Week 4 – So who lost the bet?

Day 22 to Day 25 – Gregory Downs to Adels Grove – Lawn Hill – 119.7 klms

So everyone one month down! So who is out of the race as far as the tab running on how long we would last? George reckons Bondie is definitely a loser at this stage.

So week 4 and we are still learning the ropes. We are getting the setting up and packing up down to a fine art. I do inside (then its done right) and George does outside (which keeps him out of my hair). Works perfectly (well most of the time).

So after Gregory Hills we travelled 119.7klm on dirt roads to arrive at Adels Grove, an absolute oasis in the middle of nowhere.

After setting up, we hoped on our bikes and took a quick ride around the property. We came across the beautiful shaded “grove” and the beautiful green waters of Lawn Hill Creek.

On the way back to the van to cook dinner and have an early night, George managed to stumble upon the bar with a happy hour. So after the trauma of the dirt road, he was in heaven.

After dinner we enjoyed the beautiful sunset before turning into bed.

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Over the next few days we ventured into the Boodjamulla National Park. Please note NSW National Parks, no entry fees and no car parking fees.

The emerald waters and lush vegetation of the gorge form a beautiful oasis in this desolate outback. Whilst we did not canoe the gorge we did quiet a few walks and ended up at the Indarri Falls where I actually got to have my first swim of our trip.

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George also decided to test out his jaffle iron mark II for breakfast. Robert, this one did not melt!!

After brekky we ventured to the top of the Adels Grove hill to the lookout over the camp ground and marvelled how the landscape changed so quickly back to ruggered landscape only a short distance from the creek.

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Whilst in Lawn Hill we also took a boat tour of Lawn Creek and took in the wildlife and plant life. We also took a drive out the Riversleigh Fossil Centre an amazing place with so much history. We then travelled onto the Gregory River for lunch by the river in to cool.

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Day 26 – Lawn Hill to Camooweal – 264klms

Oh yes 264klms of DIRT!!! This took a toll on both George and the Caravan. We managed to break drain tap on the water tanks and of course lost all our water and the Anderson plug to our stability system on the van. Oh well at least my man is handy and we managed to bogey up the leak and well the Anderson Plug is an auto electrican and will need to be fixed when we get to Katherine. George did inform me that he had spare Anderson’s plugs in the shed at home. Really helpful that.

We arrived in Camooweal nice and early and spent two hours cleaning the van and car of red dirt. The inside of the van was pretty good thanks to George’s positive pressure system but the outside of the van and car were a mess.

After 2 hours of cleaning we earned dinner and drinks at the pub where we drank to Lee Hallett’s health, 21 again Lee.

Day 27 – Camooweal to Barkly Homestead – 260 klms

George had a smile on his face this morning – 260klm of tar road to Barkly Homestead.

We both enjoyed the changing landscape again along the straight roads to somewhere. The road trains are enormous and there are plenty of caravans on the road but not so much so that we are crowded out on reaching each destination.

Our destination tonight was the Barkly Homestead where we enjoyed some downtime and George got to have a nice nap without me pestering him.

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Day 28 – Barkly Homestead to Banka Banka Station – 264klms

We seemed to have our packing down to a fine art and after an early “cool” start we headed only as far as Banka Banka Station. Wow what a gem this turned out to be. At Barkly Homestead we meet a few different people and whilst we were the first to reach Banka Bank, the same crew pulled in not too far behind us. As everyone is making their way north it seems we will keep running into people from previous nights from here on in.

Banka Banka Station is run by a couple by the name of Karen and Peter and after setting up and enjoying the grass, shade and a quick nap, we spent the rest of the day and night meeting everyone and chatting. After dinner Peter opened the “bar” and we all enjoyed a quiet drink and camp fire. Whilst this stop appeared to be a very ordinary place to stay I would say it was one of the highlights of our trip as a result of the people we met and the hosts of the property. Highly recommend this stop,

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Well another week down. We hear our hometown is coping a bit of nasty weather and hope you all stay safe. The boys in Melbourne are hanging on tight as things seems to be getting worse rather than better.

We will now be back in communication range and hope to talk to nearest and dearest and of course Hozack Clisdell over the next week.

Miss you all soooo much but aint coming home yet!