Next drama for the Raths was a nasty post viral rash that managed to cover poor Jem from head to toe every part of poor Jem's body. As we drove out of the caravan park the next morning on our way to Tennant Creek the rash was clearing slowly. As the day got hotter though, the rash became more angry and inflamed and incredibly itchy despite oral anti-histamine, topical cream and also oral steroids. It was disappearing and reappearing quite rapidly, but he seemed perfectly well otherwise. Trace was getting pretty worried about its cause, Josh, as usual, was accused of being blase and disinterested - he had reasonably confidently diagnosed this as a post viral rash.
A quick stop at Wycliff Well, the UFO capital of Australia and we were back on the road towards our night stop.
As we pulled into Tennant Creek, Trace thought that given our remoteness over the ensuing days of travel, it would be wise to take Jem to Tennant Creek emergency department. The next nearest hospital was Mt Isa, nearly 1000 km to the east. Jem was keen on a trip to hospital, it seemed a novelty. After a phone call to the hospital to confirm they indeed had a 24-hour emergency department, we fronted up at a very new facility. The triage nurse looked familiar to Josh, but a prior meeting as highly unlikely. In the cool air conditioning of the hospital the rash seemed to be settling and after some questioning from the nurse, it was far less red and inflamed. Enquiry was made as to whether the rumours we had heard about a gastroenteritis outbreak at the place we were staying in Uluru could be confirmed and the nurse admitted she wasn’t sure as she had just returned from NSW. A bit more chatting and as it turns out the nurse was someone had met before, a nurse who had worked for quite some time at both Royal North Shore as well as Hornsby Hospital. What are the chances of that.
Anyhow, Jem’s rash. Well after all this banter, the rash had really settled down and, although still present, we agreed that the current regime of treatment should continue and left without seeing a doctor. Jem had his temperature taken and we were on our way home, thankfully without waiting for long.
Traveling eastward was hot and dry and as we approached the border we noted the endless fencing on either side of the road. This was cattle country in a big way, even though the landscape seemed far from suited to sustaining cattle. The almost continuous fencing line was to be a feature throughout western Queensland and the Gulf savannah - very different to anywhere else we had been in the outback. Jem was for some reason very excited about our crossing into Queensland. It was good that he had something to be excited about, because in the heat his rash had returned just about all over him and the itch was starting to bother him. About 150km out of Tennant Creek Trace was once again worried about the rash, cursing me for not having had an emergency doctor look at him in Tennant Creek, doubting the dermatological/infectious disease diagnostic capability of her anaesthetist husband, and seriously considering whether we should turn back given that the next hospital was probably Mt Isa, some 800 km east. Eventually, Jem fell asleep and unfortunately fell asleep before the crossing into Queensland arrived. It was September 30.
Our first overnight in the Sunshine State was spent in sleepy Camooweal. The kids had been promised a pool at the caravan park in Camooweal, so were a little disappointed when we pulled up with no pool in sight. Thankfully we had fronted up at the wrong caravan park. The one with the pool, we were informed with regret by the proprietor, was down the road and across the street. Hallelujah, we found the only pool between Tennant Creek and Mt Isa. A little dusty, but a hugely welcome relief from our hot drive. Once again the kids couldn't wait to get their gear off and jump in. Jem’s rash enjoyed a cool off in the pool and after a few beers, we headed of the the pub out the front which did dinner and, apparently, had a reasonable cook. Thankfully they had a TV that worked so the kids could watch X Factor. Although a mother with a young baby looked at us worryingly as we sat down for dinner with a child that looked as if he had an infectious dose of measles, it was a pleasant night with the locals.
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