Destination reached.

Thursday June 13^th: 1929

A happy birthday to Father.

Off to Camooweal. Final preparations taking somewhat longer than anticipated, the start was delayed until 10.30 am. Well-loaded with everything including nutties and honeycomb toffee etc from my numerous friends. Day was not the best, cloudy and a cold wind blowing. Cloncurry where I spent six weeks and on the whole very pleasantly was soon left behind. Three miles out my load was further increased by picking up 2 chaps with the swags who were going to Isa looking for work. Rather a good find as they were both company and gate-openers. Got off the road 18 miles out and onto a road going into ‘a show’. A great deal of carting had lately been done in it and the road in there is more pronounced than the main road. Went in seven miles found the copper mine and of course had to return. This was rather an unfortunate occurrence as it further delayed us more than one hour. Our first little town through which we passed was Mallon/Malbon ? 32 miles on the road. Was halted by a chap wanting a ride to Duchess, 43 miles further on and offering me 2 pound prepaid for the lift. Gave him the ride and at Duchess collected 1 pound from him for the Mission. He shouted us all tea at Duchess where we partook each of a great cut of steak and two fried eggs. It all went down too and tasted good. At 5pm the remaining three of us set off for Isa and now the bad road commenced. Ruts everywhere and all filled with white dust so that the depth is not known until one experiments in them. One is at first inclined to be disturbed by the numerous tracks going off in all directions, but soon discovers that they all go the one way. The job is to pick the best one and if I got onto the best every time, pity help the chap who finds the worst. Darkness overtook us long before reaching Isa and so travelling was rather slow but we wandered along and suddenly at 9.15 we hit the outskirts of Mt Isa settlement, found a suitable camping spot and stopped. We lit a fire, boiled the billy and then unrolled swags and rolled in. The ground was hard too and I could not find a hollow for my hip but being rather tired, I was soon asleep.

Friday June 14^th:

I think I was awake first but not up first. It was too cold so waited until one of the other chaps started the fire then I suddenly awoke and got dressed by the fire. We breakfasted on meat pies and sausage rolls that I brought from Cloncurry left over from the social. Shaved in front of the mirror on the back of the spotlight, had a bit of a brush up and leaving the two chaps at the camp where they intend to stay while seeking work, went in to Isa. Mt Isa the scene of glorious activity, the biggest thing in mining that Queensland has ever known and unfortunately I did not have time to have a good look at the mine. Will make a trip down that way before long though and see things properly. Met Dr Goode there, my ‘butcher’, and had a yarn to him, made purchases at the store, loaded up again and at 11am left for Camooweal. Rather a lonely trip through, although passed a couple of motor lorries in the 140 miles first half of the road, still very rough and dusty. Stopped at Yelvertoft? Station, halfway, for a few minutes and had a talk to Mr Dalling and some of the others and then set off on the final stage of the 300 miles from Cloncurry. A better road now ans so progress was much greater.

At 6.20 pm hit Camooweal right on the bare open plain at 60? miles an hour and hurt noone. Pulled up at Riley’s hotel, the only hotel, introduced myself, was cordially welcomed, had a wash and brush and went into tea. Met a few folk but was not long before the blankets claimed me.