Day 13 - 11 June - Burketown to Doomadgee - 97 km

Woke up early and got a few pictures of the sun rising across the rodeo arena.

Look at this little fella I found this morning.  Bit of a worry actually because they attract snakes and I don't want a bite on the bum when I least expect it.

What the ?   This is a virtual cattle grid.  Never seen that before.  Wonder if it works?

Packed up and headed off early without having breakfast as we were going to ride to Tirranna Roadhouse about 33 km away and have breakfast there.  The roadhouse has been closed for the last couple of years, but they are just setting up again now.   Still not much stock and food choice was limited.

We had bacon and eggs for breakfast and got them to make up some sandwiches for lunch.  A guy there was doing year 10 quadratics with his teacher over the phone and viewing the whiteboard over the internet.

Rang Mum with my new Next G phone. Fantastic.  Great to be able to communicate again.

 Soon after Tirranna Roadhouse we came across the Gregory River with this very explicit sign telling people not to cross on foot.

  Joe being the rebel he is, ignored the sign and went straight across. You will note that I am following the same approach as last year for crossing rivers...send Joe in first and if he doesn't get eaten I go through.

Went on for another 40 km while the temperature was still reasonable and had our sandwiches for lunch under a tree by the side of the road.





Did the final 20 km to get to Doomagee.  The closer we got to Doomadgee, the more rubbish, cans etc. there was along the sides of the roads.  Had a drink at the roadhouse and had a chat to the manager who said that there was nowhere to stay in town and that we would have to stay by the river.  Wasn't too happy with that idea as he had a big sign up saying that there was a croc down at the river.





We went into town to get food from the supermarket. An Aboriginal gent on a bike with a big Akubra hat showed us the way.  Couldn't help noticing the number of houses inside cyclone wire fencing, cars locked up behind steel gates and security screens on windows.  Not the place to be stealth camping.  Joe said it remained him of Port Moresby in the 90s when he was over there.  Everyone living in compounds.

We did our shopping and I asked a lady if there was any accommodation in town.  She told me there was a place called The Guesthouse which was a lot of dongas behind a steel fence and was for visiting workers to the area, and if we couldn't get in there to go and see her at the employment agency My Pathways as they had an empty donga at the back of their office.  Luckily there was a cancellation at the Guesthouse and so we got rooms for the night.



Luxury. A room each, kitchen laundry, showers, power points, air con...all the things you take for granted.

Had a couple of T-bones and salad for tea tonight washed down with a full bodied Passiona.  No alcohol allowed in Doomadgee or surrounding area as it is Aboriginal land.

Lots of  fly in, fly out do gooder types staying here.  Had a chat with one who comes in every now and then to do stuff with Child Services I.e. Where children are taken out of the family home for various types of abuse.  Noticed Child Services was one of the bigger buildings in Normanton as well.  Early night as per usual.

Was advised to lock the bikes up even though they are locked up behind gates in the compound.

Off to Hells Gate tomorrow about 80 km away.