came off the right hand side of the causeway and lent over 40 degrees OMG! what a scare but Steve kept his head and kept on driving and it followed us back up and nothing came out of the cupboards. All good.

Camooweal Lagoon was a nice two night stop over, very peaceful with heaps of birdlife - brogas, spoonbills, ducks and pelicans. Plus we caught our first and last feed of red claw. Also a few interesting places to visit including a Drovers Museum and a sink hole cave. It's just amazing to think it was under sea 25 million years ago. I t makes one realise just how insignificant and fleeting our lives are.

Next stop was at West Leichhardt Cattle Station. Top stop and fancy our mates from back home, Bob & Chris turning up on the site right next door!

Smally hypnotising the Brahma just like Crocodile Dundee...

We finally arrive at Mount Isa for the largest Rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere. Camping  in the front yard of my cousin, Ros and Steve's place for 3 days. After spending plenty of time washing and cleaning the caravan and ute are just about unrecognisable with out the patina of red dust covering everything. Now to enjoy ourselves.

Wednesday night there's a street parade and plenty of street food stallsfor us to sample.

 Then 3 days of Rodeo fun but even though we love it one night is enough for us.

On the road again for a few overnighters and one magical place 50kms out of Winton. Right off the highway but next to a rock formation.

Great for climbing to the top, exploring, spectacular views and oh what a sunset

We stayed a couple of nights in Winton where we met up with some mates which we have met on the road . Winton is famous for dinosaur fossils and Banjo Patterson wrote Waltzing Matilda there.
We  had a great evening in the fabulous North Gregory Pub, where they have chook races. its hysterical but raises plenty of money for charity. This is followed by a bloke reciting Banjos poetry and telling of his life.

The swagman from Waltzing Matida.

We also played on the musical fence.. what a hoot.

On our way between Winton and Longreach our first stop was "The Age of Dinosaurs" Museum. We just did a walk all around.













and then on the Matilda Highway we dropped into the Blue Heeler pub, where there were brolgas wondering around. Gave me a bit of a fright as they wouldn't let me into the ladies loo and a staff member had to take a broom at them. LOL!!!

Last stop was Longreach. There is so much to do and see here, We only got to see the QANTAS museum and the Thomson River where we had planned on doing a sunset cruise and show. As luck would have it that didn't eventuate.

Unfortunately on  our first night there we received a phone call that cut our amazing holiday short...
Problems with tenants and an investment property at Queanbeyan which just couldn;t be ignored.
So an 1800km  dash back there taking two and a half days. Going from 30 degrees to minus four degrees!!

Next winter we hope to be off again and I'll start up this blog then. To those of you who have said they enjoyed our stories and photos I thank you and I can't wait to see my family and friends again.