Walker creek.......not such a great camping spot after all, just as I started cooking on the outside kitchen we were inundated with a variety of flying bugs. Finished cooking ASAP and served and ate inside even though it's like a sauna. The most bugs we've had on this trip.....we've probably been lucky up to now. Don't think (and hope not) they're bities just really annoying...we don't need the extra protein in our meals. We were going to have a fire again but I'm not going outside until the bugs have diminished. Lawrie lit the fire but we didn't stay out long. First time we've opened the roof vent in the Hihouse, that helped cool things down. Thank goodness it's fully fly screened.
Day 46
Coming into Karumba is Flat and featureless. Not good weather with high cool winds kicking up dust from the flood plains but it has a beauty of its own. Sighted Brolgas and jabiru. Every day we see eagles and or hawks, kangaroos, walleroos, wallabies etc. Karumba didn't look too inviting in this weather, crowded and we're told the barra aren't biting so we are continuing on. We're at Normantons Purple pub for lunch. For Adam and Meg: a photo of the old Burns Philp building in Normanton. Later: saw 2 wedge tail eagles and as we were going over a flooded causeway I spotted a croc right next to the causeway doing what I thought was a death roll. It was actually dead...just caught in the overflow eddies of the causeway. At the end of the causeway was a big dead barra, stranded we think as the water receded. Saw the site of the most northern camp of the explorers Burke and Wills. They were trying to get to the gulf and they were sooo close. Now we are free camped at Leichhardt Falls just south of Burketown. Found a magical spot down a 4wd track away from the caravans and with a view of the falls, on sand, with shade and far enough above the water that we don't need to worry about crocs. If you read this Nic it was the perfect spot we were looking for, pools above the causeway safe enough for Summer to paddle in and bigger pools below to fish in. Will explore more tomorrow, I suspect any pool big enough to swim in may have crocs. I keep saying it but this is the best camp site yet. Lawrie did the chainsaw thing and we have firewood for tonight. Fantastic sunset.
Day 47
Beautiful sunny day but with a freezing wind......don't think I'll be paddling or swimming. Had to get the long pants and long sleeved top out. Later: the day heated up but still with a cool breeze...perfect...back in shorts and singlet. Went for a bit of a scramble over the rocks...lovely. We have the best camp here by far. Trust Lawrie to find a track no one else wants to go down. Its only soft sand, nothing too hard but a couple of people have walked down to check out our view but haven't been willing to drive down, luckily for us. There were another couple here last night, not too close, but they have gone now. Later: one couple arrived but went down the creek out of view. It's like we have the waterfall to ourselves. Got the blanket out away from the fire......never seen so many stars, and the milky way so clear. Lawrie saw a shooting star.
Day 48
Off again, Burketown for supplies and then Lawn Hill NP or Riversleigh, will see. Will try to book in Burketown.
Flat endless savannah plains with only an occasional scrubby tree and the biggest sky.
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