Day 23 Mount Isa to Barkly Homestead

Last night we had a look at Mount Isa and the mine as the sun began to set.  It was spectacular.  Today, 450km along the Barkly Highway via Camooweal (population 310) had us into Barkly Homestead, about 260km into the Northern Territory.  The beautiful hills around the Mount Isa area gave way to Savannah like plains of almost canary yellow grass.  60km after Camooweal, the countryside changed yet again to undulating, tree filled plains.  The trees were slightly stunted with an occasional larger one.

Now for some trivia.

• we saw only one house (at Soudan Station) in the 260km run from Camooweal to Barkly Homestead
• once we left the colourful rocks at Mount Isa, only a single red coloured rock was in evidence right through to Barkly Homestead
• speed limit 130km/h once you cross the border into the Northern Territory
• roads excellent but we restrained ourselves to 100km/h
• a lot of trucks on the road were moving cattle - we actually passed one
• diesel price at Barkly Homestead is 209.9c/l

290414 Mount Isa and the mine at twilight

290414 Georgina River west of Camooweal

290414 Georgina River west of Camooweal, on its way to Lake Eyre

290414  Barkly Highway, yellow grassy plains and a mirage

290414 A welcome sign west of Camooweal

290414 Rankin River east of Barkly Homestead

290414 New speed sign for us

290414 Barkly Homestead - an welcome oasis in the outback