Augathella to Mt Isa

We spent two nights in Longreach.  Longreach has lots of good memories.

We went to The School of the Air, did a tour through the facility and observed a live “on air” lesson about plastics to Grade 4 boys, who were scattered around an area twice as big as Victoria. This is amazing to try and comprehend. The teachers are worth their weight in gold. Although this Long Distance education has vastly improved from the days of two-way radios which they were using the last time we visited a School of the Air in Charleville back in the 90’s.

Now it’s done via the internet with interactive software and webcams. But it’s still tough for the teachers and students. The school in Longreach gets their students in twice a year to partake in group activates and to give the kids a chance to meet. They spend a lot of money keeping a nice grass area there so the kids can “play on the grass”.

We then went to the Qantas Museum. This place has changed big time since our last visit. They have a working Jumbo 747 on display as well as a 707. The original Qantas one. All new air-conditioned buildings even, rather than the hot and dusty shed we endured last time.

We rode our bikes around Longreach and enjoyed the dry warmer weather.

We stopped at Fanny Mae’s in Tambo for a coffee. A unique place.

We’re a bit worried about heading further north, as everyone we talk to who is heading south, has tales of hot and steaming humidity just around the corner from Mt Isa

Most caravanners are heading south now, but there are a few brave souls like us going north. So it feels like we’re heading into a sauna, but here in Mt Isa it’s still cool in the mornings at around 9⁰C getting to 30⁰ during the day.

By the time we get to Broome it’s going to be ridiculously hot and humid. I'm not sure this is the right time of year to be doing this trip.

Last night we enjoyed a Kilkenny beer at the Irish Club in Mt Isa in their tram. It’s still on its wheels and you feel it rocking as people move around. Different to say the least.

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From here we head north, which is finally off the beaten track. So when we leave Mt Isa we’ll have the van full of water and all our diesel drums filled to the max. We strike dirt roads within 120kms of heading north and won't be back on sealed roads until we are well within Northern Territory.

We hear there’s good fishing north west of here and that the Barramundi are biting. Let's hope we’re able to get a bite or two.