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For the record..

Total distance travelled including side trips = 8794 klms
Total liters of fuel = 1999.1
Total cost of fuel = $3482.20

Average cost of fuel per liter = $1.77
Highest amount paid per liter = $2.06 at Aileron Store (north of Alice Springs) and at Renner Springs
Lowest amount paid per liter =  $1.47 at Port Augusta

Average cost per 1000 klms for fuel = $403
Highest cost per 1000 klms for fuel = $531 (from Fitzroy Crossing to Halls Creek) bad head wind!
Lowest  cost per 1000 klms for fuel = $325 (from Halls Creek to Fitzroy Crossing) good tail wind!

1st July, On the stretch of road from Threeways to Camooweal we saw a dozen of these westbound cattle road trains (left) and noticed they were all empty. I used my CB to ask one of the drivers where they were going without a load. He explained that they were in the process of bringing all the cattle back from the docks at Darwin where they could not be put onto boats. They had to be returned to the cattle stations in Queensland. The trucks were now going to Darwin to get another load. I feel badly for the cattle station owners, their workers, the trucking people, and everybody else affected. But, it seems to me that THEY HAVE HAD YEARS TO FIX THE CRUELTY PROBLEMS - THEY HAVE PAID A SMALL FORTUNE TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE - BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. The cruelty problems should have been corrected a LONG time ago. In my opinion, the slow and cruel method of killing livestock is akin to the "Secret Womens Business" which our politicians fell for. Get off your horse Allan!

There are many huge patches of charred landscape (left) that look as though they would take years to grow back. I wonder how long it takes. I also wonder if this was intentional, accidental, or natural (lightning).

This cyclist (right) did not appear to be especially unusual until I realized that it was a LITTLE OLD LADY, maybe in her seventies or eighties!!!

At a roadhouse we were reminded that they have recently experienced cyclones in the area. And this dog reminded us that it was time for lunch.

As we arrived at Camooweal we spotted some caravans settled in beside the Georgina River. A drive through the bush along the rivers edge revealed a gem of a free camping area. There were at least a hundred caravans along the rivers edge (right).

The scenery was brilliant (left) with thousands of birds nesting on the banks. We will stop here for two nights and will remember this free camp area.

No, this was not mine. It is not always possible to get off the road when a tyre has gone flat on a caravan and sometimes the driver just keeps going until there is somewhere to get off the road. This is the result (right).

3rd July,

A few hundred kilometers east of Camooweal is the mining town of Cloncurry with it's dubious reputation for the hottest day ever recorded in Australia (left).

We quickly noticed that their railway lines are a bit rough. With temperatures like that it is not surprising. I'm sure they don't have many visitors arriving by rail! (right).

I think the visitors all come here on horseback.

My memories of Cloncurry will always be rodeo and bush singers.

It's a small world ... about three weeks ago, as we travelled west towards Broome, we met a very friendly and informative couple who were on their way East (from Broome). We have since met up with them on THREE different occasions in THREE different towns ! ! with so many kilometers in between - what a small world!

Bob told us to watch out for the free camp area at Camooweal and I'm glad he did. It was excellent. Bob also told me about the "Scan Guage" that fits into the diagnostics port in the Landcruiser (and many other cars too). It's a very useful tool for the modern computerized vehicles. Thanks Bob!

7th July,

We spent last night at another "free camp" alongside the Campaspe River. This morning we drove less than 100 klms east to Charters Towers. Along the way, at a tiny township called Homestead, I saw the first "Ride on Lawnmower" that they had built.

The caretaker of the Community Hall recommends that every tourist with a camera has a ride on it - his plan is working. The lawns of the local community hall are immaculate.

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