Day 22 – Normanton to Burketown

I woke early and got ready for my shower, ran the water for about ten minutes and got a warm shower – but I was left in the dark. After I got out and it was light, I looked around, found the local board in the kitchen and reset the circuit breaker – so all was right for Lynn to have a shower. We had breakfast near the kitchen in the company of a family camped near us – a father and two boys (6 and 9). They were from Woollongong and mum, a primary teacher, was home. We broke camp slowly and got a call back from the Burketown Caravan Park – only one site tonight, powered, so I took it. After we broke camp I rang Katherine Toyota and ordered the parts to fix the rear. I told him I wouldn’t be in until next late week. We left before 9, decided no more shopping was needed and headed out of town. The SatNav wanted me to go a roundabout route double the distance, so I just followed the signs. The scenery was interesting and varied. We went down to Burke and Wills 119 Camp and on the walk out chatted to the driver and cook for a tour company. They go Cairns to Darwin, pick up another lot and then go Darwin to Cairns. I took some photos at Little Boneyo Creek – it was larger than the actual creek – and lost my handkerchief there! It was blown out of my pocket. Soon we came across the Leichardt River. I took some photos in the river bed crossing, then we went up to the views over where the Leichardt Falls would be in the wet. Very nice scenery in what was part of the river bed. We then arrived in Burke about 1:30 and decided to have lunch at the pub. After that I booked in at the caravan park, we put the tent up (hard ground – the pegs only went in a few centimetres) and then visited the Information Centre. Most of it was about the local Lands Council and their activities – very interesting. I also enquired about the census – the local council have forms but couldn’t give them to us, but I was assured we could get them at Borroloola. The officer in charge at the Information Centre was just looking up the fines for not filling in the census, but making it online has made it difficult for those with no Internet access or those travelling. We travelled out to the moorings and ramp on the Albert River, then had a look at the Works and Landsborough Tree on the way back into town. I did some of the puzzles (which have to be back soon, so I hope Australia Post does its job), got some tea ready, started the laptop and the camera battery charging (I’m paying for power, so I might as well use it) and then transferred the photos over and cleared part of the card in the camera so I can take more over the next few days. Currently the plan is to go to Adel’s Grove, stay there for up to three nights and then return via Gregory Downs to get the maximum sealed road. We have enough to do until the parts get replaced at Katherine, so I’d rather less dirt gets in. Lynn went to bed fairly early, but I stayed up to do this blog and finish the photo transfer and battery charging (I won’t leave the cables out in the open overnight). I chatted to a chap who worked for those who had contracted the optic fibre cable from Burketown to Doomadgee – they installed by ripping the soil and then planting it 1.2 m down with a plough. Then it was off to sleep with everything charged and