TOD Tour 2.0 Day 34 - Normanton to Cloncurry

Burke Development Road - Normanton - Burke & Wills Roadhouse - Cloncurry - 382kms (3965km)

A driving day with little to report. Stopped at Burke & Wills Roadhouse after 180kms for some fuel and a cuppa. Had to accept lower octane fuel than I would prefer but shouldn't create too much hassle as a one off. Pushed on another 120kms for a stop at the Terry Smith Lookout. Didn't see Terry, even though we looked out for him. Sue took the wheel for the afternoon shift for the remaining leg to Cloncurry. Her first drive of the tour.

TOD Tour 2.0 Day 27 - Julia Creek to Burke & Wills Roadhouse

Flinders H'way - Julia Creek to Cloncurry 135km; Burke Development Rd - Cloncurry to

Burke & Wills Roadhouse 183km (3559km)

Having discussed the shortest route to Karumba along the Wills Development Rd with locals and consulted some online forums and finding drawbacks, we opted instead for better roads, access to groceries for my difficult diet and cheaper fuel by traveling first west to Cloncurry and then north to the Burke and Wills Roadhouse.

The strong winds from the south east continued all day, mostly aiding our direction of travel, which accounts for another excellent day of low fuel consumption.

Cloncurry proved a useful route choice, answering almost all of our needs and in fact exceeding them in regards finding a cafe. A new one has opened since we were last here in 2017 and it was a winner.

The first half of the afternoon was spent driving almost directly north toward the Gulf of Carpentaria. Our only stop was an unintentional one at the Terry Smith Lookout. The only place where we had reception in the 183km north and at that moment Sarah rang to speak with her mother! I pulled in and they caught up.

We are staying at the Burke and Wills Roadhouse tonight. I'm not sure why but I love roadhouses. They are blatantly obvious about what they are, without pretense. You'll find better campsites, better coffee, cleaner showers and cheaper fuel BUT you won't eat a better steak or drink a colder beer and you won't find a more cosmopolitan staff anywhere. There's just something about them I can't help loving.

Click for today's photos

We had a few beers to wash the sunset down and while Sue ordered steak sandwiches, I talked with son Chris to sort out some incoming mail and bills to be paid. Finishing up, I spied some familiar faces - well familiar from some time ago - and dropped myself on them. Kenton and Pam Shaw were a couple we knew when we taught at Tambar Springs. A long catch up ensued.

You just never know who you'll see at a Roadhouse!