The Satellite view does not give you any real scale, but it's 200k's from Mt Isa to Alderley Station, and about the same distance to Roxbough Downs. Frank had called John to get permission for us to camp on the station property.
We took the short cut?? from Alderley Station to Roxbough Downs. Frank gave us a rough mud map thru his station tracks. We ended up some what confused with all the tracks, cattle grid's & yards, along with GPS corrd's from my Aust. Gov. Geoscience 1-250,000 maps. Ended up just following the most used tracks heading west and we ended up where we needed to BE!!
Lake Katherine approx. 4 -5k's long and 60mtrs wide. Chock a block with 'REDCLAW'
The Australian red claw crayfish, also called Queensland red claw or just redclaw, Cherax quadricarinatus, is an Australian freshwater crayfish. It is found in permanent freshwater streams, billabongs and lakes on the north coast of the Northern Territory and northeastern Queensland. Through translocation by humans, the range has spread down to southern Queensland and into the far north of West Australia. This tropical crustacean is very tolerant of environmental changes, and is primarily a detritivore.
Detritivores, also known as detritus feeders or saprophages, are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing organic matter
Redclaw colour ranges from dark brown to blue-green body and adult males have a distinct red patch on the outer margin of the claws. They can reach up to 600 grams (21 oz). Redclaw are farmed commercially in Queensland and the Northern Territory, and are harvested at between 35–130 grams (1.2–4.6 oz). Redclaw is a sought-after product with a delicate crustacean flavour. They are both non-aggressive in nature and highly fertile, and can therefore be bred in large numbers in captivity. Females, which are smaller than males, spawn approximately 300 olive green eggs which are fertilised from a spermatophore which the male has deposited at the base of her walking legs (periopods) during mating. Fertilised eggs are affixed to the females pleopods situated on the underside of the tail. Incubation takes approximately six weeks and the newly hatched juveniles rapidly become independent. The life cycle is simple and the animal reaches sexual maturity, and harvest size, somewhere between six to twelve months in optimal farmed conditions. Queensland Primary Industries & Fisheries provides information to prospective farmers.
Crossing the Georgina River to the station, at this time of year a trickle!
Visit John the station owner to introduce ourselves and get directions to camping site's.
Direction's as follow's - down the track about 2 miles (actually 6) over two cattle grids, track on right don't take that keep going till you get to a gully don't take first track left, look for another faint track further up and take that - clear as mud - Sue's all confused!!
Crossing a tributary creek to Lake Katherine - check out the independent suspension working on the 'Bushtracker'. Just enough clearance on the van's rear rack!
No sweat we arrived at the right camp = MAGIC! and all to-ourselves, if only for a couple of hours. Long Weekend in Queensland and a camp of over twenty arrived from Mt Isa just before lunch and set up further down the lake!
1st priority = Lunch
Sue's out hunting and gathering - Baked dog biscuit's are our preferred attractant (BAIT)
Next - set up camp!
View from our 'FLY FREE ZONE'
Checkout the size of these guy's. The fishing reel which was weed covered, found tied off further up the lake. - No the red claw wasn't still hanging on!!
Shelling lunch - yeah! it's B______ cold, hence the gloves!
Another find! Yep, the hole was already cut, so some Lincoln National Park rope, and salvaged tie wraps all put to good use to make a very comfortable THRONE!!
It's cold, and the FLIES very friendly!
Fred Hill and me with PANNIKIN - see below
Crowds of folks next camp and thump,thump music all night!!
Freezing - 7 degrees in the anxexe. Trapped a baker's dozen, 13 red claw. One fellow came up looking for ventolin - as suffering shortness of breath.
Another vehicle with two Aborignials had a chat and they decided to stay and fish. Make use of our fire wood if you want.
Good chat with the old fellow Fred Hill (68) knew Frank Blackets father on Alderley Station, a stockman for 20 odd years and still breaking horse's. Now works for the Mt Isa Shire gardening etc. (must say the gardens looked great, Fred stated 25 gardeners employed by the shire).
Fred lit a fire and boiled his pannikin for a cupa tea, then came over to chat as we were fishing off the bank. I commented about his pannikin, and the fact you don't see them any more. As he was leaving Fred came over and gave me the pannikin along with the insert section, stated it was just kicking around his vehicle and the young fellow had no interest in it. Greatfully accepted, so gave him our red claw haul, the bakers dozen!!
Catching Spangled Perch, Striped Grunter on squid and KAB Prawns.
What a SUNDOWNER!
Feast your eye's on this lot!! Cooked, yet to be shelled!
Launching and mooring our Tinnie' 'FISHABOUT'
Flocks of White Cocky's
Hairy tree truck around here!
Fairy Martin nest - how they enter their nest in full flight is amazing!
Barcoo Grunter or Beam, excellent eating and even better ______!
Mirror conditions
The only way to sit out doors with out the
'FLIES' smoke-em' away!
'FLIES' smoke-em' away!
Formation flying at it's best!
Our billy collection
Perfect with Pumpkin soup
Followed by a cupa in my new pannikin!
A true blue Aussie, outback out door 'DUNNY'
Not one to miss an opportunity, might as well collect some fire wood on my excursions into the bush!
Look at the size of this guy!
Now that tells the story!
REDCLAW before cooking!
Who's hungry?
Barcoo Grunter - as stated great eating, but even better SMOKED, as they have about an 1/8" of fat under their skin, which is ideal for smokin'. This is about a big as they get = 35cm.
Ideal conditions for fly fishing, but these fish are very fussy and lazy!
This snag was very productive for the Barcoo Grunter
Pulling the tinnie (literally) from the lake, for a clean down and loading.
Three blokes and two kids from Mt Isa pulled in on Saturday morning, and soon had 14 traps in the lake. They estimated over two days they will trap over 1,000 redclaw. They had the beer keg with a high pressure burner going for hour's cooking the red claw. 90 redclaw to a basket.
Time to head South for my brothers wedding.
0720hrs on the road, meet John (Roxbough Downs owner) heading out mustering as we drove past the homestead. Welcome any time just drop by! ( You bet Ya! - more REDCLAW)
Onto Donohue Hwy, 204k's before camping for the day, an average speed of 50kph.
Donohue Hwy to the Plenty Hwy. Again these's Highway's are not your urban type dual lane hard topped public roads. But gravel, sand and loose rocks with corrugations ranging from ripples to speed bumps. Tire's lowered to 30psi all round.
Over night camp, used gravel pit off the highway
On the road early and 20k's down the track, a fellow flagged us down.We were stopping anyway as he had a wheel off and camp stretcher with swag out. 1st thing we asked "what's you tire pressure?" 50psi, Okay 30 is the go on these roads. Three puntures in 20k's, unable to plug the last puncture, new Mickey (Mouse) Thompson tires. Our spare fitted his Holden Redeo, 6 stud, 16". His wheels 15" thus 4 x 4 fighting the transmission, locked it out. Grahame Moore, from Goondiwindi.
Road works on several setions of the hwy but the other sections very corrugated and worse than the Gary Junction Road.
We stopped for breakfast, Grahame kept going to Jervois Station to get his tire repaired, but no go. Next plan follow us for the next 80k's. We lasted 30k's, then a 'wee' stop and suggested he take off to Alice Springs and we would catch up in Alice next day.
Jervois Station fuel = $1.97 / ltr. We checked out the Atitjere Community - fuel $1.85/ltr, and later at Gem Tree - $1.95/ltr. Note - at any community you visit they have a long lunch hour - 1200 - 1400hrs so you may be waiting around for fuel.
How would you like this in your back yard? What with all the tourist stopping to take photo's!
They have got a long way to go on the UPGRADE!
Grahame caught up with us in Alice, unable to repair the tire. Only two new tires in town avaliable to fit his vehicle. Grahame then shouted us to lunch at the Orche Rest. in Todd Mall - greatly appreciated.
This is what a cattle grid looks like on the Ghan Track!
Neat clouds!
Rest Area - off the Lincoln Hwy - Eight Mile Creek Beach - just south of Whyalla.
Partial eclise's of the moon. Not bad for hand held!
Caught up with Clarrie & Helen, Pepper & Susie in Tumby Bay - RV Camp area, they had the place to themselves for a week. Helen enticed us to stay for lunch - Roast PIG! You bet Ya!
Camped at my brother's place in Port Lincoln, time to catch up on family and friends and Neil's wedding before heading off again on holiday's to Thailand. Visiting Sue's family and friends - It's a hard life!!
