Mount Isa is an iron ore and gold mining town of significant age. The mine is right on the edge of town and the chimney stacks dominate the city skyline from all aspects. The buildings, especially the community and government ones, are so old that they are fashionable again and could easily win awards for cutting edge design. 

For the outback capital of Australia we were surprised (and Caleb was bitterly disappointed) that the shopping here is pretty lacking. He has some pocket money burning a hole in his wallet. As we saw in Western Australia, many of these mining towns which offer “Fly in Fly Out” (FIFO) employment opportunities, the towns are not seemingly benefiting from the wealth. They have ended up with a very transient society and a town that doesn’t look like it’s progressive (or it’s hiding it very well). I did manage to find a lovely gallery which sold locally made pieces and bought a lovely pair of earrings for myself. Sometimes there are opportunities that present themselves for one off designs that you really don’t see anywhere else and it’s important to support local creative ventures.

The weather has a much cooler edge to it here so I had to resort to buying a couple of long sleeved tops to ward off the goose bumps.

We are all enjoying having our own ensuite so much that we think we will probably stay another day or two. But, I got a timely reminder of having your own toilet, the paper will always need changing just when its your turn. Just like at home, it was Mr Nobody! 

We spent the afternoon at the van, with the heater on. I made my vegetable ratatouille which I freeze into portions (Ray and Caleb won’t touch it) so I’m good for a while. Scrumptious. While I was in the cooking mood I made another gluten free cake, vanilla this time and iced it too. What a treat. Caleb and Ray critiqued it like usual and I scored well. Thanks boys!