Big Red Bash Birdsville and Beyond 2017: 12 July - Sunset CP Mt Isa to Lawn Hill Gorge campground.

Up at 6.15- app not downloaded. Fiddled some more, got it sorted, then time for breaky and beginning to pack the car and van.

All sorted and ready to leave about 8.30. We went to check out the lookout in morning light and stopped briefly at the Info Centre to get the low down on Lawn Hill. Google was telling Stef and. Steve it was a 9 hour trip. Our friendly info centre lady suggests three and a half.

Back at the Lookout, sun should be shining ONTO the town at morning, the shots are much clearer.

Some of the mining guff

and some more, looks like a cooling tower on the hill, Dad suggests in might be ventilation.

more views.

A road train passing through the centre of town.

Out to designated meeting place - Isa Tyres - J is waiting on a replacement tyre to be couriered from Brisbane. Due in at 9.30, it was closer to 10.30.

While we were waiting for J's tyre to arrive, a road train trundled right by us, dwarfs our little car.

and just kept on going past.

Then we headed off.

Some of the signage up here is very necessary, as Steve proved, with his cow incident back near Boulia.

A pretty uneventful start to the trip. We stopped briefly at a WWII monument along the way.

We stopped to view a WW2 Monument, was once a landing strip here somewhere, but what the information was all about, was keeping this piece of original roadway.

It was bitumen all the way to the turn off, where we had lunch just near the Helvertoft Rd intersection. The road was good bitumen until then, when it turned to dust, rocks and corrugation.

Lunch at the corner, where we turned right to head towards Lawn Hill.

This is where we are heading.

Tootling along fine, when all of a sudden Jadon was stopped and out of his car. He has another flat tyre. It was hot and to say J was annoyed is an understatement. J and Stef changed the tyre with a little help from others.

Uh oh! De ja vu, Poor J.

It was pretty hot too, to be doing all that physical work. The poor bugger was not happy, but kept it together.

Several river/creek crossings today. So refreshing, after the rocks, dust and corrugation and amazing to find the water out here too.

Idyllic views to the left and right while crossing.

right hand side.

We are through.

Sarah's first water crossing (Steve reckons it doesn't count cos there is a concrete causeway) captured for posterity.

Ooh the Pajero is wet

and Sarah has a pretty good grin.

Now comes Steve. He tells me he wants to get a good wash under his car, so is coming at speed.

Yep...thanks for the warning Steve.

Jadon's turn.

The Rangey gets a cool down.

and last but not least, Tail end Charlie - Stef.

Another view.

and again.A change of order has ocurred.

The water was flowing quite strongly across this crossing, this was looking out to the left.

Then into Riversleigh - the photos and signs tell the story here.

a Flintstones style loo.

My Shadow, trying to get a shot of Big Bird bone and his gizzard stones.

That's it.

Looking up along the walk around site D.

Steve and Carmel checking it out.

a flower

A view on the walk.

Interesting rock formations.

A cool tree, with red pods. I think its a moodlu

Looking back down to car park

and out across the plains.

Hi J.

Now that's a 'model' shot J. Nice smile, thanks!

Stef checking it out.

Another interesting rock, see below.

Turtle fossils

Closer view.

Then onto LHG.

We had to drive through three water crossings. They were amazing.

Pulled into camp about 6 ish. Sorted out sites that Steve had booked online months ago. We are here for 3 nights.

Moving vehicle shot.

A range of hills on the plain

Sunset, the colour game begins again.

My tent repair has broken and Steve helped me replace the elliptical stick and it's all good now. It was hot work setting up and the drink and nibbles over at the Davey camp were needed. Ended up nibbles was it for dinner tonight.