Riparian vistas (as an estate agent might put it)

The weekend rain cleared off in good time and the chalked trail through the bush and burbs was very clear this last Sunday. Our hares treated us to some great views of an extremely scenic bit of the Pine River. If our eyes had been better we may well have been able to make out the bull sharks disporting themselves:

Some great tucker followed in the hares' outdoor living area and we probably all made pigs of ourselves:

Haughty attempted to set his hair on fire in celebration of his birthday:

Many thanks, hares, for a well-marked trail (even Miss Demeanour only missed one turning) and for your hospitality!

Now - time to catch up a little on the news from the Western Front - Western Queensland, that is. Here follows a quick summary from Strine's reports (you'll find more pictures here, and on Eweshggr's Facebook page too.)

Charcoal, Strine, Eweshggr and Scratchit made a few stops on the way to Thargomindah, that must-see place:

From here they headed off to Noccundra, where the pub (a Cobb and Co. stop) was built in 1882.

Their next stop was Innaminka, along some pretty poor roads lined by yellow daisies and turn-offs to oil and gas plants. Side trips from here took them to important sites recalling the calamitous Burke and Wills Expedition: Wills' grave, the site where King was found, and the "Dig" tree site.

Coongie Lake was their next camping stop, where they enjoyed many walks along the lake and along Cooper's Creek. The birdlife here was impressive.

After returning to Innaminka they headed off for Cameron's Corner, where a post marks the corners of Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory and where the hotel serves massive T-bone steaks.

From their camping spot at Cooper's Creek they then headed off towards Birdsville. Their first stop was at Betoota, where they camped near the creek and feasted on local yabbies.

The Serpent Dreaming artwork beside the highway to Birdsville is made out of gibber and other coloured stones:

There was still a week or so to go until the Birdsville Races, but the crowds had started to arrive. Highlights of the town included the bakery, Parma for a Farmer at the hotel, the Big Red sandhill, and the waddi trees (a pretty rare acacia species):

From Birdville their route then took them up the edge of the Simpson Desert to Boulia, passing on the way the ruins of the old Carcoory homestead (farming here was not very viable.)

They had a night camped near the old hotel in Bedourie:

Past Boulia they climbed to the Cawnpore lookout and a neighbouring mesa for some wide views:

...and had pies and drinks at the Middleton (pop. 3) Hotel, before making it to Winton and civilisation.

Next run details
When: Sunday 2nd September, 4 pm
Where: Corner Cedar Creek Road and Mt. Samson Road, Closeburn. A map!
Hares: Culture and Haughty

On, on!