Well roadside stops may be free but you know why when your woken up be a few road trains flying thru during the night. It rained during the night and the winds picked up on occasion. So as you might guess, it wasn't the best sleep had.
We packed up and made our way back to Undara National Park for the lava tube tour which we were due to take at 10:30am. I dont know about everyone else but l was a bit tired and a little grumpy. Must be that we had no coffee to start the day with..... We got there at 9am and did 'the bluff' lookout walk. It was beautiful with all the granite rocks around. The girls did ok with the 1.5km round trip walk not complaining too much. It was bloody cold though, dobt know the temp but we were dressed in trackies and long sleeve shirts! Can't believe we have gone from living in singlets and shorts for the last 6 weeks to now being dressed for winter, absurd!!
The tour was headed by a guy who's name l had never heard before and hence can't remember. He was pretty straight laced but informative. We took a bus down to see two lava tubes. The first one we had to take our shoes and socks off as it had water in it from past rainfall. The tube, or tunnel you could say, was ginormous. The width was 25m and height thereabouts as well. The basalt rock had these amazing textured colors that differed due to reactions made by the lava and weather. We walked down into the tube in the water until it was over knee height, the water was pretty cold. I felt like an ant in this tube/tunnel it was so huge. Boo loved walking in the water to the point were her pants had to get wet of course! We headed to the second lava tube, which was originally joined to the first one except the roof of it collapsed some time ago. Before entering the second tube we came before this huge basalt rock arch that had a massive fig tree in the middle, it was glorious. We headed into the lava tube and took in the majestic view. It was stunning. The shallow water on the bottom, when shone with a torch, reflected the ceiling in it so it made the water look really deep. Awesome natural illusion. We also saw some tiny little bats which were cute. After two hours the girls had had enough and were a little hungry so thank god the tour had finished and we had a bus trip back to the van. I think it's a bit sad that you can't enter this national park without being on a tour, bit hefty too on price. Does discriminate and rip people off. Anyway was good to see and worth the viewing, just disagree that you can't view by your own on your own terms.
After having some lunch in the car due to it raining, we headed off to get to Charters Towers. Such a boring drive, straight roads with unspectacular scenery. Raining so good day to be on the road. With all the roadworks along the way the caravan is now brown, not white!
I can't believe after four and a half months l decided to get behind the wheel and drive towing the caravan. Dobt know whether Marty was on edge or not, think he stressed for the start of it. Anyhow l drove the last 200kms to Charters Towers, half of it following this bloody road train l couldn't pass!!! We arrived at Charters Towers at 6pm, got to the Mobil roadhouse 4kms out of town and setup in a light drizzle of rain. Both Marty and l snarled at each other a bit, too late to set up we think. I heated up some cans of spaghetti and cooked some toast under the griller for tea. We then had much wanted shower at the roadhouse then settled the girls for the night. All we can hear is these roadtrains pulling in with their cattle in the trailers......gonna be another long night l think...
Also can't believe how cold and dreary it is. It has rained all day!!!! Hope it improves soon.....but still can't complain.
Bell Xx