Continuing with my trip to Adel's Grove and Boodjamulla National Park...I mentioned my feelings on this area in the last post so I'll post the photos and move on. I just have to add it was a bonus to get a great nights sleep in a large bed. The bed in my van is comfy, but it's quite narrow and it's been a while since I'd had the opportunity to spread out!!!
During the first day's late afternoon walk I came across two Bower bird nests. No sign of the bower bird though😔
I then attempted the Island Stack walk, but three quarters of the way up I turned back. Why...because I was walking alone on a fairly precarious steep rock climb, it was late afternoon, and whatever goes up must come down and I would not want to be coming down in the dark. They say the view is spectacular of the three gorges...I'll take their word for it.
This is what I was attempting to climb and I got as far as the tomb! style rock you can in the centre of the rock face where the sky dips 😳 The path past this rock was narrow, there was nowhere to grab a support hold and if you slipped the fall would not leave you looking good!!!
I returned to Adel's Grove just on dark, had a bite to eat and fell into my very expensive bed exhausted. Up early next morning, I drove back the 12 Kms to Lawn Hill to do some more walks before jumping aboard the tour boat and silently motoring up the gorge. They use solar powered motors, which are silent so it's extremely peaceful and beautiful.
The gorge at the National Park camping ground above and below...out on the water on tour
Cluster Fig trees attached to the gorge wall, send their roots down reaching for the water. The gorge is stunning and is well worth the visit.
As soon as the tour finished, I started back to the Burke and Wills Roadhouse, where I had left the van overnight, stopping off at Gregory for a break to have a cuppa with the couple who had stayed in the other bungalow beside me at Adel's Grove. They had left their van at Gregory. When I got back to the van I hooked it up and drove on to Cloncurry doing just on 400 Kms (almost 6 1/2 hours driving for the day). I was pretty whacked by the time I got to Wal's Caravan Park around 6.45pm so I had a bite to eat and fell into bed.
I'd surprised Alain and Francoise who were staying at the same park. Next morning I had a knock on the door. They recognised my van...which is not hard to do, there's not many Adria Action 's" on the road" 😎
Amenities at Wals' CP were a bit rough and there was a lot of dust, so I moved to the Oasis Caravan Park in town. For $5 extra the amenities were soooo much better and I had a fabulous spot in the park. I set about arranging electricians and getting the authority for the van to be repaired under warranty. I ended up staying 5 nights as it took a few days to organise and get repaired. I'm happy to say I now have the power connected back on in the van. The issue was from the water leaks - the electrical cables had a faulty connection and the timber around them was still damp. The electricians said I was lucky I wasn't electrocuted!!! Some water damage has been done to the van, which will need to be repaired when I get back, but it's not urgent at this stage as long as no more water leaks occur!!!
(I've since had confirmation from the caravan company who have agreed my warranty will cover the repair of the timber damage when I return).
Cloncurry is the birthplace of the Royal flying Doctor Service so I spent some time in the historic museum and at the John Flynn Flying Doctor Museum.
I also spent some time bike riding (it's very flat in Cloncurry👍) and came across an ostrich on a farm on the outskirts. You just don't realise how big they are until you stand next to them...on the other side of a high mesh fence I might add. It's hard to see in the photo, but the skin on the legs looked like fish net stockings. really weird!!!
Some road trains are soooo loooong!!! Most have at least 3 or 4 carriages plus the semi's cabin and tray. This one had 5!!! I counted 72 wheels 😱 I am normally driving when I see these R/Trains so it's impossible to get a pic, but this time I was out walking and I had my camera in my hand😀
My friends had moved on to a beautiful free camp site on the Corella Dam inlet at Clem Walton Park about 50 kms from Cloncurry. As much as I would have loved to have joined them I was nervous about taking my van into the site, but I was happy enough to take the car in. I had some time to kill anyway waiting for the van to be repaired. I'd also seen and read about the Mary Kathleen mine and township, which we were all eager to see so I took a day trip out to catch up with them.
This is the beautiful free camp at Clem Walton Park where my friends stayed for quite a few days..
We then hopped into their 4WD and took off to see the defunct Mary Kathleen township and Uranium mine, which I had read about at the museum. OMG 😯 It was fascinating!!
The Mary Kathleen Uranium mine closed in 1982 for the 2nd and last time and is now filled with uranium infused! beautiful deep blue water.
The next three photos are of the township of Mary Kathleen. The town only had residents living there for two relatively short periods (1956 to 1964, and then 1975 to 1982) but there was every amenity they wanted - cinema, sports ground, golf course, shopping complex, police and fire stations, Church, PO, Bank, pool, school, tennis and lawn bowls courts and an orchard and market garden. Residents only paid $2 rent a week and utilities were free. The mine owned the town!!
The Town Square as it is today.
All buildings were sold and moved in 1982 and all that's left of the town is the concrete pads where houses and buildings once stood. Many caravans use the concrete bases and stay for a night or two to explore the area.
Mary Kathleen township in its heyday when over 1000 people lived there. I took this photo at the museum.
If you are able to enlarge this and read it, it shows the time line of occupation and the layout of the town.
This post documents my travels up to 14th August. I will continue August in the next instalment, which I will post in a day or two as it's already August 30th today.
I want to say a big THANK YOU to all those people who make comments from the website. It's great to get your feedback. I apologise for not responding to you and I wish I could reply, but at this stage, although the blog has a reply feature it's not working correctly. I have tried a few times and I've had communication with the web master regarding it. Hopefully it will be up and working soon, but rest assured I read them all and love that you are on the journey, as such, with me.
Hope you enjoy the ride