Mt Isa to Devils Marbles

16/03/2010

Left Mt Isa a little later than expected, we started talking to Peter and Wendy who are long time travellers into the NT. They have invited us to meet them at Sinclairs Fisherman's retreat on the Daley River where they will take us to an aboriginal community and go Barra fishing with them, we are to meet up in about 5 days, can't wait. We crossed the border at 2.00 where we took a few photos etc, not much to see out here, no big trees, no animals but plenty of wedge tail eagles. There is no phone, no internet and no radio out here which when you are used to this type of stuff it is a little bit daunting We thought that we would have a shortish drive and stay at a free stay opposite the Avon Downs police station as we were quite nervous about our first free stay in the middle of nowhere. When we arrived it was around 2.30 in the afternoon and considering the sun doesn't set till around 8.00 we would have had a long stay in the sun as there was little or no shade. So a decision was made to drive for another 1 1/2 hours which would not get us to Barkleys Homestead but we got to Wonarah Bore. There was water everywhere and I went for a walk to see if I could see any signs of crocs, I got back safely. No toilets or showers a very large parking spot a fair way off the road and in the middle of nowhere. We watched the sun go down, had a couple of beers and we had to decide if we left the windows open to allow a breeze into the van, it was very hot so we had no choice, were we going to be attacked by dangerous people during the night. Around 10 a car came into the grounds and drive up past our van which made us a bit nervous but it was simply other campers weary from a days driving. It became freezing during the night which meant climbing under the dooner but we woke the next morning alive and safe. Today the intention is to drive through to Devils Marbles to witness the sunset and sunrise and then we will drive back to Tennant Creek.