Girls Arrive

The rest of the family arived safely leaving Melbourne @ 15deg arriving 3.5 hrs later @ 28deg. So they noticed the chang whereas we had time to adjust. Done the shopping to stock up for the next 9 days on the cape. The plan tonight is to go on the dinner cruise to see Cairns from the water.

All Fixed

Drained the fuel and filled up with diesel - all good the truck is running as smooth as usual no sign of any problems. A very expensive lapse of concentration.

Cairns

Well today isn't going according to plan. (Not that we had one). Went to get fuel and thoughtlessly picjed up the wrong pump and put unleaded in. Fortunately I realised early enough before I started the engine but not before putting 160ltrs in. So after calling Big Red for help he came to tow me to a service mechanic nearby - much to Big Red's amusement as now he has a photo of his 100 towing my 200. Anyway we've emptied the Aux Tank but it will take a bit more fiddling to empty the main tank. So Little One and I have gone for a look around on foot.

Cairns

We made it! Long drive today. We chose to stay on the black top so that meant Longreach, Winton, Hughenden, Townsville, Cairns. About 1,100ks. The truck had its best day @ around 16.5l/100k.

Pizza for tea then an early night.

Charters Towers

The tropical weather has already got to the Little One. She nearly bounced off her chair with excitement at the sight of a big yellow M. Having lunch @ 2:20pm Still have 500ish ks to go.

Leaving longreach

7.15am leaving longreach

Day At Longreach

After pancake breakfast went to Qantas museum. Got to sit in the piolrt seat of a 747-200-B - Cool. Then went to see a well trained flock of sheep get rounded up by sheep dogs at the Stockmans Hall Of Fame. Finshed by getting some awesome sunset photos and typical country town chinese.

Road Fauna

Although uneventful from a safety point of view we did see some fauna. Surprisingly few kangaroos (alive - numerous ex-alive ones after loosing a confrontation with a road train), quite a number of emus, 1 tortise, 3 eagles next to the road and 1 echidna. Not to mention some very large road trains includin a double B-double.

Longreach

Arrived in Longreach after an uneventful trip - apart from a stopp about 25kms out to take heaps of photos of a magnificent sunset.

Charleville

12:30pm Lunch and inspection of rain making cannons from 1902

Leaving bourke 7.43am

Hilston 1.50pm.

Bourke

On site at Bourke. Great trip up. Easy run. Road conditions excellent. Used 220ltrs of fuel. Paid 133cpl.

Swan Hill

Got away at 5:02am done 320ks. Little One is catching up with Bri. Looking for a bakery for a light brekkie snack.

5:02am rolling out.