Dear Friends,
We are currently camped on the banks of the Georgina River at Camooweal which is only a few kilometres from the Northern Territory border. A beautiful setting and we have decided to stop for to-day to catch up on long overdue emails. Brolgas, pelicans and lots of other wildlife are in the large waterhole opposite our van and it is a very relaxing place to stay. The drought in this part of Queensland is absolutely tragic.
We have been through here several times during the last ten years and it is heartbreaking to see the battle the poor farmers of Western Queensland are experiencing.The terrible loss last week of the Winton Waltzing Matilda museum through fire has devastated the town which depends so much on the museum for local income. A dreadful loss of irreplaceable Australian history.
The 1,000 kms or so between Dalby and Longreach was absolutely littered with dead kangaroos - in some cases one every 50 metres - often less. Strangely, since we passed Winton through to the Northern Territory border, we have seen very few. It seems that the kangaroos are killed because they gravitate to whatever green grass may grow along the roadside and thus pay the price.
We have never seen so many caravans on the road and, as always, we continue to meet and make new friends at almost every stop. Our two grandsons fly to Darwin in eight days' time to meet us and will spend just on two weeks with us - something we always enjoy. We will take them to all the sights of Darwin, Litchfield National Park, Kakadu, crocodile tours and we will get completely off road when we spend two nights at the luxury Gagadju Crocodile hotel resort in Jabiru. Then on to our favourite spot at Annaburroo where we will have a 200 acre campsite completely to ourselves next to a pristine and very large fresh water billabong. After Darwin, Kakadu etc., and after the boys have flown back home, we will then spend the next month or so travelling throughout the Kimberley ending up in Broome for about three weeks.
Our son will fly to Broome to join us for two weeks and after we have spoilt him with the sights of Broome, finishing with sunset drinks on Cable Beach at the end of each day, we will then take him through Fitzroy Crossing to Kununurra. He will finish his trip with a four day stay at our favourite El Questro, one million acre cattle station, where we have a private three acre campsite sitting on the edge of the Pentecost River. It will be a special time with him.
In September our Grandsons will fly to meet us back at Mount Isa and we will then take them on a serious outback trip - a lot of gravel roads - down through Boulia, Bedourie, Birdsville, Windorah and then back home through Charleville, Roma etc. Lots of campfires and fun in the bush. Every day on the road is a good day and now that we have sold our beautiful Yandina building we are starting to get back into a relaxed outback mode.
With kind wishes and hoping all is going well for you.
Brian and Diane
DISCLAIMER* Please note, this advice is general in nature and we strongly recommend consulting the product manual and where relevant, a professional installer.
