Week Gone

Sunrise on the road to Normanton

Sunrise

Landscape on walk to the point 

Ah so another week gone by in Karumba and no rain - there's no surprise!
I went with Rob on his final bread run on Saturday morning and well worth it just for the sunrise.
Had a lovely weekend enjoying the sunshine and not as much wind or dust as previous.
We walked out and back to the point on Sunday and enjoyed taking the time to notice things we hadn't seen when on the bikes. A quick visit to the cemetery told us that either not many people die here or choose to be buried here as there was only about 20 graves.
Work going well and scored a Kg of prawns today so Yumm !

Some history

The Gulf of Carpentaria is made up of extensive tidal flats and the mouth of the gulf is 590km wide. The depth is no more than 55 Metres and maximum anywhere is 82 Metres. Here at the mouth of the Norman River the anchorage depth is between 7-9 Metres. There is a narrow channel that heads out to deeper waster and there is only 1 tide a day!!  
We cruised past the town taking in the sights from the boat. Large prawn trawler fleet owned by Raptis Seafoods. Trawlers in dock at present as it isn't prawn season. Some pretty impressive prawn trawlers. 
Next was Wren Group who have 3 of the 7 only licensed Mackerel trawlers. 2 out fishing and 1 at dock. 
There was Carpentaria Freight which ships goods up & down the Norman River, plus does a milk run out through the Gulf to small islands. They are also the fuel depot for Karumba. 
Karumba port services the Century Zinc Mine at Lawn Hill. There the zinc is mined and the crushed, water added which forms a slurry and it is piped the 304km to Karumba. The cost difference between trucking and pipe line is something like 3000% saving. Zinc is running out at Lawn Hill and currently they are in the process of returning mining area back to pasture lands (about 30years). They are also trucking zinc from mine at Cloncurry to Lawn Hill, then via slurry to here. 
Once the slurry arrives here it is separated from the water and dried. Then loaded onto the transition boat which takes it out to the mother ship waiting in the gulf. The transition ship can only do 1 trip per day as it has to hit high tide to get enough depth and The mother ship has to move further out in the gulf each day until it's fully loaded as it sits lower in the water as it takes on more ore.  Sounds fun doesn't it !
There were no crocodiles around but we did see several Jabiru - beautiful birds, and a boat wreck.
The sunset was beautiful but hard to capture on the phone.

And then we finished off with a quiet drink at the Animal Bar ( Red Hot Chilli Peppers song Animal Bar is named after this ) 
A great evening and if you are interested - like most things in Karumba - Ferryman Sunset Cruises is for sale!

Ferryman Sunset Cruise

Johnno, Jude, Kym & Lyn

"Vixen Wren Fishing

Karumba Port

Zinc carrying vessel

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Saturday afternoon and we catch up with the girls I'm working with and their men to do the local Sunset cruise. $45/head and excellent value. Apart from a look up the Norman River and taking in the sights of Karumba from the water, a history lesson is thrown in plus beer/wine and prawns!

It's the weekend!

Sunrise at work

Rob testing for crocodiles!

If they only had this sign at the start of the track!

10.30 and just chillin

Beautiful Saturday in Karumba. Currently (10.30am) 27c and predicted 31c - sorry to all you southerners having a cold chill. Just been for a bike ride out to the point and back this morning. Funny you never notice a tail wind but turn around and boy you do notice a head wind!
Prawns are on the go here at present so about to go buy some $20/kg. yum!!

The 3 fishing trawlers at work have headed out again this week but hoping at least one will be back in before we go. Wanting to get a look on one (won't be turning my back on the crew though - pretty rough lot).
Doing the Sunset cruise this evening so will post photos later.

Karumba

Local Golf course - usually wallabies & brolga's everywhere

Outside work at sunrise

Aunt Biggest Morning tea at Karumba point

Sorry I haven't posted in the last few days - just getting organized with work/play ratio. Have started to settle into a routine with starting at 7am and finish at 3.30pm. Takes me all of 5 minutes to walk to work!! Love getting home just after 3.30 with temp still around 30c. There is a 'block' walk which I walk each afternoon (sometimes with Rob or Lyn that I work with) then I jump on the pushy and do the lap again. Have it down to 10minutes on the bike. It's a case of keeping one eye on the road and one on the roo's and brolga's. Dam things just jump out in front of you.
Then quick shower and ready for 5 o'clock happy hour with our neighbors and friends. Mostly in their 70's but good crowd and we will miss them as most heading off over next few days.
Last night was Rib night at the local pub (2 for $18) and I thought here we go they will sit on one drink all night but no they outdid me.
Rob starts work with the local Bakery on Friday. Starts 4am to load truck and then into Normanton to do deliveries (should be able to manage not getting lost - only half dozen streets there). Back and finished around 9am. Only for a week to 10 days but more $$$ in kitty.
Today I went to Biggest Morning Tea with the girls from work (boss came too) - beautiful location.
We've had trawlers in at work over weekend and last couple of days - wow pretty rough bunch. Everyone in town knows when they are around. Guess they need to let off steam somehow.
Oh well nearly State of Origin time. Go the Blues!!

It's the weekend

Normanton River

So many tiny crabs & sealife

Wow I've only worked 2 days and already excited to have a weekend. Fantastic warm weather and such a pretty destination. Rob & I went for a bike ride to Sunset Point (6km return) and enjoyed a squash at the pub. Looking at the beach at low tide - so much small marine life (one eye on the watch for crocs) looking forward to trying fishing tomorrow. The park we are staying at is very friendly and a 'get together' for afternoon drinks every day. Today there were Hawks circling the park - lots of them - and it was pretty spectacular to watch. Sorry couldn't catch them on my phone camera. There are Wallabies in the park all the time and you have to watch out for them at night when going to the loo. Had a Mexican standoff with one last night! Neither of us wanted to give way. The other prolific wildlife are Kookaburra's but they are different to the ones down south and really need to learn how to laugh better. Sound pretty sick. Bit more like a scary monkey.

Wren Construction & Fishing

View from Reception - Wren's Construction & Fishing

View looking left

View looking right

So a big Thank You to Jenni from Wren's who has given me some work for the next few weeks - reception & bookwork!! I have an amazing view and get to see the fishing trawlers come in with their hauls and learn heaps about the local shire area (the largest in QLD). So really funny thing - first day not a single customer through the door. Hey it's Karumba and not too much passing trade. Now to top that off there are no phones either! Management work off mobiles and I don't have to answer a single call. Hey Mel - Bet you are jealous as hell.
I'm keen to learn as much as I can (especially about the fishing trawlers) and will share some local knowledge as I go.
Rob spent today setting our 'home' up and we'll be here for probably the next month.
If anyone wants to move to Karumba and do office work / great job going as I'm just filling in until they find someone.
P.S. There was a crocodile in front lawn last month. Bring it on!!!

Cloncurry

Ah Kris the Crocodile - Normanton QLD

We had a great day on Tuesday in Cloncurry checking out the town. The lady at the tourist info centre told us it was a really friendly town and she wasn't kidding. Everyone you walked passed said Hello and the customer service in all the shops we went into was outstanding. Well done Cloncurry.
Cloncurry was involved in the beginnings of QANTAS and the original QANTAS hanger is still in use at the airport. It was also in Cloncurry that the Royal Flying Doctor Service was established in 1928. There is a great museum going through the history and well worth a stop.
There is also some great sounding dams & waterholes around Cloncurry however we didn't get a chance to go around these. Today we headed to Karumba where I've been able to pick up a casual job for 4-6 weeks working for a construction / fishing company. And guess what - my view is overlooking water. Will feel like home. Start tomorrow at 7am - wow hope I can manage to get up as we've been enjoying sleeping in.
Rob is going to have a look around town for work also but at present we are happy if he can just put fish on the table each night !!