Happy Birthday Uncle Josh xxxx

Nick and I woke up to the sound of the boys wrestling on their bed causing the van to shake from side to side - only the boys thought it was funny!! We all got dressed very quickly as it was too cold to linger in pjs then cranked up the generator for a coffee. We started the morning with a walk around the waterhole then packed up the van and hit the road. We called into Winton to empty the toilet (we learnt the hard way to empty it at every opportunity!!) then drove, drove, drove. We called into a rest area around 1pm for lunch that had toilets and a table but nothing else. Jonny played with an ant's nest and ended up with bitten ankles so we moved on as soon as possible as the kids were safer in the car!! Around 330pm we reached Corrella Dam, an absolute oasis about half way between Cloncurry and Mount Isa. A dirt road took us off the highway through scrub bush and opened onto a beautiful dam with camping areas all around it. There were about 30 vans parked when we arrived but we managed to find a spot away from the crowds with a good view of the dam. We cranked up the generator and had a coffee and while sitting in the sun the local cows walked past to get a drink. At first they weren't sure what to make of us and refused to walk past us but when they realised we weren't going anyway they trotted past and went quickly on their way! We went for a walk around the dam before dinner and nearly got bowled over by a huge kangaroo having a drink - I think it had very bed eyesight!! Once it got dark the kids watched a movie before bed and then Nick and I watched Broadchurch on DVD - excellent thriller that we couldn't turn off! By the time we went to sleep the moon was huge and nearly full - it was as if we'd left the lights on outside!