Richmond to Mt Isa 2 days

I left Richmond early (as usual), I seem now to wake around 6 in the morning and by 8 to 9 I am ready to move on.
Leaving Richmond at least made me feel better and went through Julia Creek ( seems like a pretty nice place ) then onto Cloncurry, another pretty good looking town. Planned to stop at a place called Corella park about 50k's east of Mt Isa.
At least in this country there is hills, first I have seen for a few days and they are a deep red and Craggy. Really nice scenery for someone like me who has not seen this type of country.

Got to Corella Park and while stopped to look at where I would setup, apparently a rock punctures one of my rear tyres. As I drove off to go to the site I had picked the car sounded really strange. I had only gone about 20 metres and when I had got out to look the tyre had almost come completely off the rim. It didn't look good. Luckily there was another couple there and he helped me change the tyre. It is not easy to change a tyre when the car is sitting on the rim. The temp while I was doing this was bloody hot.
Corella Park is by a dam and should have been nice but there was rubbish everywhere from previous campers. What a mess some people make and I would assume that the council will give up and not allow camping there.

Here is some photos of the place:

It was bloody hot here, at 10.30 at night it was still 36.5. Topped at 39 while I was in the van. The interesting point in this weather is that the solar panels pump in plenty of amps, however the fridge runs almost all the time to try to keep to temperature, so you get lots in and lots out..

I was going to spend a couple of days here, but as it looked like a tip and the tyre had been stuffed I decided to head to Mt Isa so I could get the tyre sorted out and to get to a caravan park and power and airconditioning. Yeh!!!!!!!.

Sitting here now in the reasonable cool and feeling a lot better. Got a really good deal at only $25 per night for a powered site. Will stay here for 3 nights and do some cleaning and maintenance. It has been quite a while since I have had a shower  that lasted longer than 2 minutes. What a luxury. I will also do some washing and fill the water tanks before I leave. 

Will take some photos of Mt Isa tomorrow.

Here is a photo of a monument to Bourke and Wills just outside of Cloncurry.

Prairie to Richmond

As per my last post , I spent the night at the pub to watch the NRL Grand Final. It was a great night, there were 3 of us who were traveling that stayed for the night. All the locals were happy to have us there and everyone joined in. Definately a place to stay at if you are passing through.
This morning I headed off aroubd 10 to head to Richmond. It is only just over 200k but the roads are horrible. It is like driving a boat over chops. Very flat landscape and not very interesting. When I reached richmond I was expecting it to be like Charters Towers but sadly I was mistaken.

Here is photos of Richmonds main st.

Interesting isn't it. 

Went to the information centre, which is new and quite nice. They have the fossil museum there. I didn't have a look as it was $20 to visist 3 rooms of fossils. Didn't seem reasonable.

Anyway off to Julia Creek tomorrow, lets see what that is like.

Charters Towers to Prairie

Had to change over the tail lights on the van as 2 were not working on one side and two were working on the other side. Now I have one working each side. Cheap way out and will fix properly when in Brisbane..
Left anabranch around 10 to 10.30 to head to Prairie. Saw this on wikicamps. It has a really good rated country pub and you can stay behind the pub as long as you have a beer or two.
What can I say, great pub, great people. Had a couple of beers this afternoon and will go back for dinner tonight. No menu, you just have what they are serving for the night. Tonight is crumbed steak and chips.
Have decided to spend an extra day here to watch the NRL grand final with the locals. That could be interesting to say the least.
It was an interesting drive here, not many turns and all straight. I have learnt to dislike road trains as they blow the rear view mirrors all over the place.

Here are some photos of the pub and where I am parked

Here is my travels for the day

Charters Towers

I spent the day having a walk around Charters Towers. Well what a great town this is. With a long history starting with gold mining to being a major centre for the military in the second world war, it has progressed and progressed. They maintain there historic buildings to an extremely high standard and keep the town neat and tidy. Being only 90 minutes to Townsville, it is not that far from the coast. Talking to one of the women from the info centre, the town is prosperous and no great problems ever seem to happen. I have taken some photos of the old buildings and one looking down the main street. If anyone is coming this way I suggest you stop for a couple of days as it will be worth it.

Here is some photos.

By the way , on my way back to the free camp I found my own street.

Tomorrow I am heading to Prairie, which apparently has a great pub to visit. It will be interesting

Groper Creek to Charters Towers

 Left Groper Creek at around 10.30. Was going to leave earlier but had a lot of goodbyes to do. What a great place it is.
Headed for Charters Towers and am staying at a free camp about 20k's north of town. It is on the Burdekin river and apart from being pretty dusty is a nice spot. It felt funny driving today as I haven't driven with the van for quite a while. I  will stay here for 2 nights so I can have a good look at Charters Towers tomorrow.

Here is some pics of the site and and the trip for today.

Ps it is hot, so at least I can acclimatise for when I get to NT.