Back in Alice

Highlights	Not such highlights
Driving through Outback Queensland in comfort - both	Driving through Outback Queensland -both
Items for sale - Kate	Being surrounded by so much that is so familiar - Kate
Arriving in Alice and being greeted by friends – Both!!	Missing hugs from home
Hearing familiar bird calls - Kate
Writing for a wide audience - Kate
Being surrounded by so much that is familiar - Both

It is less than a month since we left Mackay. For a ‘semi-retired life’, it has been pretty full on! We travelled from Mackay to Charters Towers, a leisurely 460km, which was quite an easy day even though we didn’t leave until after feeding the dogs and horses and cleaning the house. Will had been hitched up for two days so I knew he was keen to hit the road.

From Charters Towers we went to Cloncurry. We stopped at Julia Creek for fuel and lunch. A bakery had great reviews, the best home-made food around. Hats off to the enterprising couple who had converted one room of their home into a shop front and were doing a roaring trade. We stood on a street corner, under the shade of a tree and ate our goodies. I couldn’t quite work out what their sculptures in the roundabout were – I’ll let you interpret the artwork anyway you’d like.

I certainly wouldn’t say I’ve visited outback Queensland because, as you’ll see if you keep reading, it was a pretty quick trip across, however standing in this tiny town, with no traffic, looking out towards very little, I did get a sense of the vastness of the country.

I woke early in Cloncurry, much as I had been doing at Mackay, so set off for a walk. It was dark, really quite dark so I considered going back to the van but decided that was silly, it would lighten up soon. I walked and waited; I'd forgotten just how much further west we were. Sunrise is 35 minutes later in Cloncurry than on the coast. Anyway, I made it safely to the local bakery and enjoyed a coffee on the way back.

By then it was light enough to see in the windows of the shops that are still trading. I wasn’t particularly surprised to see the Akubra hat display or the cowboy boots in one window but the Rodeo shop did catch me by surprise. There were lassos, stirrups, hats and items I couldn’t even name. It’s not long now until their rodeo – what a treat it would be to be there!

From Cloncurry we headed to Mount Isa. No time to stop other than to fuel up as we were due to head west(ish) to Lake Nash Station, Alpurrurulam. Depending which roads we took about a two and a half hours detour from the main road. We’d spoken to the station manager and he’d sent a mud map. Now, keep in mind one day we we’d love to go off road and explore this vast land. One day, when we have satellite phones, extra fuel cans and no deadlines hanging over our heads. On this particular day we had no extra fuel, no phone coverage and I had a pressing deadline! But no, Will was sure we should stop in on our way to Alice, we’d be doing the CEO of the museum a big favour if we checked out the windmill on offer and besides, weren’t we wanting to go different places!

So off we set, watching with extreme care not to miss the first marked turn from the main road, 20km north of Mt Isa. No where between 12km and 30kms did we see a marked turn off. Things were not looking good! This we assumed was the easiest part of the trip and we were already lost! We continued to Camooweal, arriving in time for an early lunch. We decided it would be best to go windmill hunting and off roading another time. We rang the station manager and informed him we’d try another day.

With so much day light left we made our way to Barkly Homestead for the evening, a pleasant 550km journey for the day. We were now back in the Northern Territory – so I have certainly travelled across the flat terrain around Charters Towers and through the escarpment filled scenery of Mt Isa but one day I hope to experience outback Queensland.

An interesting smokers section at Barkly Homestead

We stopped for a stretch of the legs and a quick walk at Karlu Karlu. Hopefully we will time it right for a longer cup of tea stop next time we go by.

Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve

As we were so close to Alice we continued on. We’d left Mackay on Wednesday and pulled into the campground Saturday afternoon. We were greeted with friendship, a firepit and a meal - what could say welcome back more than that! Maybe the second night’s welcome back meal which was also fully organised for us!! Unfortunately, it was only a few nights later when we were farewelling Bobby! But that's the life of a campground - hellos and goodbyes on a pretty regular basis.

On the first morning I heard a bird call, and realised I hadn’t heard it since I was last in Alice Springs. It was nice to be back amongst familiar sounds, spaces and faces. But after a few days it became unsettling; I’d thrived on three months of new and unfamiliar and here I was feeling like I’d seen it all before. Will, on the other hand, was the most relaxed he’d been since leaving Fishy. Typical us, bloody opposites attract!

Unusual cloud formation over campground

A track just over the back I'd never walked before

Catching up with Maria (and Rudy) was a wonderful surprise

Sunsets - familiar but always slightly different

Luckily, I had a rather pressing project and tight timeline to focus on. I’d been asked to research and create a major display that will be opened here in late August. I’ll share more after opening day, but thanks to those of you who had shared that my writing made you feel like you were right there with me, I’d said yes to a project I truly didn’t understand. I’ll be quite honest, if I’d known what was involved I’m sure I’d have backed away but as daunting as it has been and continues to be, I’m glad I’ve given it a go.

I have spent weeks interviewing, chatting with and learning about people’s lives and putting their words into their story. Pressing send on emails to have these people read my interpretation of a small part of their life was incredibly scary. It was such a joyous moment when people replied saying “I hadn’t thought about that for years, thanks for bringing back the memories.” or “You took me right back there!” That was such a compliment.

By watching Jac, who has put my writing into a PDF via a publishing program I was only vaguely familiar with, I’ve learnt a huge amount about that tool. I always feel better when I’m learning something new, so that was wonderful. Will, Terry and Wally have moved and changed trucks to get the display area organised. Jim and Graham have prepared the wall. My siblings sent documents for me to read and learn from. Karen W, Bob and others have been my editors, such a team effort to get this display together. Even now, typing this and telling the world I’ve been apart of this my stomach is churning. I honestly don’t think I will be able to be in the room as they set up the display. They can call me in when it’s done and we know that our project has worked, because it truly is our shared project.

So, what am I going to do now? How am I going to find new within the familiar? Stay tuned… Kate and the Beast (also known as the Ram) are going on regular adventures together.