We met up with our friends Ted and Narelle at Chillagoe and from here we took the Savannah alternate route to Karumba. This road is gravel and quite rough, not many people choose to go this way. Along the way we found a couple lovely campsites one on the Mitchell river, right next to the causeway. The boys took the boat out for a look around while Narelle and I enjoyed our time looking over the water crossing.
Ant mounds by the millions everywhere up here.
Karumba (at the mouth of the Norman River) is a place we have not visited before. Usually a very good fishing area but when we asked how the fishing was at the moment they said (not good yet, still too cold), so we gave the fishing a miss. It was lovely to watch the Sunset while having dinner at the Sunset Tavern.
Kev enjoyed a few beers.
Normanton originally was the port for the Croydon Gold Rush in the 1800s. Now it is a major Government service center for the Gulf Savannah. It is a must to get a photo with Krys the Croc in the main street, a replica of the biggest croc ever shot at 8.63 metres long.
Leichhardt Falls was so pretty even if the falls were not running. Spotting the freshwater crocs in the waterhole was made easy filming from the Drone.
We spent 2 nights here.
Hells Gate Roadhouse on the Barkly Tablelands is an oasis on the dry dusty road.
Stopping in at Borroloola we found it has grown a lot since our visit 10 years ago. There is 3 small Supermarkets with basic needs a Hardware store a Watering point and a Dump point.
The road is very rough out to King Ash Bay at the moment. It is still worth the drive. Here at King Ash there is a store that sells quite a selection of things from groceries to hardware to fishing needs and also fuel. There are powered and non powered sites here.We chose a non powered site down on genie flats which is right on the bank overlooking the river. Kev and Ted put their boats in at the boat ramp and bought them up to below our camp. In the river we caught some Queenfish. Pop a fellow camped not far from us offered to show us the way out to the mouth of the river, an hour and 15 minutes later we were fishing in a reefy area where we caught heaps of fish and kept3 Blue Salmon 4 big Cod and 2 Fingermark. Awesome !!!
The boys enjoying a beer after a big day fishing.
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Hi guys, met you at the two pubs at Chillagoe. Shared a couple of poems with you. You might remember “Do it while you can”. My name is Kev Matthews. I have finished my book of poems, “Serenity by a camp fire” and copies are now on sale. If you would like to order yours let me know and I will send details. Remember, do it while you can. Cheers. Kev.