Of course Murphy's law a morning where your traveling the boys sleep in. We packed up and left Mt Isa.
We didn't really have a plan of where we were heading. We stopped in Richmond for lunch and after we had left town I was cranky that I hadn't done the dinosaur thing with the kids as upon reading the reviews it sounded great. Oh well next trip ha ha :)
We decided to keep driving through to Bivouac Junction just the other side of Charters Towers and have our last 3 nights there rather than do another one night stay. We got in after 6, the camp owner drove down on his motorbike and was very nice and helpful. He showed us to where we should camp. It was pretty quiet only 2 other vans there and no one in the cabins. We set up under some nice big shady trees overlooking the river. It's very dry at the moment would love to see this place after some rain it would be lovely.
We had eaten our breakfast and we were sitting doing Bens journal when Zane went to try and climb up the steps but he slipped and his head went crashing into the metal step. I can still see the replay makes me feel sick. Poor thing had blood everywhere, I wasn't coping well and poor Ben was on the other side of the van crying as he was worried Zane was going to die with so much blood. It's amazing how quick you can get your s*** together and get in the car when you need to.
We set off for the hospital to get him looked at. They said there's nothing they could do with his lip. He had split the whole top left side of his lip. Was nice and fat. We just had to keep his mouth clean, no sticks or dirt! Now that's bloody hard whilst camping, so we've decided to take off a day early and head home.
We had a walk around Charters Towers, some great shops and nice old buildings.
In the arvo Gaz and the boys went for a swim whilst I tried to get Zane to sleep.
Garry and the boys came racing back to camp on their bikes and then went down the hill in front of our camper and both the boys fell off their bikes so we had lots of cries and screams. Zane chimed in too with the crying so we got him up, he won :) It was beer and peanut time for us but a little to windy for cards we had planned to play.
We went and had our last fish dinner at the camp kitchen, and Zane fell asleep in the pram. I enjoyed some malibu's and Gaz finished off the Jack Daniels.
After dinner it was marshmallow time around the fire. We all said our favorite places of the trip. Bens was Coral Bay and Karijini NP and of course Sean copied his places. Hard to say but I'd say Coral Bay, Karijini and Barn Hill oh and Broome ha ha loved it all. Gaz's was El Questro. El Questro was up there for me too just that I didn't sleep well there.
Then we did sparklers for our last night of the trip. Boys loved them.
Now we are on our way home. We are going to call into the Mt Coolan pub for lunch as that was the plan.
3 o'clock we rolled back into town and met up with the Brady's for our photo at the red bucket. Janine called in to say hi on her way past and then Kimberley arrived. Great to see everyone again.
Well what can I say......what an awesome adventure we have had. 11 weeks and some 11000 km's. It hasn't all been smooth sailing but the ups and downs have been what has made the trip. And the ups have definitely by far outweighed the downs. I'm so glad we had the company of Shaun, Kylie, Caleb, Indi and Archie on the trip. It was great to share great memories, scenery, fun, awesome places and chaos with you guys and thanks for all of your help before and on the trip!!!!!!
Here's to planning the next one!!!!!