Mary Kathleen Ghost Town, Winton QLD

Not sure if you got this one , now home will update soon

Kangarooing across the bumpy Tablelands Highway (highway?) crossing the floodplain we had a long days travel across the never ending tablelands. Little grass remains across the paddocks as the land waits for the next wet season to restart the cycle.

Passing through dying towns like Camooweal (pop. 310) & McKinley (pop 20) you can't but once again think, the hardy souls out here would have to be born in this environment to cope. The house below in McKinley, walking distance to the Walkabout Hotel, is for sale if anyone's interested.

Passing through Mt Isa we slowly negotiated a very potholed tar road to the ghost town of Mary Kathleen for our overnight stay. All that remains are the tar roads & cement slabs of the carports & commercial buildings. The ghosts didn't visit us thank goodness as we were here alone.

Once again the country around here is harsh & rocky. The dust storms would penetrate every nook & cranny.

 

Winton welcomed us back for another night & we took the opportunity to visit the Lark Quarry where the only dinosaur stampede in the world occurred according to the scientists who have studied the footprints.

 

The building was erected over the exploration site to protect the footprints after they had been uncovered by the archeologists. This internal wall was originally the height of the wall on other side of the building until it fell down 6 months after completion. Luckily the collapse happened at night as it completely wrecked the public viewing area. Of course as per govt projects no one was made responsible with the builder declared bankrupt & engineers & architects passing the buck.

The top layer of rock was removed to reveal the three types of prints. The large prints about the size of a dinner plate visible to the right of the photo.

The small prints vary from bird size to palm print size. Names of the dinosaurs? Can't remember so if any of you really want to know ask Mr Google please.

 

Arriving back at the van & as it was hot dusty day we flicked on the aircon & this was the temperature at the ceiling, not sure it was any cooler at floor level.

Winton, Longreach & all of the far west of QLD is desperate for rain after very little wet season last year. Apparently there are lots of brolgas breeding in NT which is supposed to indicate a good wet this year.

 

 

After a nice meal at the "Tatts" we did a lap of the main before bed time. Pretty safe out here at night & no signs of drunk revellers invading the night.

Racing season is full swing in the outback. The famous Birdsville Races just over & all the little towns with a boutique fully stocked with fashions ready for an excuse to dress to the nines.

Photo through the window of a shop which is stacked from floor to ceilng with everything imaginable. Clothes, boots, toys, hardware, kitchenware, lotto, accessories, manchester & as the sign says Ammo & Guns. Stocktake? Don't think so!

 

The old foyer to one of the few remaining outdoor cinemas. The premier of a new Aus movie (?) staring Jack Thompson & Hugo Weving premieres here in the next few weeks.

Also a big street carnival in town in two weeks starring The Beatlez, The Beach Boyz & Beccy Cole.

Wish I was in town for that!

 

 

 

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Katherine , Daly Waters Pub NT

Spent some time in Katherine, this time not just passing through. Unfortunately I have lost my photos from this stop off my camera & IPod. Bugger !!!! Double BUGGER!!! We paddled the 1st gorge & while it was a nice paddle the scenery was a bit underwhelming compared to the Kimberley. Never the less it was an enjoyable kayak trip. I guess we may be "gorged" out as a lot of travellers comment.

Also visited Cutta Cutta caves which were really nice. It is the only tropical cave in Australia & as it floods each wet season it is the slowest growing cave in Aus. During WWII. Servicemen used some of the stalactites for target practice, the sound of a gun going off would have been horrific let alone the ricochet concern.

 

 

 

 

 

The local indigenous people are out & about in the streets & parks of Katherine everyday, from early morning to evening. Groups of men, womem & kids sit in every patch of available shade. The shade of a building, a tree or even a post, each shadow is sought after. If they are not sitting they are trailing from one group to the next so they can sit again. So many kids are not going to school as well, learning how to sit or trail instead!!! Big problems not sure if there is an answer.

Had another stop over at Daly Waters Pub. This pub has become an icon out here & on many travellers bucket list. Unfortunately we missed the entertainment from the legendary guy called Chilli, apparently he is a real hoot. Too early the first time through & too late the second time.

More Irish Barmaids

Camp Daly Waters

Heading out across the NT we took an alternative route from our trip up to get back to the Barkly H'wy. via Cape Crawford. As you can see in the photos the roads are long & straight.

Diesal price at the aptly named Heartbreak Hotel, Cape Crawford. Break your heart filling the tank at this price!

Over the hill - more of the same.

Water? No a mirage.

Tone on the highway beside our overnight camp site. We looked like being the only campers until late arvo & my mind is thinking - "Peter Falconio", "Wolf Creek", "Ivan Milat". Anyway my nightmares were relieved by some other travellers pulling in for the night.

Another awesome outback sunset.

Sunrise bringing another warm day.

The paddocks across the Barkley tablelands go on forever. You could stand & turn 360 deg & this is the view to the horizon in all direction. Everything had dried out in the months since we first travelled these roads.

Cattle in the "long paddock" grazing on what they can find. Roadside kill of these animals is common. Their faces sometimes registering the instant & agony of their death, with flared gums & wild eyes, others not knowing what hit them. Hundreds of miles are littered with bleached scattered bones. white from the scorching sun & picked dry by the hawks & eagles. The carcasses of the dead cattle become like some macabre dried skin vessel, as the top half & innards are devoured by wildlife leaving an empty container after the feasting is finished.

Nearly back in QLD after our long trek to the west coast.

Gee, the Pacific Ocean is starting to drag us home.

 

 

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