Monday 30 June 2014 (Day 5)
We are travelling from Cloncurry to Adele Grove National Park
Happy EOFY
Hitting the road again we made good time getting away just before 0800. Our first stop is Mt Isa. We have been here before staying at Copper City Caravan Park in 2010 and did much of the tourist thing then so today we use it as a stop gap before Lawn Hill.
The landscape has changed from pastoral land to undulating mountains. The earth is a deep burnt orange that one might expect with copper mining. Although it is the dry season the flora looks alive and the amount of road carnage, it appears wildlife is plentiful and active in this cooler season.
The red rocky hills are an artists landscape against the azure sky. A picture that only the eye and heart appreciate. We continue to see the vast number of termite hills that look like gravestones raising from the plains. As we came into Cloncurry some very creative people had dressed many of them with t-shirts, singlets and hats making them appear like characters such as Santa, Norm and Jesus...such talent. It certainly breaks the drive and inspires conversation and creates memories on those long 400km journeys.
A stop at Mt Isa information to assess the vacancies at Lawn Hills proved successful at Adel's Grove as the National Park was fully booked until the 5th July. The road was fairly taxing with lots of large stones on the gravel and some corrugations. The landscape is stunning, the earth changing from the red to the grey dirt coloured earth. The termite hills as tall as a man if not taller erupt from the sides of the hill. We arrive like a good James Bond martini 'Dirty and shaken not stirred'. Once set up we found our trailer brake cable broken again which had happened previously when we drove on the Bourke-Wilcannia developmental road last year.
Adel's Grove, as history would have it, is names after French botanist Albert De Lestang. There are several 50 year old Mango trees still standing from his planting among other tropical and native flora. This is a very popular destination for people of all ages, from all states and counties. A busy yet comfortable and one for the nature lover. There is much to enjoy and experience.
Nathan has christened his new brazier with a fire and we are looking forward to toasting marshmallows for dessert tonight.
Photos
Distance
Time
Map
Adels Grove National Park Web Site