After working at the Rodeo in Mount Isa I was ask by another couple to work for them at their next job. They had heard I was heading north towards Darwin. Their next job was in Borroloola which is a good bit off the direct route to Darwin, but that's why I don't make too many plans, this is how you end up in weird and wonderful places and sometimes it can get you away from all the tourist places. I left Mount Isa on Wednesday 12th August and rode to Barkly Homestead. There was only one small place on the way, its called Camooweal. Just short of Barkly Homestead I had the "pleasure" of riding through a swarm of grasshoppers. They weren't like our tiny grasshoppers at home these things are massive. I was pretty close by the time I realised what they were, the swarm covered the breadth of the road and must have been a couple of metres thick. It felt like I was doing a challenge in I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. I could slow down or speed up, I didn't know what would be best. Once in the middle of them I remembered that my jacket was unzipped all the way to the bottom as it had been so hot, I panicked at the thought of one being on my bare skin, then I remembered my visor was up too. Good job I didn't yawn. I passed through with a few smacking off my helmet and my jacket. Apparently this is quite common in that area. I arrived at Barkly Homestead which consists of a roadhouse and nothing else around for miles.

The next morning I was turning off for Cape Crawford, home of the Heartbreak Hotel. My face lit up on entering the road as all I seen was a single lane, sealed road that disappeared into the horizon. The smiles didn't last long as I met the first of 4 road trains within 15 mins. Understandably you have to get out of the way, they take up the whole road and if you don't get out of the way I'd say they would go straight over the top of you just like the roos. After that I didn't meet many people at all. It was 370km straight road to Cape Crawford, the land was flat and you can see for miles. I spoke to backpackers a couple of days later who thought the road was boring because there was nothing there, on the other hand I thought this road was amazing because there was nothing there. The feeling of being out there by yourself, nothing and nobody for miles, just you. You'd think you would feel scared but it was the opposite I felt a strange sense of comfort & security out there, it was so peaceful. Along the way I stopped to take pictures of birds eating the road kill, I think they were eagles, as I got closer they all dispersed then I seen a four legged creature run away, I was surprised to realise it was a cat. I never imagined I would see a cat eating a Kangaroo. Apparently there are a lot of Ferrell cats. Next stop Heartbreak Hotel, it was pretty cool, I could have sat on the porch all day watching travelers come and go, it was a very peaceful and relaxing place.

I spent a little time there and then I continued to Borroloola, there was a noticeable change in the landscape, I could now see trees for miles and miles. I found the Rodeo ground and set up my tent for the weekend before joining a couple of the cowboys for some drinks.
On Saturday night there was an outdoor party after the Rodeo, it went on till the early hours and then when the party finished the fighting started and didn't went on until 3am when the cops turned up. I knew I should be ok but it was still quite frightening as I could hear it all taking place right outside my tent. The screaming was unreal, I don't know how to describe it. Once the cops arrived everyone dispersed and I managed to get a few hours sleep. On Sunday I left early afternoon, when I arrived at Cape Crawford again I figured out that I should just make it to Daly Waters before dark.

Some of the local kids in Borroloola. I got chatting to them outside the local shop.