Mt Isa -
We had a wonderful reception at Mt Isa after driving through the road carpeted with dead locusts. Accommodation was with the president of Mt Isa Rotary where we stayed in the downstairs bedroom with an ensuite, while Grahme and Nobbi were upstairs in a twin bedroom. Doug and Tui were in a town house opposite with the same accommodation as us. We nearly went up to reception thinking that we were in a motel!
32 members of Mt Isa Rotary Club and 15 others attended a BBQ in the courtyard, followed by an array of sweets, cheese cakes, apple pies and drinks. We played heads and tails as well as hearing a new Rotary Grace. Then Grahme & Steve gave an informal talk about what we were doing.
The club runs the Rodeo (the largest in the southern hemisphere), with the towns people all very social. Fishing at Burketown, camping at Adeles Grove, kayaking at Moondarah, Birdsville races, canoe races on the Gregory and camel races in a small town.
They pledged $500 and sent us on our way with rolls, teacake and various other goodies.
Tennant Creek -
Then off to Tennant Creek with only 4 members. They fundraise by catering for the Australia Day breakfast, run the Calcutta for the Melbourne cup, run the bar at the show and hold an annual ball at $100 per head. We went to the El Dorado for a meeting where we were provided with a free meal and drinks. The accommodation was in the pavilion at the show ground, a bit like an aircraft hanger where we put our swags on the floor, had fans and an ablution block. Grahme took his bike to his bit of the floor and operated on the air filter blocked with locusts.
17.3 -
A hot ride through bush fires to Mataranka Springs where we farewelled Nobbi at the bar & bought our own bistro meal, had a swim in the Hot Springs and camped under the stars. The pea-hens picked the dead locusts from under our car and trailer while the kangaroos browsed near our swags. Bats flew over in profusion giving us half price camping fees! Steve and I are now in Katherine where we are staying in the club house of the Rotary Fun Park, putt putt golf, giant chess, giant drafts are all being restored by 10 blokes working for the dole and being supervised by Rotarian Bob Mackey. They are having a BBQ for us tomorrow night.
The rest of the team have gone to Darwin where Nobbi flies back to Japan. Grahme is doing a presentation at the Sunrise Club there and then we will meet up with them at Victoria River, where we will have the camp set up and a meal ready for them. Grahme has been a tower of strength making sure the riders have plenty of stops, water and food. There is never a complaint from him although we know he is suffering many aches, it is REALLY hot! I have sore eyes from the perspiration going into them, Tui has to drive a car without air conditioning and Doug nearly cooks in his leather jacket and boots… but we are up to $14,500 so it is going well.
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