Into the red, and out again

This morning saw us rise before dawn, which isn’t hard to do when the sun rises at 7:20, and have us off on the Nature Drive into Windorah. While this was the first of our really red sand, it was most useful in pointing out all of the different varieties of trees that go to make the characteristic bush out there. I also recognised some names that are in the boutique desert timber industry, like bull-oak, dead finish, desert oak, sally wattle, gidgee and mulga.

Comparing with my last visit there, Windorah, like all other outback towns, seems to be having somewhat of a revival. I also remembered a red sand dune just out of town, so we went there for a run around. We could only speculate what might have made these tracks, or these, or who might eat these.

Back in Windorah we checked out the solar photovoltaic concentrator  before turning north to Jundah and Stonehenge. It seems we just missed the Governor General opening various things in the area, including the Stonehenge Community Centre

Back on the road and into the plains south of Longreach, with the country in general looking very good, especially if you aren’t a fan of hills, nor red sand.

A late arrival into Winton saw us setting up in fading light in a tiny square between two vans, the last spot available. Yep, always this busy at this time of year he says. Settled into an hour with “Two Short Sheilas”  That’s another change I have noticed. The bush poetry, yarn-spinning etc has been taken over by the women. Fortunately, all of the R-rated stuff was also well and truly PG, and I didn’t oblige my children with the explanations.

530km today, with diesel $1.49 in Windorah. $20 in the caravan park, but nowhere near as good in the showers as at Quilpie, but I much prefer bush poetry to Country rock, so not a bad package.