Day 29 – Gregory

No time for pancakes this morning even though it was still dark when I went to the showers, I discovered the trick to hot water in the morning, turn the hot tap fully and don’t touch the cold one!

We’d packed away the big jackets and thick blanket, having the little vacuum we bought from the RAA was a boon. They all shrank away to easy to manage packs when all the air was sucked out of the vacuum seal bags.

While Alex was topping up the Camper water tanks our campsite neighbour came up to tell us he’d just contacted a Park in Karumba and they had two spots available in three days time. I immediately started calling them but only got a digital response. I kept phoning until the line was finally free and was able to secure two nights so we know where we will be next Wednesday and Thursday night.

Our drive from Adel’s Grove to Gregory was uneventful. We’re parked in the same area as before because the riverside camping area is still chaotic. We did walk down there a couple of times some of us cooled our feet in the water. It was lovely watching oldies floating down the river in the current, laughing and hollering like little kids.

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We sat and enjoyed a drink at Murray’s Cafe after a long wait because there were so many customers and he’s a one-man-band. When we passed through here a couple of years ago Murray not only had time to make us drinks but also to get out the Compressor so Alex could reinflate the tyres. His business is so busy now he doesn’t have time to scratch himself!

As you can tell from the number of posts, Internet coverage is better in Gregory it should also be OK in Burketown and Normanton where we go from here.

Day 28 Adel’s Grove

Another lovely pancake breakfast this morning followed by a walk to the Lookout. The hill was very tame compared with the Eden Hills variety!

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When we came back we took advantage of the quieter campground and I was able to recharge my camera and laptop in the dining area. I have tried several times before but there was always a laptop and phone charging and yesterday discovered that the laptop owner was in Mt Isa when they realised they’d left it behind!

Fergus and I walked along the river enjoying all the quiet little places to sit and take it all in.

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We’ve heard lizards scurrying away but there is so much leaf litter and decaying Palm fronds that there’s no way I can spot them before they disappear. The bats left evidence of their overnight presence on the car and vehicle manuals make for interesting reading apparently so Professor Potter had plenty to do while Fergus and I were away walking.

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Tonight we pack up the annexe and prepare to move on from this special spot.

Day 26 Adel’s Grove

I’ve always thought that evenings and nights are the quiet times when all the activities of the day end but at Adel’s Grove that seems to be reversed. In the evening the cacophony begins when bats leave their roosts but added to that are the noises of animals moving about. Fergus was just about turning himself inside out when we walked up to the eating area. He hauled and hauled on the lead pulling me towards one tree and when I shone the torch around the base of the tree there was a very big green frog. It wasn’t until he was in his crate that he settled down.

Last night the warm PJs were discarded and we were back to our normal Pjs, the blanket went too. I was glad I didn’t take the quilt off though because it did cool to about 17 deg, today was predicted to be 33 deg. I’m not sure if it made that but I’m fine. We drove out to Lawn Hill NP to get some information but the place wasn’t manned, it was an interesting drive.

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I walked along the river at camp and was teased by more little birds, some I think I could name but others I have no idea about. While Fergus and I were walking Professor Potter was busy putting a water filter on the hose, “fixing” the various ropes and string lines on the camper, fixed his broken headlamp – cable ties trump tape every time! Fergus had a swim/wash in the creek but we took advantage of the solar heated water so we don’t need to have a cold shower either tonight or in the morning.

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We made a couple of trips up to the eating area to see if the power points were available but it seems that some devices take many hours to recharge. The Bar/Bistro is closed, we don’t know why, maybe it’s a Queensland Thing, I know it’s not Sunday – my phone might not always do what I want it to but it does know what day it is.

Wherever we walk around here there is evidence of the Botanical Garden established here.

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Anytime we’re “offline” it’s not because I’ve given up the blog it’s simply that the internet connection isn’t capable of uploading etc.