We cleaned the camp and then into Digger and into Camooweal to buy bread and fuel for the generator plus more water for washing etc. The fresh bread for the day had not arrived so we went out to the Drovers shed for a look see. What a pleasant surprise for the surroundings did not really reflect what was to unfold for us. Into the main shed and as you went in the door you stepped back into a bygone era where drovers and their horses reigned supreme. Today all the cattle is moved by road train and there are few cattle drives only memorial types, we joined a group and a woman volunteer of the Drovers Shed was to take us back in time when they drove cattle for thousands of kilometres and where there were no state boundaries only droving tracks. Many people today in their four wheel drive vehicles drive along these stock routes.
The commentary on all the exhibits was excellent and gave you a good insight as to how hard the work was and how tough the drovers and their horses were, their camp ovens were made of tin for lightness and the billy's as such were half so as they sat flat on the pack horse saddle. We saw several carts and it was explained that after several thousand bone shaking kilometres the spokes would dry and come loose. To fix the problem they would take off the steel outer ring and back the cart into the Georgina River where the dampness would swell the spokes again and then heat up the rim and refit it and when cool everything back to normal.

We hopped into Digger to go into Camooweal to get more water for drinking and showering at the moment the wind is pretty strong though it is not lowering the temperature which is 28 degrees. We drove along the edge of the billabong and counted 35 caravans and 6 motorhome's and it is only 1 pm, we saw more Brolga's and as soon as I hopped out of Digger they headed for the bush the whole seven of them. Back on the road and into town and pulled into the truck bay and took photo's of the four Road Trains absolutely full of Brahman cattle which way they are going we are not sure; we thought the drivers were having a sleep though the cattle must be suffering in this heat especially those on the bottom deck who are copping the urine of the top deck as well.
On to get water and then into the supermarket and bought a few items including a coronetto ice cream for each of us. It is now 2pm and we are having a late lunch and as we could not buy bread today Liz is making a damper which should be great. We had a visit from our nearest neighbor enquiring about campsites on the way to Three Ways which I happily supplied and then we had our evening meal outside for it was very warm in the motorhome and we would enjoy the birds flying about attempting to catch the small fish which seem to abound. We watched a little television and then off to bed.

We had our lunch and gathered a bit of wood for the fire and then went into Boulia. We drove out past the caravan park which is nearly empty and then onto the golf course which is just plain red dirt fairways. Back to the pub and had a few coldies and spoke to the locals who are not all that excited about the explosion in population for next weekend. Back to the motorhome with the still cold wind though sunny conditions and it was time for happy hour. We had our evening meal of silverside and salad and would you believe it is to cold to stay outside by the fire so we stayed in and watched television before going off to bed and read our books.
Kilometres travelled 163

We drove down to the supermarket that also doubles as a hardware store, we noted that the bread they had out for sale was all frozen and that is to be expected for even when we inspected the airport there no planes and we haven't heard any come in over the last couple of days. They will probably start arriving from the outback stations about Friday. Liz was to buy some band aids and then we drove out along the gravel road to where we did not know. After five kilometres we turned back drove down the roads on the other side until we reached the part of the river that hasn't dried up as yet. We met two couples from Victoria who were fishing and are here for the Camel Races. We had a good old natter about this and that before we bid them farewell. We were to see an Emu walking and then swimming back and forth across the river maybe ridding itself of freeloaders on its back. Back to the service station and the take away food section and bought three spring rolls, wait for it, and a bag of chips which cost $5. We went back to the rest area near the bridge that takes you to Winton and had our lunch sitting in Digger.
On to the library for a look see and then home for a poppy nap.
Later in the day we went for a shower and to speak to the Tassie's who are parked close the camel race entrance.
4pm and happy hour arrived no wonder we run out of alcohol quickly. Lit the firepot and on went the chicken casserole simmering away, as usual I had cut to much wood so poor old Digger was the recipient of that extra wood. We had a couple of happy campers stop by and I could see they were viewing the ground around us until I told them that the generator goes until 11pm. My nose is growing when I make statements like that so they moved on with the exception of a camper trailer which is set up some 100 metres away, when I started the generator they looked in our direction.
Clouds are appearing and they look like rain clouds and showers are predicted for this area over the next couple of days so it is good that we are moving in the morning.
Packed Digger with our firepot etc plus he extra wood so we are generally speaking ready to move off in the morning.
Watched Television and then read our books before turning off the lights.

Tuesday the 19th of July
Another beautiful morning with clear blue sky's and sunny, when looking to the west it was unusual to see the moon still high in the sky and it looked excellent with the blue sky . Lit the fire and cooked our breakfast and listened to the radio and just enjoyed the morning watching the Galahs with their mating antics, there was a fairly big mob of them.
Out with a bucket of water and cleaned the motorhome of its road grime first wiping with a wet cloth and then using a chamois to do the final wipe down, I didn't realise just how dirty the motorhome was. That cold south easterly wind came again so we moved our chairs to the back of the motorhome to avoid it and to read our books. I looked up and realised how beautiful our back yard looked, once you looked over the spear grass the greenery of the trees and the clear blue sky was great. Even the though the wind had a chill with it the temperature was a warm 24 degrees. We had our lunch and then packed all the water containers into Digger plus our shower gear for we thought if we obtained our water at the show grounds then they may have showers saving us the use of our water and facilities.
That turned out to be correct and we used the showers after obtaining permission of the caretaker who informed us that they expect rain this weekend which will not auger well for the Camel Races. We hope that is not the case for the ground we are on will bog easily with rain on it.
Round to vegetable place and to be expected the prices were very high, as a indication the bananas were $18 per kilo, needless to say we left them alone and bought a cauliflower for $4.80 a very small one indeed.
We had a look at the wall which has every imaginable piece of equipment and bric a brac cemented in. A most unusual sight indeed though a lot of thought must have gone into it. Then down to purchase the paper as we heard the plane overhead after lunch. A most unusual main street with the buildings being at least over one hundred years old. The rubbish bins in the main street were all in dinosaur feet for they believe this area has a lot of Dinosaur relics and history. The Lark Quarry some 110 kilometres away is an area that shows this to be true.
Back home via the post office and we noted that there many more happy campers coming in to camp, the grounds are now showing signs of overfilling, maybe they may be from the Boulia Camel Races. I hauled out two yabby nets and baited them and set them so we will see what happens in the morning. I spoke to one woman who indicated that she had caught a yellow belly (Golden Perch) in her nets.
Happy hour arrived and a couple came over who we had met on the road two years ago and as they were from Tasmania we chewed the fat for quite awhile, which meant that I didn't get our pork roast on to cook so we have put that back until tomorrow and just a quick easy meal tonight.
Comedy night on the television tonight though I will read my book that I started this morning a Clive Cussler novel.
Wednesday the 20th of July
That damn wind again today though with still blue sky's and sunny, the temperature would rise to 24 degrees by mid afternoon. Lit the firepot and cooked our toast and boiled the water for our cup of tea for breakfast though the cold wind forced us to eat inside. I then checked the yabby traps and there was nothing so back in they went, obviously the water is still to cold in the water hole. Carried out our usual chores and then moved our chairs around the back of the motorhome out of the wind and into the sun and then read our books. We were to see 8 caravans leave and then by 10am four more arrived.
We had our lunch and then I went for a walk and spoke the tassie bloke who is really chuffed at those who are parked right on him and he was to tell me that two cartons of xxxx gold cost him $98 in the pub in Winton, unbelievable.
Liz drove Digger into town and bought bread and the paper and indicated there were heaps of caravans parked in the streets. We just relaxed and watched many vans come in and then it was happy hour and time to put the Pork in the camp oven then into the firepot. It was wonderful listening to it cook and the aroma was beaut. We had a couple of happy campers come and chew the fat with us and then a bloke and his wife pulled in from Burnie I think they wanted to park next to us until they saw the ants and we explained the many hundreds we had already killed.
By the end of the day we estimate there are now 45 caravans, motorhome's and camper vans here. Parked as close as a caravan park and we were still seeing them come in at 6.15pm. At the moment there are 6 in the long paddock for the first time. We had a couple come down and look at our spot and then moved on when they realised that there was no room for more.Then time for our evening meal a very nice meal of roast pork complete with baked spuds and five veggies. In all a wonderful lazy day not even one photo was taken. I will finish my book tonight while Liz watch's tellie.

We then adjourned for lunch under the grand stand where we had roast meat rolls with gravy and a pie and sausage roll, needless to say we will not be having much for our evening meal. Liz was to look around the many stalls and bought some ear rings to add to her collection. There was plenty to see on the stalls including the chance to purchase soup and damper for lunch which we declined.
It was back to the camel races and what a sight to see them coming down the home straight. Just because one camel was leading didn't mean it would win for was the chance they would shoot off the rails and go over to the crowd thus loosing the race. What a cantankerous animal they are. Then they had tag the camel event. The idea was to place a piece of electrical tape on the body of the camel then back to the fence and then you had to take it off the camel and return to the fence, It was a timed event with the winner earning a prize of $500. Well the camel has the ability to kick sideways, forward and backwoods and there were a few bruises with some electing to concede defeat due to the amount of kicking of some camels. Then it was the Winton plate and the camels were really frothing at the mouth as they came down the straight. Then off road trail bikes in the centre ring put on a good show especially the very young on their small bikes and the quad bikes.
Finally, the running of the Winton Camel Cup and the race was won by Uncle Reggy who has won 14 out of the last 15 cups and he won it by at least three lengths. Prior to the race they had a calcutta on the cup and Uncle Reggy was sold for $750 so that bloke won a fair bit given the amount paid for the other camels in the calcutta.
The presentation of the gold cup and sash to the owner and jockey and then the most successful jockey of the day which was won by the jockey of Uncle Reggy she was beaming from ear to ear.
Tonight they have a band playing and a fireworks display we opted go home after the camel races were completed and what a wonderful day it has been we even met a few people we met on the road a few years ago which was great. We expect we will hear the music for it is Rock & Roll and you can expect it to be loud and I am sure we will see the fireworks from our camp site.
We will settle in to watch the Collingwood V Gold Coast and then off to bed very tired for it has been a wonderful day with sunshine and clear blue sky's.

Monday the 25th of July
A much warmer day greeted us this morning and as we had packed everything away we had a leisurely breakfast inside the motorhome and then cleaned around our campsite making sure that there was not even a piece of paper left.
We departed the Winton water hole and made our way to the service station where we pulled on 108.83 litre's of diesel at $1.52.9 cents a litre and to date we have travelled 6732 kilometres with more to go before we arrive home. The wind had not picked up and it was just a slight breeze on the nose as we drove out of Winton bound for Longreach, we came across plenty of camels in the paddocks a short distance out and they looked great silhouetted against the blue sky, by the way there was not a cloud in the sky. We were to drive for more than a hundred kilometres through undulating land that in the distance looked flat. This must have been an illusion for we seemed to be climbing up all the time though there wasn't a requirement to change gears at all.
When we looked straight ahead it looked flat and when looking to the side you could see mountain ranges that in the early morning sun looked great especially the shadows that were cast in the ravines.
The traffic was relatively heavy with heaps of caravans going in both directions and road trains as well. When we saw a cattle road train coming or going we would instinctively close the vents and any air intake in the cabin for the smell was something we did not desire. There was heaps of road kill especially kangaroo's and we also spotted two wild pigs that had been bowled over on the road.
The hawks would only eat the kangaroo meat not the pig meat. The road trains coming behind us were very friendly indicating that we were not a problem and they would pass us when they had the opportunity, they requested that I maintain our speed and they would come around us at an opportune time. These have been the best truckies we have struck to date and willing to have a chat to you as well you always knew when they were about to come around by the amount of the black smoke coming out of their exhaust stacks. Ken from the water hole caught up with us and passed bidding us farewell for he is going onto Illfracombe for a few days.
We were to pass some very nice rest areas complete with toilets along the way though we had made up our mind to go to Longreach to restock the cupboards for the next few weeks given that we are heading back into the outback.
We finally arrived at the Thomson River Rest Area and what a shock there must have been over 70 caravans and motorhome's with still plenty of space left. Needless to say they were all parked as if they were in a caravan park with not much room in between each other. We opted to park between two motorhome's that we had seen at the water hole at Winton thus we renewed our acquaintances again. We had a good old chat and then we drove into Longreach in Digger to do our thing. We had decided not to do the touristy things just re provision and then back to the camp. First job fill the 9kg gas bottle costing $24.90, we were quoted $42 for a refill in the caravan park at Mount Isa.
We then wandered down the main street looking for door handles to no avail and then we opted to go and have lunch at a small cafe where we had fish & chips for me and chicken kebab with chips for Liz. That will be our junk tucker for the next month. Then onto IGA for our groceries, shock-horror! the Tim Tams were on special so purchased four packets of those plus a good range of vegetables and a few groceries which now should see us through for the next three weeks or so.
Back to camp and packed them away and then went for a walk on the bridge over the Thomson River and boy the river was creating its own gentle breeze which was most enjoyable, took a couple of photo's of the brown river and than it was time for happy hour so we came together with our neighbors and enjoyed the social intercourse that took place.
Both groups indicated that they were coming down to Tassie in December for four months so we were to answer many of their questions those we could not we referred then to the visitors information centre's when they arrive. Time for our evening meal and the next door neighbor invited us to hook into his generator so we did, I suppose that is one way of making sure your neighbor does not get concerned about running the generator. We watched a bit of local television and then off to bed.
Kilometres travelled 191