Living in Borroloola

Borroloola is actually a very nice place. This is the closest to Qld we will get by the way till we actually drive to the border in May or June. It's rather spread out and has about 4 camps and a very long road. We got mixed information on how far "down the road" the famous crossing was. We walked for 30 mins or so and did not find it. The road also goes to the shops ( yes more than one), about 1-2 K down the road in the opposite direction. That road always seems long, every time you walk it.

Borroloola has a pub with no beer, literally. The pub lost its licence and so does not have any beer to serve. You can get meals and stay in the accommodation. What was really worth seeing was the police doing a random breath test blitz right opposite this pub with no beer, or anything else.

These are our digs. The shed certainly would not stand a cyclone. The walls move when you lean on them. They don't look any better on the inside either. We are at the Borroloola Caravan Park, which certainly is in the "bring your own stars" category. The laundry had one just passable washing machine and really does not have much of passable shower. The managers are a hoot, so much so, that we are going fishing with them tomorrow.

This is the kitchen. We had been promised cooking facilities, so we were given a very interesting hotplate with two speeds - full on and off. Temperature control is managed by lifting the frypan off the heat. Its an intensive way of cooking. Had to be given an old flypan cause there were none in the cupboard. The microwave helped balance our capacity to make a meal. Yes that is a black and white TV.

Aircondtioning does work. Paul did his cleaning trick, cause I had hayfever the instant it was turned on. The walls do leak.

The drier in the laundry did not look trustworthy, so we made a line and hung up the washing - yes I am only carrying two skirts with me. We now carry 200-250 KG of luggage and I have a 10 Kg small bag for ALL my clothes, shoes, shampoos etc. I still don't know why I have such a small limit.

Our workshop was very interesting. There are always surprises including the crabs which got delivered to the venue (the local art centre) every morning. The girls cooked em up in the kitchen in a frypan.

You will recognise this scene from Australia, the movie.

We had some very interesting people come in. The folks here have incredibly lifestsyles. Coral lived at the beach on a large property with all alternative energy options. Using a next G phone, they can get Internet. Growing their veges etc. Amazing lady. Marissa came from a really beautiful cattle station. It was a pretty huge place and looked amazing. Judith and John were cattle folks and had been involved in making the movie Australia. One son doubled as Nula and the whole family got involved in many of the scenes. I have put some photos they brought in on our online albums. http://picasaweb.google.com.au/shellyw39

We also had Ashley in from work experience. She has part home school and part real school. She was amazingly computer literate. Syra from the library had fishing photos that would even make Gary jealous. Miriam, superwoman and Art coordinator who lives in a bus, was our host and not only cared for us, but seemed to care for everyone else including her 5 children and 10 grandchildren, to say nothing of the size of the extended family. Great group and we can't wait to come back. Hopefully the next blog will be full of fish photos........