Gulf of Carpentaria

Wow, we sure are making tracks now. I can't keep up with the news at the stops any more! What a dilemma to be in...to type up these posts or to stop and have a bourbon...aw, heck you made me feel bad. OK, I'll have a drink WHILE I type the blog! Now we can all be happy. :)

Here are some photos from our time in the Daintree. We went on a river cruise and saw "Fat Albert", a regular on the river.

Then we headed over to Atherton and spent 3 days at Innot Hot Springs, touring the area to see the many beautiful waterfalls (this is Zillie waterfalls) and this very impressive "Curtain Fig Tree".

Stayed a couple of nights in Normanton, up at the Gulf of Carpentaria. Two days here so we can have a day trip to Karumba. The park itself is very dry, no grass to be seen and notices everywhere to lock up all your belongings so we are super vigilant.

Went to Karumba and it was OK, but that's all I'm saying. Chris says it would have been better to see it when the tide was in. Beaches were layers of compacted shells, that were good to see but lousy to walk on, and covered in mud.

I was a little scared of crocs near the crab pots that were on the beach, but Chris said it was silly to worry. Then back in Normanton (an hour inland) we saw an exact, TO SIZE, replica of an 8.5 metre croc that was shot in the river at Normanton 50 years ago. The jaws of the replica were wide enough for both our kids to climb into for a photo...silly to worry??? I think not!

From there we went to Mt Isa for 2 nights. Went out for tea at the Buffalo Club which was lovely, great kids club. The Argylla caravan park had a BIG pool, which was even lovlier!! Temperature is around 35-40 degrees in the shade I would say. In the bus when our air con. freezes and won't blow any cold air it is even hotter!!!!! But we are hanging in there and using any mean possible to survive...wet tea towels, icy poles, swimming 3 times a day...what ever it takes. Mmmm, loving this warm weather.

Went on an underground mine tour which was very informative, and by that I mean great for Chris and I, but too much info for the kids. (Plus it was very hot in all the safety gear and with the battery pack for the lights etc.) Having said that, they did still enjoy most of it, especially the bit where they got to drive the train and detonate a charge to blow up Kmart Plaza (well that's the story our guide gave us!) Cheers for now.