Day 118: Mon 16 Aug - Free camp to Long Waterhole Free Camp at Winton, 525 km; total towed: 14 363 km

18-30 deg C, another glorious day when out of the wind

We were up early this morning and after a coffee were on the road just after 7 am!  So much easier when you're free camping and stay hooked up.  There was a good reason for the early start, we needed to restock the vittles' but didn't want to fight the crowds in the supermarket.  As it turned out, we ended up at Coles and in under an hour we were back on the road heading East out of Mt Isa for Cloncurry.  Breakfast was had at a rest area not far from Mt Isa, next to the road, which was not very relaxing.  We ended up getting caught in the stampede from the Mt Isa Rodeo which had finished yesterday.  The number of vehicles of all types leaving the place was amazing.  Most of them continued East from Cloncurry, thank goodness as they were all in such a rush, driving very fast and making some bad overtaking decisions.  The terrain from Mt Isa to Cloncurry was very hilly, something we were not used to after weeks of flat and largely featureless driving. which made for a tough drive for the first part of the day.  It soon flattened out and we could relax.   

From Cloncurry, we turned right, heading South towards Winton. First stop was at McKinlay to have a look at the Walkabout Creek Hotel, Mick Dundee's watering hole in Croc Dundee. We decided that we should at least buy a softie each ($10) in order to take a couple of photographs.   We soon hit the road again and stopped at Kynuna, where we had lunch.   A walk down the road to the Blue Heeler pub where Banjo Patterson frequently visited to have a few refreshments followed. It is also said that both the Waltzing Matilda's swagman and squatter had their last drinks inside these walls. We did not feel the need to quench a non-existent thirst but took a couple of photos and moved on.  The country is looking pretty good for a desert, with plenty of fat looking sheep and cattle in the paddocks.  They've obviously had some rain recently, a rarity, as there's even green grass beside the road.   

Our intent was to make camp just North of Winton at the Pinnacle Rock Formation free camp, or thereabouts. It was only 4 pm by that stage and as Greg was still alright to drive, we ended up here at Winton. There are 50-60 RVs here tonight, but there is a large space and we are kind of isolated as we did not care if we did not have water views. The ground is really rough when off the 'formed' roads, however, if you drive carefully, no damage is done.

We arrived here at The Long Waterhole just before 5 pm, and got down to the important task of preparing dinner.  With both phone and TV reception, it's not a bad location.  

Having visited both Mt Isa and Cloncurry in great details on recent trips we didn’t feel the need to stopover in either city/town.  

Drive scenery from Mt Isa to Cloncurry and McKinlay

Mr Dundee and Mr Walker

McKinlay War memorial/Cenotaph

John McKinlay - an Australian explorer

Blue Heeler Pub at kynuna

Drive scenery from Kynuna to Winton