What a trip

Oh its so good to be back with the family, I left on Saturday morning for Brisbane in Diana the new, old bus that I found in the paddock, that had been sitting there for 4 years at least,   so they tell me. I replaced the clutch plate, cleaned it up and took it on a 6000 km round trip to pick up my boat. The old Diana drove well all the way there on 110 kms/hr non stop using 1ltr to 10 kms, and we arrived to the island at 4pm local time on Sunday. The next day I was booked on the barge at 1 pm, and we did make it with a lot of swearing, sweating and hoping to god the trailer hold up until I replace the tyres. All good by 2pm the next day, tyres, breaks, and lights all done on the side of the road heading out of Brisbane. Now my next biggest worry was the 900 meters above sea level nearly vertical climb up to Toowoomba: ha easy, no problem, all is good and we were on our way back home... Home is always where the family is, for me anyway...

Got to Blackall, a farming town in Central Qld and I noticed the temperature rising. After a quick diagnosis I found a pin eye hole on the radiator tank, so I pulled the radiator out, used some magic metal on the tank and we were on the road again. Got to Longreach, I noticed we were using lots of water and we were only towing at 70 kms/hr to keep temperature normal, so I limped into Mt Isa 700 kms away. Now only 989 kms home and the tow was as low as 40 kms/hr and nothing was going to stop me, so I kept going. 100 kms out of Camooweal I realized the problem was the timing belt had jumped a tooth or more causing the temperature to rise, so I gently bently my way into Camooweal. And I knew I had to get help, and I did in the form of my Ford Falcon being driven down to Camooweal 700 kms, by the local church pastor, god bless him... He got there at 4.30am Friday morning and I was as happy as Larry. Tied the tow rope to Diana, and the tow was on. Moving at 80 kms/hr, mini road train with two drivers and looking at getting home by 2 pm, only to stop 80 kms out of Camooweal: this time the old pastor used dirty fuel out of an old jerry can of his, and by this time I was thinking of changing my religion... Lucky I never had one! 

Removed the fuel filter, tried to clean it to no good, so I put a nail through the filter making it direct. Started up, and we were on the road again stopping every 50 to 70 kms to bang the fuel pump to unblock it. 60kms out of Cape Crawford I went to avoid a kangaroo making Frank push me along with Diana and the boat behind him - won't do that again - and at 40 kms out of Borroloola out came roo, now bring it on, I hit the bastard and didn't stop. I was going home, and home I went. What a great trip. Love it.

Home at last. For now.

To be fitted by the mechanic... myself, bush mechanic.

Facebook or facecrook?

I don't know what's going on, because facebook has ripped my page off out of its book as they reckon someone has tried to hack my account... What a load of bull dust, and if someone did try to hack my account on facebook what could they see or take, it's not like I bank or have monies in the account. Also anyone and everyone could see my page, it was there for the world to see... Okay they stopped my access to my page on facebook and asked me to choose three trusted friends in which facebook would contact, and they would send them a code which these friends would ring me back with, this is part of their security protocol. Now I picked my friends and facebook says no, I must pick these three people in which they picked for me,  which I thought,  hang on now they are picking my trusted friends for me, and not only that, when I declined  they also wanted a photo id, electricity bill or something of that sort! So I said ta ta, to facebook... and left it at that. Really when anyone joins up to facebook are they joining facebook or face crooks, well people can only wonder. You are not getting me on your one world book of individuals lifes or my face on the book of the new world order, thanks again you have done me a big favour, and to my friends and readers: you could always read my blog through the Phantom of the roads. Just be careful people you are giving all your personals, and life storys to someone you really don't know facebook, and the sad thing it's you and your friends and family too. THINK ABOUT IT, WHO IS FACEBOOK.

Father and son, splitting image

Highs and lows

What a weekend, full of action at the Borroloola rodeo, absolutely fun full and endless laughter. We went to the rodeo grounds at 10 am, and I thought we were going to be out of there within 3hrs max... ha!ha!ha! Had to hitch a ride back to the bus at five o'clock to watch my team get flogged from the all blacks, in training for the world cup... so I think... they didn't have to lose that way though... Ritchie Macaw you guru or you va curu.

Mum and the kids got home with the kids tired from a 8-and-half-hour-day at the rodeo, to a quite shattered dad, watching the end of the Bledisloe Cup... gutted... but it was soon forgotten when Diana arrived into the family of the Phantom of the roads in the form of a 14 seater Toyota commuter, and she comes with power steering, air conditioning,  344 000 kms on the clock with a diesel engine and a bugged up clutch plate on a five speed gear box... $600 as is, so I bought it. Now we have the full Phantom family assisting the family of MD Gypsy. What a team we will be. And together, all we need are the adventures... What a weekend... what a life... love it.

Rodeo Borroloola style

What a horse!

Mixing with the big wigs. Local chief.

Love the smile... Truly innocent.

Phantom and Hero, side by side

Here is Devil.

The Phantom's love, Diana. 

Renovation time

Thank you to our boys in the Wallaby's team for a great win, I can see the world cup is coming home. It's so good to be in town, and the timing, well Borroloola rodeo is on this weekend, how good is that... The kids are so excited, and ok me too.

I'm just sucking in the civilisation sort of speak as I will be heading back out bush early next week, only this time I'm going in the opposite direction from the Ridge (Wandala) to the Nicholson catchment which is a national park towards Burketown, about 400 km from here, for a renovation job on one house at the bush ranger out station. I will be going out under the escort of the gulf bush rangers and be out there all on my lonesome as the Phantom and family cannot get out there, due to a few river and creek crossings on a 100 or so kilometre supposedly sandy bush track... Now because of that its going to be a fast goes job as they say... Now the job has been given to me, and even though I haven't seen it I have taken it on so this trip will be to see what and how much materials I'll need to order... Should be good, real good. Now because of that I must go fishing for the rest of the week to stock up for the family and myself. Boy oh boy, just doesn't stop around here, what a life... love it.

The beautiful, pristine, untouched Limmen river

We are never lonely on a lonely highway

Fishing the Limmen, weary of the crocs

Awaiting for my return after deal is fulfilled

Big smoke

Last night at the ridge, heading out in the morning, with the famous words, "I'll be back !" The boss and all the little treasures are quietly excited, and I'm worried they might get town shock...  Mum badly needs a pedicure which I had offered to do and got knocked back and laughed at, I think she said something like you're not using that sand paper on my feet. No love, its wet and dry and shouldn't hurt... Have you used it before? No but... but no thanks... Well at least I tried! So in to town as we are, looking bushed up on the outside and full of love on the inside. Got some work lined up in town then onto the fishing. Ok I will update next from the big smoke! Good night.

Beautiful sunset at the ridge

Lonely highway out

Today's approaching bushfire

Afternoon at Alligator Crossing 

Riverbed animal tracking

Found it all

Time is out and we are moving on, moving to a spot in three-shop-town, Borroloola. I will be back to do the fit out and other little additions. I think our stay here has been an experience of a lifetime not only for me, but for all the family. As a family living out here for 2 months all on our lonesome with nothing but wild animals and the hard Australian bush. I have for myself found true content, something I never thought I would recognize here or for that matter ever. Thanks to everyone around me. Life is what you make of it... love it.

Jiniba, the hyeena-look-a-like, spoiling it for the rest on the pack leader.

Innocently taming the wild: it seems to be working.

Looking for contentment.

Another beautiful morning

Roadside butcher

All hands on deck

Back to my roots

I love my wife... she is what I'm not... Well that's everything... I was on the job today and came in for a drink as the temperature was about 35 degrees and feeling like 50, only to find my everything getting ready to make new curtains for the bedrooms, and that was after she had found a fault with the toilet flushing system. So it was off the building job for me and onto the sh*t flushing fixing job... Two hours later and it's still not fixed, so I will be removing the toilet, tank, sh*t and all in the morning. Can't wait - not - and hope its only the seal (that I can see and think is the problem) or else its back to my roots: the old, find a tree to hide behind trick till I sort something out and quick. We have the standard vacuum flush toilet which I modified so we could use while parked up. It has been working well until now and if it's the seal I think it is I'll fix it straight away, and that's after I pull the whole system out: 4 bolts, two hose clamps, a bit of smell and lots of Fs and Bs and the rest of it. So for now I had better start psyching myself up for tomorrow with a nice cold, well I guess you know, XXXX gold. Ok guys, psyching time, bye.

Thunderbox overhaul

Man on the job

Young prospectors

Woman's business

All work, no play

I got the iron for the roof today, and will be laying it tomorrow. What a mission, had to pick it up 22 kms away on the coast, using a bush track as it was the shortest and quickest way, or so I thought. I only got bogged two times and broke the side mirror on the canter truck... bugger... Luckily on my way out this morning, my subconscious mind - my wife - told me to take the block and tackle: best idea we thought of all day, used it both times. I got there in 3 hours, picked up some materials and well I had to, seeing it was on the coast, do some fishing only for an hour.
What an hour, it seems like the fish knew I was coming so they were lining up for me, well something like that, never seen anything like it. On the way back I saw a herd of brumbies and one lonely water buffalo which I was not willing to have anything to say or do with, I minded my own business and stayed on the track... Jiniba was going off until I told him to... well you know what. So today I took a short cut which turned out to be a wrong cut, took no bait but caught good enough feed, saw wild animals and the best thing, stayed off the tools for the day, yea... had a ball bogged and all... love it...

Home schooling fish science, fish cleaning education

Home schooling fish science, guttology

Horsing about

Overtaking me

Wild horses will not keep me away

Out to stay

What a game, good on you boys, we have the team! The world cup winning team, up the Wallabys. It was so good to kick back and watch your team win, even 110 kms in the bush somewhere on the gulf of Carpentaria. And what's made it even better, after one month stuck in the sand I was forced to get us out by the boss. After trying different winches, a truck and 4x4 both pulling at once, and even a John deer tractor, the Phantom was not moving anywhere... So I did what I wanted to do in the beginning, and that was to dig in under the bus, block it up, put a 50 ton jack under the drive wheel jacking point, which was touching the ground, jacked it up, blocked under the tyres with bricks, made a timber track, hooked the tractor up and drove out, with the tractor pulling as help - ha I drove it out as the tractor didn't pull me at all! As I was driving the chain was never stretched...

With the boss happy, kids cheering and dad cruising across the park like nothing was wrong and there was nothing to worry about. After all dad is here... Well with the help of mum of course, but somehow dad always claims the glory when its really mum that deserves it. Ha, I could not have done it with the 2-year-old trying to crawl under the bus and help by getting in where I had dug out for the jack... We are out of the sand, but not out of the bush for another month or so, and when we leave its only to go prepare to come back for a longer stint, as I've have gone into a deal with the corporation to start and run a commercial net fishing venture on the gulf and barra farm further inland... So its back to Brisbane to prepare our return very soon.... Well after I put the roof and floor on the building. I must say I cant wait, as I came here to fish and fishing I will do... What a life, love it.

Tractoring out

Truck towing marks and tractor towing marks 

Getting under the drive wheel

9 tonne winch on bush skids

Bush modification for stabilization   

Old school block and tackle

Before getting her out

Necessities

Hello! Do you guys still remember me? It's been a while, or so I think. I've been on the job, in every way. As a mechanic: got the air bags and fitted them on, no problem, with the help of my mechanically minded wife. A plumber: got 20,000 litres of bore water in three tanks with make shift bungs and other fittings. Clean clothes and clean me, after a nice long shower. And a hunter, yes hunter. Got a clean skin young bull, rolled and butchered in 45 minutes, now freezer full of meat. Jiniba full of smiles with all the bones. And of course the reason I'm here, fishing - oh no sorry, building! And that's going better than expected, considering the remoteness, equipment and man power... Well the latter is not too much of a problem as I am, and fitting in dad, husband, community leader... man, I have no time for myself... I love this life, and there's more exciting things coming up very soon for us. Sorry, I need some time for myself now, bye.

Happy times for both man and dog

One off the road

Meat. A necessity to a staple diet. 

Gone in 45, and will get quicker

Another necessity: clean times

What a job...

All fitted, but still bogged in the sand

Full toad

The omega male in the family has been very busy in the last couple of days. (Or was it alpha? How do I always manage to get this one wrong...) Anyway, I'm referring to the one that I once kissed and who turned out to be my prince... He has replaced the busted air spring on our bus (with some help from his mechanically minded wife - what would he ever do without me, keeping a rig THIS size maintained on his own?) It took a couple of weeks to get the part shipped up here from Sydney, and even then we had to drive a hundred or so kilometres to pick it up from the nearest depot. So, with all this waiting, we've been trying to keep our calm in the meantime, practising our zen, learning to be patient. As a free spirit, I don't like the idea of being bogged, stuck in the sand, so it has been particularly hard for me to stay cool about it, but I've somehow managed. And now that the air bag is fixed we can move on to the next operation: drive the Phantom out of the sandpit onto some higher (and harder) ground!

My prince has also been working on the construction project in the camp, and chasing cows that have so far - luckily - managed to escape. I must admit that getting a clean skin killer would be a welcome addition to our almost bare meat freezer, but the thought of having to sacrifice one of those beautiful creatures that keep mooing near our camp at night, is nearly too much for me to bear. I think I will leave that to the hunter...

But although he has been busy with work and other projects, dad has also had time to take his cherubs on bush walks and for some fishing; spare time activities they all love. And there's definitely enough bushland to walk around here! I stayed in the camp with baby, getting some long awaited quiet time, but asked the girls to document anything interesting on my phone. And so they did! They discovered a beautiful billabong (or barrabong as it turned out to be, with an abundance of fish), and I got my phone back with some interesting photos. Apparently tadpoles were fascinating too, but only until the girls realised they were in fact baby cane toads, and the princesses soon lost interest. After all, who would like to kiss a toad...

- M -

Pandanus Ridge is so beautiful, it deserves a mirror image.

He might not catch a barra with this, but a fish is a fish to me.

Here they come, in great numbers...

...beware of toad invasion!

They only found tracks here, it won't give us a feed yet...

...so the great hunter will have to do with what this billabong has to offer.

When you give a child a camera, you will be rewarded with beautiful photos...

...surprising shots...

...a whole new perspective to things...

...and photos you would not have thought of taking yourself.

They arrived back home with inspiring stories and great photos...

...and some unidentified fish.