PLAINS, RAIN AND BOG

ISISFORD CAMPGROUND

Under cloudy skies we left Blackall and moved on to Isiford. The trip was really nice with long grassy plains stretching either side of the road - you can see forever. And we could see clouds - lots of them! Oh well...more rain.

Now, if the weather had been good Isisford camp would have been great. However, its been raining off and on and everything is turning to sticky, yucky bog. The place is huge and the camp encompasses both sides of the Barcoo River. There are a heap of other campers and vans here and none of them are moving any time soon. Bogged in! Isisford is a tiny town that, like many others in remote Aust, has suffered greatly, but is hanging on thanks to the tourists and people fishing for the famous Yellowbelly in the Barcoo River. Which by the way have made themselves very scarce of late (maybe they heard I was coming!).  Apparently its due to the cold weather. So I never caught one, but no-one else has been catching them either. Still, its a great place to camp and quite a few campers have been here for months. One bloke has been here for 8 weeks and still hasn't got a yellowbelly, but his wife got one. Go girls!



SUNBAKING DRAGON

We made a mad run for it after four days or rain and drizzle. One day of sun was all we needed and we took advantage of the break before it started again.  We had quite an audience watching our escape which we did with ease. Our boys know how to drive! We spent that night up behind the council chambers on dry ground. Well...a bit drier.

CLANYCYS OVERFLOW HOTEL
HAS NOW CLOSED DUE TO THE OWNER
BEING DEPORTED BECAUSE OF VISA ISSUES!

The next morning we headed out to Ilfracombe. Interesting trip that one. Its a single lane road with boggy edges. Luckily we didn't have too much traffice coming at us. Our little convoy had to be very cautious though.


ON ONE OF OUR DRIVES WE FINALLY FOUND
BROLGAS. AND ONE OF THEM
DANCED FOR US - BRILLIANT!

ILFRACOMBEWe next made ourselves at home at the Ilfracombe Caravan Park. Its a darling little park with good facilities and "Happy Hour" every night with entertainment and nibblies.

HAPPY HOUR. STANDING ROOM
ONLY AFTER 5.30!
HUGELY POPULAR!

One of the owners, Cathy, tells the best bawdy jokes. We normally avoid caravan parks, preferring to free camp, but its nice having as much power as I like, and having long hot showers. But you can't even fart without the next door van hearing you!!! Luckily the bloke beside us is a bit deaf. Talk about "old farts in caravan parks" - they are everywhere!!!


WELLSHOT HOTEL

Right next door to us (literally) is the Wellshot Hotel. Its the best pub I have ever been in with good old country decor and paraphenalia everywhere including a display of akubra hats on the roof and even a bathtub! I could be converted into a pub person if all the pubs out this way are like that. Just down the road is an artesian spa, a gorgeous shop and a post office. On the opposite side of the road is the "machinery mile", an interesting historic display of old machinery of all sorts including a few small museums and collection displays. Its a very small town but really nice.


JOE AND KEV CHECKING OUT ONE OF THE DISPLAYS

MUM-IN-LAW, BEV,
PRETENDING TO BE ONE OF THE
THE BEVERLEY HILLBILLIES