Hughenden to Mt Isa

Slight change of plans for the next few days of our trip, we had a look at the maps last night and decided that we are now going to head up to Tennant Creek for a couple of days. The next few days were going to take us to Alice Springs another way, but there wasn't alot to see in between so we aren't missing out on much.

Instead we've decided to travel on the Flinders Highway to Mt Isa today and Barkly Highway to Tennant Creek tomorrow. It's then only a 1/2 day drive down to Alice Springs to return to our original itinerary.

Garbage bins in Richmond are all dinosaurs! Same as Winton last time we were there

Called into Richmond for a quick look around and coffee break and then straight back on the road.

Drive though Cloncurry (didn't stop as we have been there before) - interesting fact, Cloncurry has the record for the highest temperature recorded in Australia at 53.1 °C (127.5 °F) on 16 January 1889!

The dinosaur outside Kronosaurus Korner & Info centre at Richmond

The drive today was all on sealed roads so an easy drive, but not an overly interesting one. There were a lot of road trains though, busiest day we've seen so far. The one we had to pass on the bridge wasn't fun and the one we headed towards at 110km / h as we saw a dead kangaroo in the middle of our side of the road wasn't too much fun either! Managed to pass the truck and swerve about 30cm from the kangaroo!

The truckies out here are great though, so courteous of other drivers, helping you know when to pass and speaking to us on the UHF radio.

This was one of the smaller ones

Arrived at Mt Isa around 2.30pm and went straight to the exhaust shop to have the Prado looked at - George had thought it had an exhaust leak and the exhaust flex pipe needed replacing so we wanted it checked.

The guy put the 4wd straight up on the hoist to look at it and, yes, George was right! (won't hear that too often, haha!).

Unfortunately the guy didn't have the right size pipe in stock and couldn't get one delivered until at least Monday. Other bad thing is that he is apparently the only exhaust store between here and Darwin!

After a bit of googling, we found a place in Alice Springs and called and will take the car in on Monday. Not a major issue for the car, but George would rather it replaced now anyway.

Checked into the Big 4 caravan park and got a cabin for the night - with air con!! It topped 37 degrees here today so we weren't putting up a tent in that heat! The pool was an added bonus as well.