21st June - 12th August
I have spent about 6 weeks working at a Motel in Mount Isa, through this experience i learned so much about the area, how the mining industry works, the knock on effect of changing market prices on this small outback town. I also had many chats with the road train drivers who stopped over regularly and learned about life on the road for them and how/what affects their work and the route of goods being transported throughout Australia. The view from the Motel (where i lived and worked) wasn't great but the sunsets were so beautiful, I can't describe the image of the sky, many colours all mixed in together, shades of red, blue, orange, and pink at times.

Then the time had come to move on and my bike was due for a new back tyre so I ordered one a couple of weeks before I was due to finish work, however it didn't arrive. Accommodation was included with my job so once the job finished I had to find somewhere to stay, I ended up staying in the hostel, The Travellers Haven. I got anxious trying to get a tyre as it was costing me money and time to wait for it. Two suppliers let me down. First one was the local bike shop, the delivery arrived a few days late which i understood but when it did arrive and i contacted them, they didn't know if my tyre was on it. They explained they had to search through four pallets of tyres, I ask him if he could check the delivery docket, he didn't know what to say and started tripping over his words. Eventually he agreed to check it and call me back. A few hrs went past and no phone call so i went to the shop and ask for a yes or no answer, has my tyre arrived in mount Isa? I got a half hearted answer which was "I don't think it turned up." I was disappointed in the lack of good customer service so I ordered one online which I followed up with a phone call I was told it would arrive on Wed/Thur, I called on Wed for a tracking number to be told the tyre hadn't even been posted yet, I was passed to several different people on the phone and told conflicting stories. Third time lucky i ended up ordering from a Suzuki dealer in Townsville on the coast just south of Cairns. They had a staff member coming out to service bikes on Mon (It was now Thur) and could bring it with them. This saved me $30-$40 on postage but it meant hanging around for another few days. I wasn't going to get one much quicker than that so I had to patiently wait. However as I waited I seen a few adverts in the hostel, many of the traders who had come to town for the Mount Isa Rodeo were looking for staff for the weekend. I thought I may as well be making money instead of spending it and ended up working for Steve and his partner on their food stall making delicious pancakes covered with fresh strawberries, chocolate and ice cream. There were other flavours too but this was the most popular and of course there was a taste test. Well maybe a few just to be safe.

Trip to Cloncurry via Duchess, which only consists of a pub and is miles away from everywhere

Spotted along the route prior to Duchess