We woke to a breezy 22 Celsius.  During the night we didn’t need very much covering.  This morning we are off to Karumba.  Ron always wanted to see it.  It’s a Mecca for fishermen.  We have been warned that it wasn’t likely we’d get accommodation.  70 km from Normanton to Karumba is nothing for us who travel hundreds of km in a day.  Just outside of Normanton is some marsh land and a lovely billabong full of water lilies, apparently a haven for crocodiles too.  The road side vista to Karumba consists of some spindly thickets of trees and then flat land with very sparse clumps of grass.  I arrived in Karumba with a city mentality, I got a shock, there is hardly any substantial building there and red dust & sand blowing strongly.  I wanted to take a photo but Ron wouldn’t let me – he said that the dust & sand would get into the camera.  We did the sites by walking on a short mangrove boardwalk then we sat in the car listening to the wind and watching the sandbars grow in the mouth of the Normanton River as the tide went out  (I don’t know who started snoring first).

The most amazing thing there is this beautiful big tavern on the riverbank – Sunset Tavern, looking out over the mouth of the Norman River & the extensive sand & mudflats.  This was about the only place to get food.  We had the best ever seafood platter – it was beautiful!!  A little bit too far to drive from Canberra though.  We were sitting next to a very interesting Swiss couple, they have been in Australia 8 times, mainly in the outback and they are loving every moment here.  They know more about Australia then the average born and bred.  The wind died down, the tide went further out and after such a good feed we went for a long walk on the beach and enjoyed watching the mud skippers.  I really warmed to the place and accepted that this is the outback.  I am so glad that we came here, Ron can die in peace without wondering.  We left with a kilo of the freshest prawns – $15