Trish Travels: Eel Pool to Marble Bar

Day 7 - Eel Pool to Marble Bar

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

Out fellow neighboring campers were curious about the layout of the Travelander, so by the time we had given them the tour and exchanged a million stories it was mid morning before we hit the road. First port of call the Lower Carrowine Gorge. The boys were eager for this as supposedly it was a 4x4 only. That proved to be correct, but nothing too challenging although the Oakover River Crossing was the deepest one yet. We had noticed a bit of a rattle before we crossed so chauffeur got underneath to check things out. One bashplate screw missing and another only finger tight! Once shipshape again I was made to wade across so I could video it, only mid thigh deep. Further down at the Lower Carrowine Gorge we found the campsite of the Landrover Club. Got us thinking it would be a great spot for our own club camp as there are plenty of places to hub out from for daily drives. We had set off thinking we would have lunch at the Ironclad Hotel in Marble Bar. This is listed in The Book (Bush Pubs) but our socializing in the morning put us behind schedule so lunch was had on the river banks. The road into Marble Bar was all hard top so it didn't take us long to cover the 150 or so Kms! Lots of road kill (cows). Found the caravan park (aargh, those CPs). Anyhow we had the obligatory showers and cleaned ourselves us then walked up the road to The Ironclad for a bevy and dinner. Well worth it, me who doesn't like to eat out was very impressed - nicest meal I have had for a long time. Chef Peter was Thai/Vietnamese and his Pad Thai was yummy, and the vegetarian one for me with loads of fresh greens was a treat!