Boulia to Birdsville

 

Gidday all,

Out past the park boundary and on to Springvale station and Boulia. Back to desolate planes, and seeing forever.

 

 Drove into Boulia, complete with emu roaming the main street, topped up on groceries, refuelled and filled up the water. Had a good look around and a cup of tea then took the road to Birdsville.

 Just out of Boulia, saw some scrub off the road some way so headed over to it and camped up for the night. Off again in the morning. The familiar flat Mitchell grass planes extending before us. About 100ks on a rest area high on a lonely hill called us up to have a look. The views were excellent, the look of the country from here confirms this is an ancient sea bed.

 

Back on the road and some km on the flat planes gave way to spinifex dotted red sand hills. Bedourie next stop. Camped the night at the council rest stop, it has water, toilets and SHOWERS. In the morning headed toward Burnsville, 68k on pulled in at Cuttaburra crossing, a river crossing with a permanent water hole. Lots of birds, a flock of budgees landed in front of us and started feeding on the grass seeds, a great moment.

 Eagles also swooping on prey unseen by us.

 

On to Carcoory ruins, one of the first properties Sir Sidney Kidman purchased in 1899. After years of drought and the loss of many cattle he abandoned the station.

 

 

Just down the road is an artesian bore, spewing out boiling hot water into a network of channels and into a large pond. Stopped to soak a while. The water is like getting into a very hot bath, very invigorating after you get out, a natural hot tub. Din even got in, the water temp was “just right” she said.

 

Just a little way from the pond, two brolgas strutting about.

 

Followed a little track for a bit beside one channel and came upon a lovely camp spot beside a long water hole, so we set up camp. Nice clean water, nobody around for miles, birdlife and fish. What more could you want. Had a go and caught a few small perch, then released them to grow some more. Spent three days there. Monday, time to pack up and get to Birdsville.