Let the Honeymooning Begin.....

Hi Everyone!

Well, we're finally got this blog up and running...actually, more to the point, we've finally managed to stay somewhere long enough where there is internet service!
We started our week on Monday, the 2nd May by staying with Rob & Leah at the Sunshine Coast (thanks for a great 2 nights and a roast beef in the camp oven!). Rick insisted we go fishing the next day after a night of drinking with Rob! Rob & I caught 2 each, Rick caught nothing! Haha, Rick was not impressed but I'm sure that will all change throughout our trip and he will definitely be the hunter and I the gatherer!
Our first official night we spent camping on the side of the road just outside of Amby, cooked a roast pork in the camp oven, delicious!! Was great for sandwiches over the next few days! Started writing in our diary, trying to capture memories we can reflect on later in life, we're getting a laugh out of it anyway!
Got to Mt Isa Friday afternoon. Was great to see where we'll be living for the next 2 years and I even managed to catch up with an old friend Robyn Huddy, who I knew in Cunnamulla. Unfortunately she is moving away before we even get there!! But nonetheless, we met some of her friends who are keen to catch up with us again when we move there.


Mum bought me this before we left, we've got it hanging in the care. Love you mama!



Our first dinner on the road! Roast Pork!!

We saw this sow and piglets just after Longreach!

We were standing on the other side of the train tracks when I took this photo!

 

Walkabout Hotel - where Crocodile Dundee was filmed!



Our camp kitchen set up at Mt Isa

Complete Camp Set Up at Mt Isa

A gorgeous river crossing to get to Lawn Hill National Park - Rick didn't think so, the current was a bit strong!

Rick cautiously crossing the river!

Nearly there!

The stunning creek at Adels Grove where we camped for 2 nights

Relaxing on a pontoon at Adels Grove. Gee life is tough :)

We left Mr Isa Sunday morning. Next destination, Lawn Hill National Park.  We arrived there in the afternoon at a campsite called Adels Grove. We immediately loved it!! Camped by the creek where you can swim, fish and canoe. We stayed there for 2 nights. Got some great pics. On the day of depature, we got some bad news that the road between Doomadgee and Hells Gate was still closed due to flooding so we had to back track down the road we can on which was about 220km! and then head west to Camooweal and drive to Darwin that way. We stayed the night at Avon Downs which is basically a rest area near the property called Avon Downs and a police station! The winds were freezing but still managed to cook a beautiful lamb roast and was entertained by a lone traveller called Allan who cooked his dinner on our fire and sat with us to keep warm, sipped on some wine and swapped stories. I'm sure we will run into him along the way as he is pretty much travelling in the same direction as us! We then hightailed it to Cape Crawford, spent the night there at the Heartbreak Hotel, left the next morning heading to Mataranka.  Along the way we stopped at Daly Waters and the pub there was amazing. We decided to have lunch and have a look around. Not before we discovered Rick had left the headlights on and we had a flat battery. Oops!! But it didn't take long to have a kind couple help us out with a jump start. Got the car going, gave them a bottle of wine in appreciation for their help (the wife was very happy!) and made it to Mataranka before dark. So here we are still at Mataranka. There is a 3 day festival here which was great timing! Yesterday we went for a swim in the Bitter Springs which is a natural thermal spring and cooked damper and cauliflower and bacon soup before we walked into town which was about 6km return. Watched a Brahman Bull and Female Cattle sale, nearly bought one as my hat flew off my head and my arm went up!! The auctioneer thought I was placing a bid! Not sure where we would have fitted the bull in our car, but I'm sure we would have squeezed it in somewhere at the prices they were selling for!!!! Came home, sat around the fire with a lovely couple camping beside us. I gave her my damper recipe which she thought was fantastic (gave her some we made at lunch time) as she told us she always ends up with rock cakes!! Today, we are heading back into town, watching a game of cricket, The Parks & Wildlife vs The World (so basically everyone else who wants to play can do so) and then there is a Gymkhana & Rodeo tonight. So that is us for now. We will be leaving tomorrow morning and eventually making our way up to Darwin to spend a week or so there and visit Rick's Aunty Eileen! Until then, we are having an awesome time and looking forward to more adventures along the way!!

Hope you enjoy the pics! There are heaps more to come!

Love Rick & Tegs