• Weather: A mild night, it was 17.5° at 6am and warming up, the cloud is clearing. At 3:30pm it was 30.5°
• Wind: Calm.
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 318 kms. Total towed this trip: 10,308 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Victoria River Roadhouse: No.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: No
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: No.

After going to bed just after 8pm, it was no surprise that we were both up by 5:30am and on the Internet. Marg wouldn't let me start packing up before 7am.
We left Kununurra at 7:30am and as soon as we crossed WA/NT border we lost 1.5 hours. Our first stop was at the Saddle Creek rest area. There are still heaps of vans heading west, while there are hardly any going our way. next stop was at Timber Creek for fuel, in hindsight, we should have stayed there for the night, as it has Internet reception. Anyway we didn't. 20kms from Victoria River RH, we stop in the 'driveway' of the Coolibah Station which starred in Channel 7 TV series "Keeping up with the Joneses', it was a brilliant series, so I took some photos of their sign. We arrived at the Victoria River roadhouse at 1:05pm NT time. We setup camp in the Caravan Park and Marg had a nanna nap, while I did our website. The rest of today was just a quiet day, relaxing under the tree in the shade with a beautiful cool breeze.
We had pies for dinner and watched Bones and then had an early night.

Tomorrow, we are booked in at the Riverview CP in Katherine within walking distance of the thermal pools.

• Weather: A mild night, it was 8.8° on my outsidee sensor at 7am and warming up. At 3pm in Katherine it was 27.1deg and sunny with a slight breeze.
• Wind: 10 - 15 SE.
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 193 kms. Total towed this trip: 10,501 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Katherine: Yes.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: Yes
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: Yes

We were up about 7am, because at 6:30am it is now dark, where in WA it is light at that time. So we were on the road at 8:10am and heading in an Easterley direction to Katherine. Our first stop was at a rest area about 90kms from Victoria River and drove until Katherine arriving about midday. We set up camp at the Riverview CP, just walking distance from the Hot (Luke Warm) Springs, but still so refreshing. Aarg relaxed, I drove over to the Katherine Country Club and booked a table for dinner at 6pm, the real good new that their chicken parmas are still HUGE. I will report back after dinner. Filled up with fuel and by mid afternoon, we had walked to the springs.

About 2pm, Marg and I walked down to the springs, which were about 300 meters from our Caravan park. The place was jumping but we managed to slip into the water and enjoyed ourselves there for over an hour. Back at camp, after a beautiful shower and waiting to leave for dinner, we will get there about 5pm ish as Marg needs her pokie fix, WA do not have pokies and Marg is having withdrawal symptons.

Back from dinner, a good night the servings are smaller than they were 2 years ago, but still very YUMMA.

Tomorrow, we are heading towards Three Ways, then turnleft around the Barkly hwy to arrive in Mt Isa by Tuesday night.

• Weather: It is getting cooler overnight. It was 7.5° on my outside sensor at 6:30am and warming up. At Renner Springs, it is windy but still shorts and T shirt weather.
• Wind: about 15kph.
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 512 kms. Total towed this trip: 11,013 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Renner Springs: No has public phone and pay internet at the Pub.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: No
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: No

I was up about 6:15am in the dark, and was first in the showers, strange about that, by 7am it was light. I woke Marg and went outside and started packing up. We left Katherine at 7:48am. First stop was at Mataranka after 107kms for a break, no fuel. Next stop was after 166kms, we stopped at Hi Way Inn for fuel, then 122kms further on, we stopped again, because a caravanner sat on my arse for 50+ kms and he was within 100 meters of me, consequently, he was causing a hassle for the odd car that wanted to pass us. He was just a pain, so we pulled into a rest area, he also pulled in and we then pulled out. hehehehe.
Next stop was at Elliott for food, but really, it is the pits of a town and all we bought were 2 cokes and 2 picnic bars. Their food just didn't look nice, definitely not looking YUMMA. We then drove non stop to Renner Springs, this place is nothing special but it has a pub, fuel, motel units and a caravan park also a 17 meter inground pool, but it was too cold to swim in and anyway, I am watching Lowndesy leading the race on lap 42 of 72, I hope he wins. We setup camp including the Satellite dish, as Marg wants to watch 'Dancing with the stars' tonight.

I missed the end of the V8s, so I don't know who won, I hope Lowndesy did, but Jamie was in front with 10 laps to go. The reason that I missed the end of the race, was while Marg was wondering around Renner Springs, she spotted a Jabiru and I had to take some photos, see below. I also saw Renner springs, the spring which gives Renner Springs its name.

Tomorrow, we are heading towards Three Ways, then turn left around the Barkly hwy to arrive in Mt Isa by Tuesday night.

• Weather: It is getting cooler overnight. It was 5.6° on my outside sensor at 6:20am and we are not happy. It is BLOODY cold.
• Wind: gusting over 30kph.
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 323 kms. Total towed this trip: 11,336 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Barkly Homestead: Yes.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: Yes - no aerial required.
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: Yes

We were awake about 5:45am and laid in bed and watched 'Sunrise' then got up about 6:15am. I am wearing my 'driving' shorts and t shirt BUT I also have my tracky daks and top on as it is BLOODY COLD. Get the idea.
We are planning to stop at Three Ways Roadhouse to get fuel and I think from reading my website that it also has Internet reception, if it does, you will be reading this before we arrive in Mt Isa, otherwise, you won't.

Wish me luck, I am going outside in the BLOODY COLD to pack the Sat dish and hit the road. We plan to stop at Three Ways for 30 - 60 minutes while we get our internet fix.

Ok, we left Renner Springs at 7:27am and drove past Banka Banka Station at 8:16am, since Alex and Fiona have left managing the station, we can't bring ourselves to stay there anymore, so we don't. Arrived at Three Ways Roadhouse and our mobile told us that there was internet reception in the air, so after topping up with fuel, we parked in a nice area out of the wind and dust, I put up the external aerial and we had internet. Yippee...
We stayed 1 hour and 19 minutes at Three Ways that included the fuel as well. (thanks Harry, you are a stickler for stats). Our next stop was 55kms from Barkly RH at Frewena Dam rest area, we arrived at Barkly RH at 12:59pm. We setup camp including the Sat dish, as we want to watch the 6om Tour de France highlights and the Amazing Race - Oz tonight.

This afternoon was pretty stressful, Marg had a nanna nap and I had a shower and then sat at the laptop with the sun streaming in, it was so beautiful.

Tomorrow, we are booked in at Mount Isa tomorrow for 2 nights, as the mighty Navara is booked in on Wednesday.

• Weather: It is getting cooler overnight. It was 5.0° on my outside sensor at 6:35am and we are not happy. It is STILL BLOODY cold. BUT it did get to 26.5° at 4pm, absolutely beautiful.
• Wind: calm at present.
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 452 kms. Total towed this trip: 11,788 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Mount Isa: Yes.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: Yes - no aerial required.
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: Yes

The forecast for Mount Isa today is 25° and will be very nice BUT it is currently 5° and we are not happy. Marg is laying in bed watching 'Sunrise' via satellite. I am wearing my 'driving' shorts and t shirt BUT I also have my tracky daks and top on as it is BLOODY COLD. Get the idea.
Time to get organised, hopefully will talk again from Mount Isa. Bye 4 now.

Well, we arrived in Mount Isa and stopped at the Nissan dealer to confirm our service booking for tomorrow, then continued onto the Copper City CP about 2kms from the Nissan dealer arriving 2:15pm. We were given a choice of 2 sites, we chose the one with heaps of room. I set up the satellite dish and did some washing and then we visited Coles for some shopping. We had a quiet night, it has the feeling that we are in for a cool night.

Tomorrow, the mighty Navara is having its 80k service. So we are house bound until lunchtime. May do some fossicking in the afternoon.

• Weather: Down to 0.2° on my outside sensor at 6am, now that is REALLY BLOODY COLD with cloudless blue sky.
• Wind: Calm.

Well, it was cold but we were prepared with blankets at the ready, and I used them. Slept well.

Awoke at 5:50am and listened to my radio and got up about 6:15am and had a shower. Did I tell you that IT WAS BLOODY COLD. Had breakky and then left camp at 7:30 and drove to the Nissan dealer, was parked out the front by 7:35am. At 7:50am, I was first into the service area and they said that they would ring me as soon as the mighty Navara was finished. I plugged in my walkman and walked the 2 kms back to camp.
it is currently 10am and I am in shorts and t shirt after changing from jeans and parka, it WAS bloody cold, now it is magnificent. It is 19° on its way to 26°, I saw in Melbourne it is 9°. Now that's cold.

I rang the dealer at 12;30pm, the service was finished but they hadn't checked the alloy rims for the recall notice. Finally, at 3:30pm I rang again and it was finished, so I walked up there and drove the mighty Navara back to camp. We sat outside in the afternoon sun and had a few chilled refreshers, well I did anyway.

• Weather: It was a warmer night last night, as it was cloudy. It was 5.8° on my outside sensor at 7am.
• Wind: calm
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 123 kms. Total towed this trip: 11,911 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Cloncurry: Yes.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: Yes - no aerial required.
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: Yes

It was a mild morning, but I still wore my trakky daks and top over my shorts and t shirt. We packed up and left Mount Isa at 8:27am. The traffic was extremely light and as we only had 123 kms to drive, we only stopped once at the Fountain Springs rest area which is halfway between Mount Isa and Cloncurry. We arrived at Cloncurry CP at 10:05am and our site was still occupied, but after 10 minutes they left and we were on the site and setting up camp.
About 20 minutes after arriving, we received a phone call from Natham, one of our fossicking friends who lives in Cloncurry, he had previously told us to visit the Sunset Mine near Mary Kathleen to look for Jasper, Malachite and Chalcedony. So we called into his place to meet him and then continued to the Sunset Mine. It was a rough road, I was in 4WD (high and low) at various stages, but it was worth it, as we found some nice 'pretty rocks'. While we were there, we drove to the Mary Kathleen open cut and then drove around the 'ghost town' of Mary Kathleen. On the way back to camp, we stopped at Woollies for some food supplies. During happy hour, we were very priviledged to have a singer come and play his guitar. Thank God, we weren't there but we heard him. He needs more practice.

Tomorrow, we are fossicking for garnets at the Fullarton River.

• Weather: It was a warmer night last night, as it was cloudy and this morning, it started raining.
• Wind: calm
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 182 kms. Total towed this trip: 12,093 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Kynuna: No.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: No.
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: No

It started to rain about 8:30am, we knew that if it was wet, the garnet fossickng site becomes very muddy and slippery, so we decided not to go fossicking. After a few minutes, we decided to pack up and start heading to Winton. We emptied the shitter and were on our way by 9:45am. Our first stop was at the Walkabout Pub, which is owned by one of my schoolmates' brother, so I stopped and chatted to Paul and then we were on our way. As we drove further south the rain started to increase, so by Kynuna, we decided to stay there for the night.
Currently, Marg is catching up on zzzzzzzzzzz, while I am watching my Blue Bloods TV series. During the afternoon, there were many rain squalls coming through, so our decision to stay was a good one. Now we only have 345kms to drive tomorrow to Longreach.

As you may have guessed, we have made a change to our plans, we are now going to Sapphire to buy some bags of wash and then staying at Rocky and then Bundy and then Dickie Beach.

Tomorrow, we are driving to Longreach for an overnighter.

• Weather: the rain stopped about 7pm and it was a warmer night last night, only pulled on the 2nd blanket about 4am.
• Wind: calm
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 346 kms. Total towed this trip: 12,439 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Longreach: Yes.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: Yes no aerial
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: Yes

We were awake about 6am, seeing that I went to bed at 7:06pm, I had a good night's sleep. Marg suggested that we have breakky at the Kynuna Roadhouse, so I walked over to the Roadhouse and spoke to the owner. Yep breakky was a goer, so I picked Marg up and back we went. I had sausages, bacon and eggs and Marg had bacon and eggs, they were YUMMA. We packed up and as we were about to leave the fog came in.
We left at 7;46am and sat on 85kph, which was a safe speed considering the road conditions. Our first stop was 70kms into the drive at a Rest Area. We were in Winton topping up with fuel at 10am, just out of Winton, the fog had lifted and it remained overcast for the rest of the drive. We arrived at the Discovery CP Longreach at 12:42pm and we were put on site 235, this was the same site that we were on, on 9th July 2008. We booked a site with an en-suite and the shower was absolutely beautiful, I feel so clean 'of body'.

I thought that it was very rare to have Brolgas walking around the Kynuna Roadhouse, well, as we drove into this CP, I saw 5 Brolgas, these birds are so common here. see photos.

Below is my favorite photo taken at the Heavy Vehicles Rest Area about 64 kms North of Winton and I was going to take another photo today from the same spot but it was very foggy, so it would have been a good comparison between a foggy and sunny day, BUT some inconsiderate truckie in a B triple was sleeping in my spot. I was going to wake him and ask him to move his bloody truck, but I value my life too much. Maybe next year as we are working out where we are going on our way to Cape York.

Currently Marg is asleep and I am doing this while the TV is showing Collingwood vs Carlton. It is so relaxing just sitting here, it is overcast and just pleasant in shorts and t shirt.

Tomorrow, we are driving to Rubyvale for an overnighter and also we visit Willy wash for some bags of sapphire wash.

• Weather: It is getting colder at night, it was overcast all day with a little bit of misty rains, around Alpha.
• Wind: calm
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 390 kms. Total towed this trip: 12,829 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Rubyvale: Yes.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: Yes with aerial but still slow.
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: Yes

We were up at 7am and on the road by 7:44am. There was bugger all traffic, we stopped at Barcaldine for fuel top up and then stopped at Alpha for more fuel and finally arrived at Rubyvale CP at 2:44pm. We unhitched and then went straight over to see Glen who owns Willy Wash. We sieved one bucket of wash but as it was overcast, it is very difficult to see sapphires, so we took the wash with us and bought another 2 bags for sieving when we get to Broadwater Tourist Park. After leaving Willy Wash, we went over for a coffee and strudel at Gunter's Muggachino Cafe, last year at Gunter's we bought a $1,000 sapphire ring. He still remembered us, we sat and chatted for a while and then walked around Rubyvale and visited a few gem shops and finally back to camp.

When I went to the fridge to get a beer, the fridge was in choas, the seafood sauce had broken and had gone everywhere, so it was a great time to clean the fridge out, it is all clean.
There is no TV reception, so we are watching our TV shows on our Western Digital TV Media player.

Tomorrow, we are driving to Rockhampton for an overnighter.

No photos for today.

• Weather: It is getting colder at night, it was overcast all morning and most of the afternoon with some sunny patches in the arvo.
• Wind: calm
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 330 kms. Total towed this trip: 13,159 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Rockhampton: Yes.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: Yes without aerial.
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: Yes

I was up about 6:30am and showered, Marg was up by 7am and we packed up and on the road by 7:46am. It was very cold this morning down to 2.3° and misty. We stopped at Emerald for fuel and then over to Coles to buy some food for dinner. The traffic was very light with an occasional truck passing us. Next stop was Blackwater, which is a coal mining town and that is where we started to see the coal trains. We were stopped at 2 different road works for a couple of minutes at each road work. Next stop was at Duaringa which is a lovely spot with a very large area for overnight stopping. We arrived at Southside Holiday Park in Rocky at 12:42pm, we setup camp and then I drove and topped up with fuel.

A very quiet afternoon, Marg had a nanna nap and I also did.

Tomorrow, we are driving to Bundaberg for an overnighter.

• Weather: Last night was a milder night, it was a clear night and the temperature got down to 5.6°. It turned into a beautiful sunny day with a stiff breeze.
• Wind: 20kph + SW
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 289 kms. Total towed this trip: 13,448 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Bundaberg: Yes.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: Yes without aerial.
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: Yes

We were up about 6:30am and on the internet and started packing up about 7:15am and on the road by 8;20am.
It was Wideload day, we had to come to stop on the roadside three times. The biggest was 7.5 meters, still not as big as the one we saw outside of Longreach 3 years ago, it was 9.4 meters BLOODY huge.

We stopped at Mt Larcon rest area, then at Miriam Vale for a break and then continued onto Glenlodge Caravan Village, arriving at 12:38pm. During the afternoon, Marg had a nanna nap while I had a beautiful shower andd then watched Blue Blood TV series. We are going to 'Across the Waves' sports club for dinner, beer and pokies.

Just back from 'The Waves', pokies we lost, I lost $13 but it took 1.25 hours to lose, Marg lost approx $20, dinner was very YUMMA, I have a 400gm Angus steak and Marg had roast of the day (Pork) and the beer (XXXX Gold) was nice. So all in all a top outing.

Tomorrow, we are driving to Dicky Beach for a 2 week stay. Yippee.

• Weather: Last night was back to clear skies and COLD. At 6:30am it was 1.1°. Should be a beautiful day.
• Wind: Calm.
• Daily distance travelled with fiver: 294 kms. Total towed this trip: 13,742 kms.
• Next G Mobile reception at Dicky Beach: Yes.
• Next G 'Blue Toaster' reception with or without external aerial: Yes without aerial.
• Telstra WiFi (MF-30) modem: Yes

I was up about 6:30am and as I walked to the showers it was 1.1°. That is COLD. Marg got up at 7:15am and we had breakky and then started packing up.

We should be at Dicky Beach early afternoon, then our travelling comes to a screaming halt for 2 months, that will be just beautiful, apart from driving from Dicky Beach to Broadwater Tourist Park.

We left Glenlodge at 8:35am and I said goodbye to Brendan and Simon (the owners) they are great guys, real friendly. The Bruce highway is absolute crap highway and throw in the truckies that just sit on your bum at 95kph, it wasn't my most enjoyable drive, but we arrived at Dicky Beach all safe and sound. It was great to reach Dicky Beach because we drove 3,751kms in the past 12 days and I am now officially 'ROOTED' as in tired.
We arrived at Dicky Beach at 12:36pm and setup for a 2 week stay, as it was very windy, I didn't roll out the awning, I will wait until the weather is better. I emptied all the rocks out of the mighty Navara and lowered the tyre pressures, the mighty Navara is rapt to have an empty tub.

Mid afternoon, Marg went over to the pokies at the Dicky Beach Surf Club while I stayed back at camp and buggered about. We visited the shopping strip for dinner and had hamburgers and chips. They were yumma.


Tomorrow, nothing is planned. Isn't that great.

No photos today, sorry I am slack.