We are staying at my girlfriend, Robyn's, place. She moved to Cloncurry with her hubby & daughter 3 months ago. We met in Brisbane when our first child was born. About 6 of us formed a Mum's group & every year (bar this one) we go away by ourselves.
Robyn's Roadhouse (the nickname we have given her place) is full up, as there are two caravans in her backyard - one ours & the other Robyn's sister & bro-in-law (who have been on & off the road for 3 years & make us look the amateurs we are with their modest, yet practical set up!). This is a great campsite except for the fact that I have forgotten how noisy civilisation is!
Last night the neighbours had a party - it progressed in typical fashion with laughter & general merriment kicking things off, the music & voices getting louder as the evening continued, until finally it ended in a loud argument with many repeats of the same phrases! In my very uncharitable state I hoped they would 'knock each other out'! My many telepathic death stares & 'very cross' words finally seemed to have had an effect (unless they really did knock each other out!). After all, it was a Monday night - people have to work you know!
As the noise from the party abated, another started - this time a dog's 'chaotic choir' was in full singing practice! A tenor would bark - as he finished, a baritone would take up the tune & a soprano would sing loudly with occasional choruses sung by the rest of the neighbourhood choir! I am sorry but I just could not appreciate the harmonies & nuances of the 'barks' the choir made!
One more thing to add to the 'symphony of sounds' was the repeated rumblings of the road trains! Road Train drivers are nocturnal! I have now tested this on two consecutive nights as the night before last we had to camp in a spot next to the road - and yes, the Road Train driver is busiest at night - ferrying their freight from place to place, all under the cover of darkness!
Enough of my cacophonous evening & to tell of the Tidy's tours to date...
We left Long Waterhole in Winton on Sunday. I was very spoiled on Friday for my birthday - pressies, breakfast in bed, a visit to The Age of Dinosaurs (I'm not going to become a palaeontologist!), and a lovely cake & dinner at the pub! Not to mention the many birthday wishes I received by phone, text & facebook (thank you everyone!). I even had a short time to myself when John took the kids into town for 'secret bday stuff' - time to yourself & by yourself is a very rare & precious commodity!
We have had one major 'injury' to Bruce! As we arrived in Cloncurry we noticed the bike rack had cracked and needs to be re-welded! We've come to the right place by staying at Robyn's Roadhouse as her husband, Brad, manages a Cement place, so Bruce is being mended as I write!
We will spend another night or so in Cloncurry but will resort to imbibing much alcohol tonight to 'knock me out' (hopefully before I reach the argumentative stage!).
We have yet to decide which way we'll head - North to Darwin or South West to Uluru.... I'll let you know!
I do apologise that I can't put a caption on the photos (I'm using my iPad so can't do this - when I use my laptop I will be able to - hopefully!).
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