Karumba in the Dry Season: Qld: Tues 2 Oct12

We woke up in our tent with grit in our teeth; it was windy and the caravan park is so dry and dusty that fine dust is getting in everywhere. Off we went for an early morning walk along the Gulf of Carpentaria beach; the tide was out so there were grey mud flats with mangrove roots sticking up, and lots of reefy rocks to clamber over. Being the Henny Penny that I am, I imagined the worst and thought of crocodiles, causing Dave to crack up when I silently gesticulated wildly at him at what I thought could be Two hungry crocodile tracks….they were quad bike tracks. Oh well, someone had to keep an eye out for these things! Dave sank up to his knees in grey tidal mud; lucky he didn't drop his camera.

Later we rode into the main township of Karumba; we are staying out at Karumba Point which is 8km by road from the main part of town. A quiet little town, nice friendly locals who all say gidday. We had a beer at "the Animal Bar" at the pub….I remember being here at night 8 years ago.

It was so good to get out of the hot motorcycle gear later at our caravan park so we could go for a swim in the pool, again with all the noisy splashy little human tadpoles on school holidays. Some little girls were being careful not to bump into the "old lady" (me!) as they were doing their swimming races. We still have not seen a live cane toad in Queensland. We are here at the end of the dry season, that's why. There are a few cute little green tree frogs in the toilets.

Evening meal was a delicious wild-caught barramundi fish and chips and generous salad, from the local eatery called Ash's on Karumba beachfront. Then over the road to the pub to enjoy a beer while watching a magnificent Gulf of Carpentaria sunset.

This is mainly a fishing place, and most campers either have a boat or they go out on fishing charters.

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 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 had 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