Met
up with Matchless Claude and wee rode out to the Kalkani Crater
together and did the walk. Short climb to the top with
circumnavigation of the crater rim. Most excellent. On the way back
down we pass a guided tour coming up. The guide asks if we saw
anything of interest. I mention a tree in full blossom full of bees.
The guide responds with 'Did you eat any?' We say no why? “They're
hallucinogenic – will cause you to have weird visions!” responds
the guide. Claude & I look at each other. Mmmm? Not worth the
climb back up we both respond. The tour party laugh and we go our
separate ways. Claude is heading in the same direction as me – at
least for the next 60km or so. We head down the highway towards Mt
Surprise to re-fuel.
I
find M & U parked under a shade tree in Mt Surprise. Perfect
timing.
We
review the plans for the day and agree to press on beyond Georgetown
to a camp site 25 km further west. Travelling west in the afternoon
is stressful with the sun directly in your eyes. The road in places
is single lane bitumen, with the protocol being that approaching
vehicles pull over to the side with one set of wheels remaining on
the bitumen. Being on bikes we cannot pull over to the gravel
shoulder so we stay as far left as practicable and hope the
approaching vehicles do the right thing. We (so far) have managed to
avoid any close encounters on these single lane sections with
road-trains.
Lovely
spot to camp. An old gold mining centre (Cumberland), with an old dam
creating a billabong refuge for birds and wildlife. Nothing remains
of the settlement except the chimney stack from the smelter and the
dam turned billabong. It's still relatively early so we are able to
pick out a good site. No facilities so we are bush camping.
The
local landowner turns up to drop of some salt lick for his cattle.
Chats for a while and shows us some bush tucker growing next to our
camp site. Small fruit that taste like cooked apple.
Tomorrow
we will press on towards Normanton.
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