Day 24 – Thursday 12 August 2021 – 438km

Sunrise start again and we tried to be quite as the other campers were still asleep. This is a very nice camping spot, right on the river, lots of trees, lots of birds. The road out is very rough climbing out of the river banks on a rough dirt track, we wind the car up to full height and slowly climb out. Back to Gregory then turn right and off to the Burke & Wills roadhouse on the way to Normanton & Karumba. There are lots of dead wallabies and kangaroos on the side of the road plus lots of kites feeding on them plus a few wedge tail eagles on the carcase.  Termite mounds by the thousands on the side of the road are a feature of the drive.  We refuel at Burke & Wills plus have a burger for an early lunch, this place is so busy, lots of caravans and camper vans doing the same and heading in all different directions.

Normanton is another 2 hours north & we stop to see Krys the crocodile before heading off further north to Karumba. On the road into Karumba we spot some Brolgas & get excited, then we see a flock of over 100 brolgas feeding on the ground around 50 metres from the road. We see lots more brolgas on the way into Karumba. We spot a caravan park as we drive in with a few spare spots visible then the other caravan park at the boat ramp is full. We find a spot at the first van park for the night, set up camp then go for a drive. As we stop at the river foreshore by the boat ramp we notice a group of people gathered then after a while we notice a pontoon cruise boat being launched. We wander over & ask if there are any spots available. We are in luck, two spots and we pay & board the boat for a sunset cruise.

The boat heads up the river past the port and the boat guide explains all the details of the different wharf facilities plus the areas used by flying boats, both Qantas & the 2^nd world war. The boat then turns & head down river and out to sea. Seven km later a low tide sand cay appears and we stop and nose into the sand. We are each given a fold up chair & explore the sand & collect a few unusual shaped shells. The crew set up some tables and lay out nibblies & cold cooked king & banana prawns plus champagne, wines and cold beers. We sit & watch the sun set over the Gulf of Carpentaria, paradise.

Back to the boat ramp & back to the van park by 8pm, hot showers, bliss. Another great day.