Our last few days in Queensland - Mt Isa.

The drive from Winton to McKinlay had been vast open country, but it felt like as soon as we left McKinlay the countryside changed.  I must admit I welcomed the change and I felt it made the drive go that little bit faster having a changing scenery go by.  The hills from Cloncurry to Mt Isa were spectacular and I couldn’t stop taking photos, yet none of them really did it justice at all.  I would love to do this drive again but in the rain, to see it all running down the hills and into the creeks, I think it would be spectacular.

Ranges between Cloncurry and Mt Isa.

Some more road shots.

We have made it to Mt Isa.

I am happy to say that our drive to Mount Isa was uneventful in regards to the electric brakes, they worked the entire way, and mind you by leaving early it meant it was only 35 degrees just as we pulled up at the caravan park, of which they then promptly turned themselves off, but at least they had done their job.  So first things first we plugged the van in, turned on the air-conditioner and called a mobile repair guy to see if he could fit us in.  The decision was made that we weren’t leaving Mt Isa until it was fixed.  We were in luck and even though it was a Saturday, he said he would be out to see us that afternoon.

When the guy arrived he knew what the fix would be already from what Jason had described on the phone.  A typical city installation of our brake control and connections to the caravan that used these inadequate fuses.  Every time the brake controller would heat up they would slip out of their spot, hence they would suddenly stop working but then start again after a long break when things cooled down (i.e. they were heat sensitive).  Whilst we could drive in 35 degree temps some days, he told us how when we would stop for a break the car doesn’t have the flow of air coming through the engine bay, so that is why it would heat up more and turn itself off. 

So what it came down to was the circuit breakers we had installed could not handle the outback heat.  The brakes themselves could and they were fine, but these little fuses would keep slipping out, and therefore cutting the power.  Sorry if this explanation isn’t making much sense but that is as good as any mechanical explanation you are going to get from me.  So off he went to the shop to get the parts he needed and it was fixed in no time.  Now if for some reason the brakes do actually get too hot then the fuses will blow, but he said we shouldn’t ever experience that (yay).

So my tip to any friends who are getting electric brakes installed, make sure you talk to your auto electrician and that they put in the proper fuses/circuit breakers in that can handle a 34+ degree day.  I mean we live in Australia for crying out loud, lots of places get hotter than 34 degrees.  I guess we are just one of the select few travellers who chose to travel to the hot places; the majority of nomads avoid the heat.  I am relieved that it is a simple fix, however anxious too as the proof will be when we continue our travels.

Our afternoon was spent swimming in the pool and checking out the brochures on what there is to do in Mt Isa.  We really wanted to do the tour of the underground hospital, but it was closed.  I don’t know if it is just for the summer periods, or for maintenance or what, but all the same it was closed and we couldn’t do it. 

Mt Isa waking up.

Beautiful sunrise.

I could have spent all day up there, except the heat would have gotten to me.

 

The caravan park we were staying in was just a little bit out of town and had these hills around it.  So the next morning I decided to go for a walk up one of them to check out the view and get a bit of exercise to work off some of my terrible diet.  I obviously think I am fitter than what I am, and by half way up I was starting to question what on earth I was thinking.  Though as I am stubborn and didn’t want to be defeated, I continued on.  Watching the sunrise from the top was beautiful and so peaceful.  I could have stayed up there all day but I knew the heat would eventually get the better of me and I had to get back down to help with breakfast.

We decided to go out for a drive and check out the Lake Moondarra which is the main water supply for the town.  It was a very sad sight as I believe it was only about twenty percent full and you wonder how much longer that water would last.  I certainly hope they get some rain out there soon.  Luckily Jason knew there was a park behind the dam so we took the kids down there for a play.  By now the day was already 35 degrees, but back there in the shade and with a breeze it certainly didn’t feel that hot.  The park was also filled with heaps of peacocks which I really wouldn’t have thought I would see out there.

The dam wall.

Just a little excited to see a playground.

One of the many peacocks.

Later that day after some rest time and of course a swim in the pool we headed out to the Outback at Isa Centre.  We bought a pass for it along with their dinosaur museum, which I didn’t even know about.  During their summer months the centre isn’t open as long so we could only manage to fit in one but luckily it was a two day pass.    It was certainly interesting watching the movie about the establishment of Mount Isa and the separation of Miners to town people.  What surprised me most was the number of Finnish people that moved out there and in their homes they still built saunas.  On a 40+ degree day one rakes their brain as to why they needed a sauna.

All ready to go and check out the Outback at Isa.

Hamish just had to have his photo with this.

Feeding the fish in the pond.

 

To end the day we tried to make it to the main lookout for sunset.  Unfortunately we took a wrong turn which when we tried to self-correct; it led to us doing a big loop and just missing the sunset.  Still it was a great view from up there and with the sun behind the hills it was starting to cool down.  There are picnic tables at the top of the hills so it would be a nice place to sit and have dinner whilst taking it all in.  Mind you there isn’t a lot of parking so I can imagine it might get a bit packed in peak tourist season.

Sunset from the lookout.

Hamish loving the cool breeze up top.

In summary a long way to anywhere!

 

Monday was our last full day in Mount Isa, and with the shops all fully open we had a long list of things that we needed to get done as the next big centre was the Alice and I thought we had a better chance of being able to do it in the Isa.  We pumped through the list in the morning and caught up on some eKindy but one job was proving to not be as easy and that was to get a 12 volt ratchet gun that would undo the nuts on the car and caravan tyres if we were to get a flat tyre.  We obviously had a manual wheel brace but when Jason attempted to do it of course he could get off the caravan ones but not the car ones.  Obviously when they put the wheel nuts on they do it with a heavy duty ratchet gun making it hard for people to get them off.

After three trips to different shops, buying and taking back two different ones as they didn’t work, Jason eventually managed to buy one that easily did the job.  The sales person knew exactly what he wanted when he walked in and talked to him and said he had sold 29 of them and not one had come back.  I for one am grateful that we found one that would actually do the jobs as you really don’t want to be sitting on the side of the road in this heat trying to change a tyre or worst still having to wait for someone to come along and help.  The further west we are going there seems to be less traffic on the road and a lot longer distances between towns and even sometimes it isn’t a town, but more a servo to break up the long 400km plus drive.

We also managed to get the food shopping done, which was a very expensive shop, not because the food was dearer but I went on an empty stomach, had Kayla cracking it and had to stock up on nappies.  I survived, the kids survived and eventually we got back to the caravan to have some much needed lunch and Kayla a nap.  The afternoon we decided to do more things for the kids as really they had been so patient whilst we completed the jobs in the morning.  We went and did the dinosaur part of the Outback at Isa centre, however it was a quick 15 minutes trip as we got the closing hours wrong.  It is a shame as whilst the bones weren’t as old as the ones in Winton it was an interesting display. 

An awesome display and great aircon.

Hamish was a little scared to go into the cave.

Finding more bones.

Finally we ended the day at the playground and water park that was absolutely free.  I thought this was a great thing that the council had put in and there was just so much for the children to do.  The kids had heaps of fun running around, though it was still quite hot and after a while we decided to go back to the caravan park and have a swim in the pool.  I also don’t know if it is psychological or not but we felt we could smell something odd and all started coughing.  There was smoke from the mine blowing our way. That night when the kids were asleep we hitched on the caravan and packed everything up as we wanted to get to Barkly Homestead the next day.

Fun in the local park.

Some of the many termite mounds on the drive to Mt Isa.