Day 9
Mount Isa to Banka Banka Station
12.06.2011 - 12.06.2011 19 °C
A travel day so the detail is a tad mechanical!
Left the caravan park at 8:20. Said good bye to the Hanrahan’s as they’ll now travel up north to Normanby. They’ve been great travelling companions for the past week. Left Mount Isa for the NT, changed our plans and decided we’d turn Right at 3 ways and go 70 k’s north to Banka Banka Station, rather than turn left and go 25 k’s to Tennant Creek. Makes sense to save ourselves the 50 k’s and go in the right direction. We can do Tennant Creek on the way back!
Stopped at Camooweal for Gas $1.22 / litre. Met some guy’s who’d passed us ~30 k’s back. A GMC truck pulling an enormous 5th wheeler style trailer. They’re also on their way to Barbagello but have a ’64 Mustang inside. He was quite interested in my Terry re: Gas. Turns out he’s a Ford Dealer from Young in NSW. I asked him for a great deal on a new Diesel – he said can’t get one to sell me!
Stopped at the NT boarder to take a few photo’s. Very open plains country, similar to that back around Longreach and Winton. Stopped at Barkly Homestead for Lunch and refuelled with Gas $1.18 / litre. Met up with the Mustang guys again here.
Arrived at 3 ways. Stopped to take the necessary photo’s and refuelled with Gas. Wasn’t out, but wasn’t completely sure what was ahead so better to get it while I can. Pushed on to Banka Banka station. A small camp ground at the front of a station property. Neat and tidy with grassy lawned area to set up. Around 30 vans etc there when we arrived and no power here though. They have a diesel generator for the house (if you can call it that!) that ran all night. Switched the fridge onto Gas and cooked tea with Gas. Pulled out the trusty LED Lantern – not completely overwhelmed with the lumens from my new purchase in Longreach!. Abandoned that idea! I pulled out the 12V battery pack and plugged in the 12V DC inverter into which I plugged in my 240 v fluro light – magic!! Some tour buses have permanent canvas tents setup here. Bus load pulled in just after us.
Spotted the bloke across the way and he wanters over (Rich). He’s from Port Arlington and had spotted the Ballarat Jayco sticker on the rear. Turns out he works with my neighbour from across the street!! Ya can’t go anywhere! The bloke he’s travelling with is Alan Cassells – long time plumber from Ballarat. Near a full moon and one of the best sky’s I’ve ever seen. Lots of Stars and amazingly clear.
Posted by bubblelipsmith 13.06.2011 04:55 Archived in Australia
