Day 17 - Barkly, Camooweal & Mt Isa

We woke at 6am this morning so wegot up and enjoyed the sunrise over the rocks at Devils Marbles.

After a cuppa it was pack up time and we hit the road at 7.30am bound for Mt Isa - 767kms. Our first big day in the car for over a week, the boys were armed with pillows, books and iPods for after lunch (yes I've stuck to the no technology before lunch rule!).

First stop was the thriving town of Tennant Creek. The town is a lot bigger than I remembered or Scott thought it was.  There are a a few service stations, supermarket, autopro and lots more.

We looked on the map to see just how far North we were and were surprised to be in line with Townsville on the coast and only 1000kms to Darwin.
Could we phone work and ask for another few weeks off................I wish!

Just before Three Ways we turned right towards Barkly Homestead, Camooweal and on to Mt Isa.

We were told by a number of fellow campers in Alice to fill up at Tennant Creek not Three Ways, which we did.  Unleaded was only $1.74 / litre at The United we stopped at.

The grass is permanently on a lean from the wind.

The signs aren't kidding!  The wind is strong and it's a lovely head / cross wind so really knocks the fuel economy about.

Just before Barkly Homestead there was a sign which said "Last fuel for 260km - headwinds affect fuel consumption".

Good warning!  We were using almost 10 litres / 100kms more than normal in this wind.  We had planned to top up at Tennant Creek then fuel up again at Camooweal but took the advice and topped up at Barkly too.

That's a grimace on my face
 I'd just looked at the fuel guage lol

The termite nests were getting bigger!

Lots and lots of termite nests.

There was a real noticeable change in the landscape after Barkly Homestead, we left behind the red dirt and shrubs of central Australia and travelled into pastoral country.

 QLD here we come.

I had to get off the road for this big fella!

The wind was still strong.

Good Bye NT, it's been GREAT!!

Hello QLD - State number 4.

      

  

More big loads waiting to head out.

    

A lot of ants nests have shirts on or are decorated.
Breaks the monotony of the drive up!

While I was snapping pics of more ants nests, I almost missed snapping this eagle.

We've seen a few but never caught them on camera, until today - Snappy is Happy!

Destination - MT ISA

The Big Smoke - the mine looms over town.

This is a mining town, with landcruiser utes
& high vis shirts as far as the eye can see.

We rolled into to "The Isa" just after 5pm, we'd phoned ahead and booked in at Mt Isa Discovery Park on a recommendation.

The view from our van door tonight.

 

Today's bonus, when I phoned to book I was asked how many people on the site.  I said 2 adults and 2 kids.  When asked their ages, when I said both 8.

And the lovely lady said not to worry about paying for them and only charged us $35 for a powered sight for the night.

Good facilities in a quiet location.