The first order of business today was to stop at a camping shop in Mt Isa and get myself a new functional sleeping mat. On the 100km drive into Mt Isa I stopped at a rest area that had a very nice red/pink flowering plant next to one of the picnic shelters. This rest area was a memorial to the completion of the Barkly Highway joining Camooweal and Mt Isa.

Mt Isa is a somewhat startling town as the smoke stacks of the mining operation (not Uranium) are visible as one approaches the town and infact dominate the view from almost anywhere in the town. The first photo below is from the towns northern/western entry and the second is from the parking lot of the camping store where I replaced my sleeping mat.

The remaining photos in the group below are of the nearby Lake Moondarra.

After leaving Mt Isa I headed for the site of the now non-existent town of Mary Kathleen. This site was once the township for the workers at the Uranium Mine called Mary Kathleen. The township was opened in 1958 and the mine finally closed in 1982 and all of the buildings from the town were removed. This link will provide more history of the location and the mine.

Today the old town site is now a very popular camping spot for caravaners. The night I was there I estimated there were about 200 other groups of campers.

And thank you, yes, the night was much more comfortable with a new and functional sleeping mat.