The Great Southern Expedition :: Day 8
Saturday, 26 November
Cold weather made it wonderful for sleeping. Rose at 7 am to hear Marye crashing round after firewood. Couldn’t coax Helen out until 8:15 am. Had breakfast and returned to Mt Isa for our photographic expedition, and to refill our water bags, etc. Visited Mines Club again and stocked up with hot coffee – sign of the cold weather that we should prefer hot coffee to iced squash! English hitch-hiker came and chatted to us – get around these bloody poms don’t they! He has hitch-hiked through most other countries and is now on his way to Darwin - didn’t envy him hitching on that hot, thirsty highway. Country between Mt Isa and Cloncurry was beautiful but the road was rough and stoney with one dip ad dive after another.
Our normally slow travelling was accentuated by the condition of the road and also our camera-bug-itis! It took us 8 hours to do the 83 miles, including our lunch-hour break. Came across old grave in one of the numerous little gully creek crossings – an infant Elsie Gladys Campbell – 1 year 4 months; died 1914. Now what were people doing away out here in that year? Prospecting maybe! Close by there were a few old uprights of some sort of building – perhaps the two were connected – what a fascinating story one could weave around these left-overs if one’s imagination was let loose!
Quite a few cars and trucks on the track – and the surprise!! Helen decided to examine a carton on the side of the road – well her Xmas present is all fixed up now – a new set of mottle-green saucepans (5 in the set). Decided whoever is just about to “tie the knot” should have first choice of the set – I borrowed the small one from the set for I felt sure that Helen would be bound to burn the milk in it long before any of were married!
Reached Cloncurry at 7:15 pm and knocked up a shop to ask for bread, dripping, etc. Scouted around the 5 pubs which were all in the one street and close to the Post Office Hotel (such an un-imaginative name, being right opposite the P.O.!) Incidentally, I understand there are 13 pubs in this town – we only saw the 5.
Publican (a one-armed gent) was most helpful and gave us a free sample glass of Cairns beer because we stated we didn’t like it – didn’t seem so bad either – perhaps because Kathy didn’t pay for it!
Decided to camp near the River just at teh edge of town – a beautiful spot too – especially by moonlight. Signs of local barbecues about in the form of the usual pile of dead [marinas?] Some other capers on the other side of the bridge appeared tobe Hymn Singers – they should look after us from an undesirable locals!
Our camping spots have certainly been many and varied, but this one was really pleasing.
Saturday, 26 November 1955
Cold weather must have made us sleep well – I arose at 7am to hear Marye crashing round after firewood. We lit fire and had breakfast – Helen refused to emerge until 8.15am. Returned once more to Mt Isa to take our photos, refill water bags etc. Bought hot coffee and fresh milk from Mines Club and finally left Mt Isa at 11.15am. English Round-the-World hitch-hiker came and spoke to us – he was on his way to Darwin – what a hot, dry road to hitch on! Road to Cloncurry was very rough and stony with lots and lots of creek crossings and switchback effect, but taken slowly was quite safe. Actually we took 8 hours for the 83 mile trip, but that included many stops for photographs and lunch etc.
Really very picturesque country, somewhat similar to Kimberleys but not so colourful. Came across an old grave near one of the pretty little gully crossings – a baby, 1 year and 4 months, Elsie Gladys Campbell – died 1914. Whatever were they doing here then? Prospecting possibly. Quite nearby were some old timber uprights of buildings – I wonder were these two ‘old relics’ connected!
Met quite a bit of traffic on the road and Helen decided a carton on the track worth investigating – was too! Turned out to be a set of five green mottled enamel saucepans!!! Evidently dropped from one of the transports we passed, probably the one with the huge wobbly load we thought would crash down upon us as it edged past us on the very narrow track. Reached Cloncurry at 7.15pm. Asked at shop (just closed) for bread, dripping etc. Very obliging lady told us she would get us some fresh bread in the morning (Sunday).
Scouted round and examined the 5 pubs (have since discovered there are 12 in all!) – decided on Post Office Hotel, which proved a good choice. Publican (a one-armed gent) was most helpful and gave us a free sample glass of beer because we said we didn’t like Cairns beer – wasn’t nearly as bad as the one we had at Camooweal – possibly because we didn’t pay for it eh?
Decided to camp by River which we passed just on the edge of town – has proved a most picturesque and comfortable camping spot. Personally I think it could be the local barbecue spot – lots of empty bottles around and old fires etc. Cool again tonight but nothing like last night. Am writing this by the light of the hurricane lamp while the others wash up. Tonight we intend to have a hot wash to try and remove some of the dust which has accumulated. This time a week ago we were almost on our way – funny to think of all the spots we have eaten, slept in and travelled through since then!