With every intention of only staying here for a couple of nights to pick up mail and supplies from Mt Isa, we have now been here a week, camped on the creek bank, it's just such a nice place. Every afternoon at around 5pm, everyone camped here gathers around a communal campfire and swaps stories, most nights we've had at least 8 couples. The first night here had me demonstrating how to fold up the pop-up ensuite tent, now that I have the hang of it. Everyone had a go because they've all been where I was a few weeks ago trying to wrestle the thing back into its bag. The second night, I baked a choccy cake to take over and I think the burnt bum (that I'd carefully trimmed off) was just as popular as the rest of the cake.
The mornings have been pretty cool with the first few being zero until 7.30am but the days have been lovely with mid to high 20's.
On Tuesday we drove to Mt Isa for supplies and mail pickup and Geoff bought me a new washing machine. The washing machine is a funnel with holes drilled in it, attached to a stick and worked up and down in a bucket as an agitator. The couple next door have one and it works a lot better than straight hand washing and saves hands from icy cold water.
On Wednesday we headed up to Mary Kathleen Mine and township and saw the most spectacular blue lake at the base of the mine pit (see photos). I hadn't heard about it and there were no signs, a fellow camper drew us a mud map to find it and an area covered with crystal quartz just littered all over the ground. Erin had a field day and filled a bag with all kinds of stones and crystals, I think we now weigh an extra 20kg.
Erin met a family with four kids, two around her age, unfortunately they could only stop over night but she had fun while they were here. She is very popular with everyone we meet and she has now thanked us for taking her with us on this adventure.
Everyone keeps telling us to keep moving, the weather's getting hotter up north. We know, that's when places are less crowded because everyone has gone back down south!
