Step 96 Karumba – Croydon 247 km's

Monday 1^st August TED

Editors note: Welcome to our newest blog follower. Little Olivia was born yesterday, eventually. Congratulations Dee.  She looks gorgeous in the photo's, of course.

On the move again, but first, an educational start to the day at the Barramundi Restocking Centre in Karumba. Surprisingly fascinating for us non-fishermen.

The Centre is a not for profit organisation that is breeding barramundi to help restock some of the rivers and lakes up this way to alleviate the drain on the barra bought about by more recreational fisherman making there way up here these days. The commercial fishermen blame the improvement to the roads making it easier for people to get here. But give them there due, rather than trying to stop people fishing they set up the breeding centre to get more fish in the system.

Now I'm beginning to see even more frustration in this fishing lark. These Barra are too small (and have to be thrown back):

This one is too big (and has to be thrown back)

I know that if I got any of them in the boat and had to throw them back I would be extremely disappointed. Even if I did get to give them a Rex Hunt kiss first. Not sure I would give this one a kiss though if that's its idea of puckering up

Before leaving town completely we headed out to the point for a quick morning tea. The guy with the throw net from the other day isn't there this time. Is there a happy, well fed croc out there somewhere?

It's still outback out here and the odd bit of “ribbon road” but thankfully we manage to avoid meeting any road trains on those stretches.

Lunch today in the scrub, beside the Gulflander railway track and another opportunity to test my artistic photographic skills. You are all in for a treat when we get home and we can share the whole six and a half thousand photo collection. (I'll plan for an intermission I think).

Our stop for tonight is Croydon, on the recommendation of the other Kendalls who have done this trip. A very pretty little town it is too, with plenty of history and another town that owes a lot to the gold rushes of the 1800's. The info centre was closing by the time we got there unfortunately, but there is an historic village setup just across the road so we were able to explore the old schoolhouse and police station. Di also managed to nearly have a heart attack when we visited the old jail. Some witty scallywag has setup a motion sensor as you approach the door to one of the cells. Just as Di noticed that there appeared to be a body on the bed in the cell, “the body” spoke to her. While I saw the funny side immediately, Di took a little while to start breathing again before she could have a giggle.

Back at the caravan park we chatted to the couple out the back who were having “fun” setting up their brand new satellite dish. There is a guy staying on the caravan park in Karumba doing a good business in selling these things. This is the third couple we have met in the last couple of days who bought one off him.

So it's pretty dusty down the mine then?

Finished off the night with the second half of the prawns we bought in Karumba, beautifully cooked in a fried rice. Special. Well done me.