On the 7am weather report on the ABC North West Qld radio, they happily reported that it is the coldest day so far this year a balmy 5.9c. I will never complain about the weather being hot again, it is still going to get to the mid 20s, so the day will be great, after the morning chill burns away.

I was at the Nissan dealer at 7:40am to try and book the mighty Navara in. I spoke to Rebecca and she said that they are booked up until next week, this nearly floored me, but after I got on the floor and grovelled, she managed to book us in for Thursday. Thanks Rebecca.
Back at camp, Marg is still asleep and so I started the washing. Today, we have shopping to do, and we have to buy some sieves for Marg's fossicking.
It's 4pm, shopping completed, another bad mistake going to The Rock Shop, 2 sieves later ($96) and a number of fossicking areas to visit, we left the shop. Back at camp, I rang Cloncurry booked a site, rang Normanton booked a site, rang Normanton Railway Station booked 2 seats for next Tuesday's 'red rattler'. Worked out our itinerary for the immediate future, this is subject to change.

Here is our itinerary as at today, I will bet, that it will change:

1. Cloncurry - 2 nights
2. Normanton - 5 nights
3. Croydon - Overnighter
4. Mount Surprise - 3 nights
5. Innot Hot Springs - overnighter
6. Wonga Beach - 3 nights
7. Cardwell - overnighter
8. Townsville - 7 nights
9. Charters Towers - overnighter
10. Hughenden - overnighter
11. Richmond, Kronosaurus Park - overnighter
12. Winton - overnighter
13. Barcaldine - overnighter

Tomorrow, who knows.

At least it was a little bit warmer last night, not much though.

We left camp about 10am to do some fossicking at the old Mary Kathleen mine. We went to the Rock shop to get a fossicker's permit, but was told to go to the Mines and Minerals office. At the M&M office, we were told about the various fossicking areas around Mt Isa and Cloncurry. In the end, we visited Bunnings and bought some water jerry cans and a couple of tubs, and then to a bookshop to buy a copy of Cloncurry Trails, which lists in detail the various fossicking areas and then decided to go back to camp and study what we bought, so Mary Kathleen was given a miss for today.

Tomorrow, the mighty Navara is being serviced, so we will be carless.

The mornings are still cold, but it still should get to the mid 20s.

I set the alarm for 7am today, as I had to take the mighty Navara to the Nissan dealer for its 40,000kms service. I got there at 7:15 and by the time I had untied my bike from the back, a lady had beaten me to the service reception, so I was second. As Pickerings Nissan had done the right thing for me by fitting the car in for its service, the least I could do was have it ready for them first thing in the morning. I rode my bike back to camp all 1.4km away, that's why we are staying at Copper City CP, it is so close to the Nissan dealer.
I arrived back at camp about 7:35am and naturally, Marg was still asleep. While we are carless today, I plan to try and update our website with photos, because I am getting behind. Marg noticed that there is a courtesy bus to the clubs, so she is at the Irish Club, playing the Pokies. Update: Marg lost.
About 3:30pm, I received a text from the dealer, the car is ready, cost $863, I was very happy with the cost. I rode my bike down to the dealers and picked up the mighty Navara.

Marg and I are going to the Mt Isa Townies Club for dinner with our neighbours (Keith and Lucy).

Tomorrow, last day in Isa, do some shopping and wash the car.

The mornings are still cold, but it should get to the mid 20s.

The saga of the gas refill.
One of our two gas bottles finally ran out this morning, the last time was in Broken Hill and it cost $19 to have it refilled. I walked over to the reception and they quoted $36.95 to refill it only. I thought that was a bit dear compared to Broken Hill's $19, so I rang Bunnings in Mt Isa they don't refill, only do Swap and Go, but they suggested the United Fuel shop, where I had previously filled up with diesel. So I drove down to the United Fuel stop and they wanted $34 to fill, so I paid, thinking that I am already here, so just fill the bottle. Now this fuel shop is run by a single Indian, as it was quite, he started to fill the bottle and you guessed it, a car pulled up so he had to turn off the gas and attend to the customer. While I am waiting, I noticed that the Gas refiller truck is filling up some gas tanks. Anyway, he finally gets back to me, and continues to fill my bottle, but you guessed it, more bloody customers. Finally, he gets back to me and it appears that the main gas bottle is empty, so the gas refiller truck man fills up the main gas bottle and while the Indian is away serving more customers, the gas refiller truck man fills up my gas bottle and tells me that the going price is for a refill only is about $35, the Indian gives it to me and away I go.
TOTAL TIME: 45 bloody minutes.
Moral of this saga: If I can get my gas bottle filled for about $35, do it.

After my morning saga, Marg and I then went shopping and on the way back to camp, we stopped at Hardly Normal and bought an Electric Turbo Oven, which we christened with a roast lamb and vegies for dinner. It was brilliant, we will now probably sell our Cobb cooker because this new oven does eveything that the Cobb cooker does. So I don't have to fire up the the new oven, that is Marg's domain. Excellent.

Tomorrow, we head for Cloncurry for 2 nights.