BUS+OZxUS=cya

WE MADE - MT ISA IS WELL BEHIND US NOW

I am not sure who was the happier the mechanic or us - the part arrived the engine got put back together and we packed ourselves up and headed west.

Our first night away from Mt Isa was at Camooweal about 180k to the west just inside the border with the NT. Jim was running in the engine by changing speeds and revs, but by the end of the day he was pretty happy the way it was all going. Water and oil use was minimal.

Set up camp at a free camp about a km out of town then back in for a couple of cold beers at the Camooweal Pub. In case you wonder about Sam we parked the car right outside the pub and sat near the door so he could see and we could see him, he seemed happy with that arrangement.

Beautiful clear night very little moon so we got to see the milky way - very special something everyone should see.

Next morning we crossed the border into the NT, big long flat road that just kept going. Past Barkly Homestead which is not a homestead it is a service station and caravan park and onto The Three Ways. This is where you turn left to go south to Alice Springs or right to go to Darwin or whatever takes your fancy in between. We turned right another night at a free camp on the Stuart Highway and then into Katherine. Which is about 1000km from the border with next to no towns between really.

Good town - I have spent a bit of time at the hospital. I got an infection in my foot where I had my surgery. The climate the dust and the flies all add up to some nasties here. Jim was a bit concerned back in Mt Isa and I went to see a doctor there but he told me there was nothing to worry about. The staff at Katherine hospital have been great and have been pumping the antibiotics into me. All should be good in a day or two.

Katherine is another one of those decision places - from here you head west to Kununurra which puts you in WA or north to Darwin. We are heading north, tell you all about it next blog.

We were very glad to see this sign with Mt Isa behind us.