Fri, 23rd June, 2023 Bush camp by Arthur River on Plenty Highway, NT to Bush camp by Georgina River, west of Boulia, Qld

8.4 degrees at 7am so the heater went on and we got up when it was a lovely 20 degrees! Clear sky and cold wind.

Steve got organised to try the ‘bush welder’. He took a photo of the crack - doesn’t look much but it could have been a lot worse for us.

He got the two batteries from under the bonnet and set them up.

Gordon came over to offer his help and they will wait till Steve’s finished to make sure we will be ok which is lovely of them. Not the best mechanic’s workshop - have to watch out for nasty prickles too. First to grind it clean.

He got started and it worked but we had to stand watch to put out any fires from the hot flux landing on him and the mat! I had a cup of water to splash on the little fires! It was very chilly on the shady side of the truck but quite hot when I stood in the sun!

Steve wasn’t proud of his welding but it will do the job. He reckons he’ll be in for a ribbing from Pete and Dan when they see his work but I think he is fabulous especially when the hot bits were falling on him and he didn’t flinch!

Not too many vehicles on the road this morning. One couple drove in and checked we were ok which was nice. We had a cuppa then said farewell to Gordon and Sheila as we were ok now and just had the slow task of packing all the stuff away again. Steve reconnected the batteries and started the truck to check he hadn’t drained the batteries too much - all good.

A willy wag-tail is hopping around the steps and the black cockatoos are back making a racket as we had lunch once we were all packed up again.

Headed off, 140km to go to the next station which is just before the NT/Qld border. Flat open country with low grass and a scattering of trees.

Low hill range off to our right.

At the turn off to Tarlton Downs is part of a rocket.

View from one of the little rises over the open countryside.

Further along we stopped to read another of the Outback Way information boards - bit hard to photograph in the sun though.

The view ahead. Mt Guide (on left with flat top) & Pinnacles (on right) and part the Tarlton Range.

Continued up and down small rises for a while. Through a rougher section through some hills then onto a flatter smoother section. We passed a sign showing a kangaroo which we never see but now we have just passed a recently killed one on the side of the road. The only cattle we have seen have been around water points. The traffic has been quiet today too.

Through a wide bull dust section - reminds us of our night time drives up to Lakefield NP and disappearing into the bull dust holes there.

We spotted a cattle truck coming towards us so Steve got off on the not so dusty side to wait for him to pass. Just as he reached us he stopped! Then he started again and turned off onto a track that we hadn’t seen, so must be heading down to collect some cattle.

A few rough bits and soft sections for a while then back onto the good gravel road. A big sign advertising the next station, Tobermorey Station - ‘not just a cattle station, also a service station’. They have campground, bar, mechanic, tyres, fuel etc. Obviously happy to help out the traveller. A few cars came towards us and one of them sent a big rock towards us which luckily just skimmed the top of the windscreen and rattled over the roof.

Back onto bitumen for a short section again for a truck rest area then back on the dirt for the last few kilometres to the turn off into Tobermorey Station. The road condition sign says ‘high clearance 4WD only’ to Boulia!

Into the station which looks very nice. A few travellers are parked up for the night. Green grass, nice bar area with old windmill blades on top of it.

We drove around the big mechanical shed to the fuel bowser ($2.85/L). I went over to the office and the lovely lady (who wasn’t a backpacker) came over to fix us up. She said they are a breeding station and usually send the cattle away to fatten them up before they are sold but they had a good year with rain so the cattle are still here - the truck we saw was going in to get the mustered cattle.

We looked up as a traveller pulled in and it was Gordon and Sheila. They had gone up a track onto a rise to have lunch and when they came out there were two trucks blocking the track trying to fix a flat tyre. Hence they had to wait which is why we caught up with them. They had also turned up the other road which goes north just back a bit so had to turn around hence we ended up in front of them. We had seen a vehicle go up that road. We chatted for a bit then headed off as they lined up to get fuel. They are staying here for the night whereas we are going to continue on back into Queensland as Steve had checked his welds and they are all good so he is happy to leave it till we get back to Cairns and he can get it plated and welded properly.

As we drove out a man waved to us from the camping area and came over. It was the chap with the flat tyre who wanted to thank Steve again. They were able to get the flat tyre fixed here. Steve said to him about the cracked chassis and he said what a shame he wasn’t there as he was a boilermaker/welder and he would have been happy to fix it for Steve. How nice.

Back out the main road for the short drive to the NT/Qld border where we stopped for a cuppa by the NT sign which is covered in stickers. The phone changed time 3.36pm NT now 4.05pm Qld - so its a late cuppa! There was an sign indicating an Outback Way sign was where we are parked but it has disappeared!

Drove onto the grid which is the border for a photo. End of the Plenty Highway.

No big welcome to Qld sign just a list of the stations ahead on the Donohue Highway.

Back onto bitumen, 247km to Boulia.

Passed a sign saying ‘progressive sealing’ - we will see how far they got. Rolling up and down the rise then onto the next flat section before some more rises then onto a long flat open plain where a section was made wider for an emergency landing strip for the RFDS,

Then back onto gravel road.

A couple of wedge-tailed eagles were having a bite to eat.

A Roads to Recovery sign - not sure what that is supposed to mean. Back onto the bitumen again. Why couldn’t they fill in that short section of gravel! Six motorbikes passed us heading west. Some were standing - numb bums I suppose.

Met a traveller with his van and there was just enough room for us both to stay on the bitumen.

Nice long stretch of bitumen then back on the gravel again which hasn’t been rough. Open flat country.

A huge flock of galahs took off from the ground as we crossed a grid. Passed a big road works camp but no one was there. Next section to get bitumen I suppose!

Back onto the bitumen. Across a creek then back onto gravel. Another road plant has just resurfaced this section.

Over a rise and the view is just grass plains as far as we can see - not a tree or shrub. Easy for mustering I suppose.

A lone tree.

All the little birds persist in sitting on the road and then just flying off as we arrive - luckily we haven’t hit any.

Looking on the map - it shows that on our left is the wide channel country of the Georgina River system. Bitumen section that winds back and forth then along the top of a rise so we can see the greener areas of the flood ways.

Down to the ‘river’ where a flood marker stands tall. The highest flood was in 1974.

Across the Georgina River proper - plenty of water on each side.

There is supposed to be a rest area by the river but we couldn’t find it so we followed the track down to the waterhole. 

We spotted a vehicle which was open but no one was about. We drove down towards the waterhole and some dogs came out the water. A couple of chaps with three pig dogs - complete with breast plates and aerials so they can be tracked. We parked up and they headed off.

We walked down to Midgingar Waterhole for a look. The Whistling Kites were whistling away. Lots of other birds about too.

The sun has set so we had our drinks inside as its a bit chilly outside. Already 6.15pm with the change of time.