The next day we all talked about if we should stay another 2 nights or to move on. We all chose to make the move. My sister was going to head off down the coast while Adrian and I chose to go inland. I was still behind the wheel as Adrian was still in a lot of pain with his back. We figured there would be less traffic on the road and fewer towns to dive though and more important more bush camps.

We had been told we could pick as many mangos as we like when we booked in so before we were ready to go we raided the mango trees. This wasn’t an easy task as the trees were massively tall. I grabbed the little step we have at our door to give me extra height and I am not a short person. My brother in law, being taller and having extra arm length just reached up. (of course all the best ones were at the top.) While we were doing our raiding a woman walked by and asked us what we were doing. When we explained we were told we could raid when we booked in she seemed put out. She explained she wasn’t told that.   We gave her some mangos and she went away happy. It didn’t take us long before we each had a bag full of semi ripe mangos.

It was then goodbye all round and we went our separate ways.

Our first stop was at Macrossan Park not far from Charters Towers. It was a massive bush camp but not all areas were flat but that is a good thing sometimes, as you know you won’t have someone sitting on top of you. We parked close to a table and seat set. It looked like some one had gone on a “lets see what junk I can find” walk as there were items left behind. (There is supposed to be gold in the surrounding hills so maybe they were looking for that and only found the junk.) It was interesting to see the sleeper nails. The old mixing with the new.

I was surprised to find showers; ok they were cold showers but showers non-the less. Next to the ablutions there was a large information board and a plaque marking the site of the Burke and Wills Anabranch (Creek) Camp, which was established in 1845.

We sat high above the river. I took a walk along the road then cut down to the river. Wikicamps had told us you could fish but I couldn’t see anywhere really close to the water to put in a line and if you could get close I don’t know how you would cast the line and there was so many trees and shrubs around on my side of the river.

I came across some picnic tables close to the water, they looked abandoned and overgrown. I guessed a flood had told them it wasn’t a good idea to be so close to the waters edge.

The area was filled with bird life and I guess kangaroos as well. Not that I saw a kangaroo but it did leave a footprint (I think).

We only planed to stay one night and when we were pulling out it looked like we were the only ones to leave. Everyone else seemed like they were in for the long haul. (Not that there were many of them. About 8.) It did seem funny for us as generally we are the last to leave any site. I like the site, it had a great relax feel to it.

Just as we were ready to pull out onto the road again we spotted 2 graves. One had a baby’s cot around it. It used to be an tradition if a child died you would fence the grave with the cot. So sad!!