Hot Karumba Bushwalk and Gorgeous Sunset: Wed 3 Oct12

Being the Mighty Intrepids, we noted that there is a new track leading from our caravan park to the main township, which is quicker than the 8km by road. So off we set early in the morning, to do this new track, both carrying water and me with 2 hiking sticks. In the wet season this walk track would be beautiful, as we could see it was now very dry wetland. Lots of little kangaroos/wallabies hopped across our path, looking startled and surprised to see 2 Mighty Intrepids out in such humid hot weather. No other humans go walking out here!

The walk took 45 minutes to get to main Karumba township, and straight to the local bakery we went for a well-earned coffee and cake each. The Norman River runs along the edge of town and there is a live cattle export area there, as well as a zinc mining plant nearby. Crocodiles are supposed to inhabit the river area, but we didn't see any. Not even quad bike tracks ha ha!

At the café we had a long chat with a nice gentle looking truckie who looked sad when he heard we were travelling on motorbikes. He saw a motorcyclist lose control of his bike a few years ago and the last thing the rider saw was the big truck coming straight at him, and the poor truckie now has a permanent memory of the look on the poor bloke's face. Apparently the rider was on a mate's unregistered motorbike, and he was speeding at around 200km/hour. People who do this not only cause themselves an accident waiting to happen, but the misery of the memory to the poor driver who hits them. The truckie's stepson told his dad later that it was better the truck hit the fellow, as it could've been a family in a car which could not have survived the impact.

Our nice truckie told us he is also a horse breaker and had done rodeo riding. We meet some interesting people in our travels.

By the time we headed back up our walking track for home it was hotter. We felt a bit silly walking in the heat but there was no other way back, and we had plenty of water. Didn't see any wallabies this time…they had more sense. Didn't see anything alive apart from low shrub. So the swimming pool was a welcome relief for us two hot bods….the "old couple" as the kiddies are calling us. I look like a big blue tube worm in my blue rashy top….stops me from getting sunburnt.

We finished off our day in the most perfect way; sitting on the white beach sand at sunset with white wine, grapes and some nice spicy cheese. Lots of pelicans were fishing right in front of us, dipping their big beaks under water as fish leapt around. Some people were catching bait fish with a net, and an exuberant little boy ran along the shore leaping and flapping his arms happily….it was perfect to enjoy. The clouds go such lovely colours after the sun has set….we sat on the beach on the eve of our 4th wedding anniversary and said nice things to each other.

And tomorrow we are going to celebrate our 4th anniversary at Burke and Wills Roadhouse, where we have booked a cabin for one night, then onto Cloncurry for the next day.

Mrs Mighty Intrepid Trish

Burke and Wills and Cane toads at Last!

It is a 270km ride from Karumba to Burke and Wills Roadhouse, so we two anniversary lovebirds decided to book a cabin there, rather than continue riding the next 186km into Cloncurry in the humid hot weather. Which was a good decision, because when we arrived at the dusty little roadhouse at high noon, we were shown to our "cabin", which was a donga, meaning a square box with an air conditioner and a double bed, and this donga was surrounded by the smallest nastiest hurtiest prickle grass that made us hop about even with our thongs on. (Our feet!)

After a much needed sandwich and cool drink, we lay down on the bed in our happy anniversary donga, with the little air conditioning unit making us feel real nice and cool, and next thing we woke up 2 ½ hours later, having slept heavily. We must've been way too tired to continue riding anyway. The hot weather is very tiring.

Burke and Wills Roadhouse is very busy with lots of huge road trains pulling in for fuel and truckies having showers and meals there. A way of life you don't see in the city. We were dwarfed standing next to the huge trucking rigs, many with cattle in them. And there are the grey nomads pulling caravans with their 4WD vehicles.

The Roadhouse was doing a special for the night, a roast lamb for $20 each, so we lovebirds feasted on this, with a little wine. Then on the way back to our donga Dave got very excited because he saw his first live cane toads! They were hanging around the lights near the shower and toilet blocks, horrid creatures. It was surprising seeing the cane toads in such a dry place; we really expected to see them further up near coastal country.

We slept like the peaceful dead in our little donga, knowing we only had a short ride to Cloncurry in the morning. We want to see this little town before we head off to Mount Isa for several days.

Orlena, our little angel

On a happy note, I've been sleeping better hearing of our dear little 3 year old granddaughter Orlena's progress, after sustaining her terrible head injury on 7th August. She is slowly making progress, tiny stages at a time, but the medicos and physiotherapists are now more positive. She is still in PMH Hospital and will be there for a long time, but the good thing is she is recognising people and she is saying some words again. She is also responding to simple commands with her side of the body that is working. We are worrying about her being paralysed down her left side but it is early days at this stage. All is unknown, Orlena's progress is in the lap of loving caring people looking after her, and her youthful ability for her body to do as much healing as it can. The part of her skull that has been removed will possibly be replaced in a few weeks' time now that a shunt has been successfully put in and reduced the brain swelling.