9th July. Burketown to Normanton. 221 kms. As were a little disappointed in Burketown we had greater expectations for Normanton. 1st up was pick up our puncture repaired tyre at Service Station. Our journey took us on another dirt road of varying quality but mostly not good, dusty, corrugated and rough but some work was in progress. We stopped for a look at Leichardt Falls really beautiful scenery I could have stayed but we pressed on. (No falls in sight not enough water see picture which does not do the area justice)More open flat grasslands and cattle feeding on I know not what, so dry. We were surprised on arrival in Normanton it was larger than we had anticipated and many old buildings restored and well maintained, a couple of supermarkets and service station. At one supermarket Bill had requested cordial but at $6.80 per litre I suggested NO, at the other supermarket I bought 2litres for $5.80- expensive for me but I relented, several other items I noted cheaper also. The information centre was very goo the girls offering lots of information on everything. We free camped on the side of a river about 3kms from Normanton, thanks to Wiki Camps working, well apart from the duplications which can confuse a little.

10th July, Wednesday, Normanton to Karumba - 71kms We paid a second visit to the Information Centre and Bill got into a conversation with a man who had just left Karumba and he suggested we shouldn't leave the area until we had been to have a look. An hour later on a bitumanised road we arrived in Karumba a quick drive around and we decided to stay the night. Booking into a CP for the night as there was no free camps around and the Overflow at the golf course does not operate unless all CPs are full. Karumba is a fishing village, there are signs everywhere to watch our for crocodiles as Karumba is at the very mouth of the Norman River. Some people stay in CP for up to 3 months and the only thing you can do is fish there is no swimming or beach or walks and the road ends at Karumba. There are several commercial fisherman though and we bought some delicious very fresh prawns and some Thread Fin Salmon fillets which we have eaten.

11th July, Thursday, Karumba to Croydon Rest Area - 160kms. We seem to be continually packing and leaving some place or other. We purchased more fule in Karumba as it was 15c a litre cheaper that Normanton. Travelling back to Normanton and heading east still in Gulf Country and Savannah grasslands. Quite considerable road works are in progress on the Savannah Highway it would appear to us that they are remaking the roads a little differently with slopes off to the side so water can get way and will not cause so many problems and have to be remade after the wet season. We had been told of a good camp site at the Cumberland Historic Railway but as it wasgetting late so we pulled in to a rest area and boy was it windy and blowing dust everywhere. All the other campers 5 of them didn't venture out of their caravans. One nice young couple come and had a chat with us for a while until dark and it got cooler tonight.

12th July, Friday Croydon Rest Area to Mt Surpise - 290km (big day) After visiting the Cumberland Historic Rail Free Camp Area about 30 mins form our dusty windy stop over we found this spot much nicer grassy, dry but still windy. Our first stop was Croydon, a nicer town than we had expected and again with 4 very interesting historical buildings including a Court House, Police Station and lock up, Poilcemans residence, A church, a Hall now used for Entertainment in the district and a school being refurbished, unlike some towns this town is trying to make it interesting for visitors. Lunch time saw us at Georgetown no bakery, this was a disappointment for Bill. Again a town you do hear about in Queensland but offering very little to the tourist, the information centre had good information about the district and they have a large collection of Minerals on display but that was about it. Georgetown information centre suggested if we wanted to do the Lava Tubes it is essential to book so willingly she booked us into a CP and on arrival we perused the various tours and selected one for Saturday. We could have had a meal provided by the CP for ta but by the time we decided it was booked out. After tea we joined many others in the park around a campfire and a country and western singer entertained us for 1.5 hours, then it was back to watch second half of football before lights out.

13th July, Saturday Mt Surprise.

We were up early ready for our full day tour of Undara and the Lava tubes. The tour left at 8.00am and our first stop was the Kalkarni Crater. We walked up about 800 metres to the top and 2.5km around the neck of it our guide pointing out all the other inactive volcanoes, trees and grasses of the Savannah which we have been travelling over the past week or so.

Morning tea next Tea, Coffee Home made Carrot Cake and biccies.

Please google how Lava Tubes are formed etc bcause my geology lesson to you ends here.

Our first stop at a Lava Tube was the Mikoshi Tube, The Ballroom with its domed roof and the Wind Tunnel all incorporated in the one tube in varying directions and varying in rock formation and colours. These caves are as natural as they can safely be so we had to scramble over rocks to get into them. I remembered my walking stick and this was very helpful for me. The colours of the rock formations were breath taking, lots of calcium, iron oxide, manganese and basalt.

Lunch was provided on our tour, supposedly 3 course, very nice soup, bufffet salad luncheon, carrot cake, coffee and tea very nice though.

After lunch we went to 3 other caves again all different, the 1st one was at Barkers Knob, Barkers Cave this one is 800metre long but is quite dangerous with carbon monoxide and tourist usually are allowed only 400metres in or until the cigarette lighter flame will not stay alight or someone has breathing difficulties. This cave was quite humid and bats galore and the stench yukkie. I coped 2 bat wees, on my head that I know of, so hair will be washed tonight. The other 2 caves The Archway ( a wedding took place in this cave in 1998) was a beautiful walk into with a very tropical feel to it, lots of stairs and like all but the first cave well maintained boardwalks. At one point everyone turned off their torches and it was as black as the ace of spades and me the heroine that I am in the dark held Bill very tightly, if I had remembered to put in my hearing aids I would also have heard the same as everyone else bat sounds.

We had afternoon teas and returned to camp around 5.00 a very full day. The Blues play tonight so that will be our activity after tea and a shower.

This ones for J & J hope you get this one now that I have your email hopefully right.