Aye, Karumba!

Since we were in camp early, we cleaned the caravan and started repairing some of the damage caused by the rough roads. Our box of miscellaneous screws are diminishing rapidly.

We have been spotting Wedge-tailed Eagles and all manner of birds of prey in the skies on our journeys, although we usually can't see them well enough to identify them. You can imagine our excitement when a whistling kite landed in nest above our heads in the tree next to our caravan. There are young in the nest as well, but we haven't spotted them yet. Lachie is doing his best to communicate with them through his much rehearsed whistling ... I guess travelling with a 40 kilo budgie must have some benefits! If he can charm them into poking their heads over for a photo I will forgive him his incessant whistling. For a while. Pap, you have a lot to answer for! In hindsight, it may have been better to teach Lach to whistle after the 6 months of being cooped up in a vehicle with him!

We then had a swim - it is bloody hot up here. The water was cold, and the locals thought us mad, but it was very refreshing. Dave got bait and more bits and bobs for fishing, while Lachlan chatted to all the fishermen around camp. The fishing here is amazing - people are reeling in huge fish from charter boats, tinnies and off the beach as well. Lachie is determined to catch more - his total is 7 so far. And no, Neil, he isn't feeding us yet! Had to have another swim before we set off to see the famed sunset on the beach.

Marcus managed to sneak up on this
brolga which was near the road.

We saw more brolga along the roadside, and this time we were able to stop in time. They are big birds - 1.3m high with a wingspan of 2.4m.

Mouths too full to smile!

We all enjoyed the sunset fish and chips - the barra was delicious!

The beach was really just sandstone layers, which of course prompted a discussion about fossils and how they form. Ella found a pearly, white perfect cone-shaped shell, and spent the rest of the evening digging and trying to convince us that she had discovered the fossil record - hitherto unknown - of unicorns!

"They really are unicorn horns! There are galore of them here!"

Marcus took a series of photos of the sunset, which really was amazing and well worth driving out to the point for. We were thinking what a perfect evening it had been, when 2 whistling kites began circling our heads, just a couple of metres above us. We managed to snap a couple of photos before they left, then a couple of minutes later they came back and did the same thing. Just incredible! Luckily Marcus was in charge of the camera, as I don't think my reflexes would have been quick enough to capture the shots.

Next morning saw an early fishing expedition, where the boys spent 4 hours fishing (with about 300 others!) along Karumba Point. Marcus took a video for me as he didn't think I would believe how many were out fishing. I tried to upload it, but it was too long.
Lachlan caught (and released) a skipjack but the catch of the day were 2 "blue salmon" which the very successful fisherman in the next position donated to the boys. They were absolutely delicious for lunch! Our Omega-3 levels have never been so high!

We spent the afternoon in and out of the pool as it was stinking hot, and the kids played with Alister, Claire and Bridget. Ella really enjoyed playing with some girls for a change, although they all played tiggy, capture the flag and water tiggy together! They had another great game until it was way too dark to see.

The fishermadmen went off again to try their luck on this morning's high tide at 9 a.m. Lachie was up at 6, making sure everything and everyone was ready. Ella and Marcus had a game of Monopoly, while I cursed the fishermen as I cleaned the smelly bait juice off everything in the fridge. I even had to wash the carrots individually! I was in a better mood when they returned with more fish (mostly donated!) although Lachie did catch another one, which he couldn't release, so it added to our fish feast.

After another couple of swims we put the kids to bed early as they are all exhausted. Our plans for the next few days include a lot of driving, heading to Mt Isa and Alice Springs, so better to have them all well-rested!

Stay tuned ...