Wednesday 22 July 2020: Winton to Middleton 175 km
Breakfast spot, Mistake Creek – about 2 km south of WintonIt’s eerie heading west from Winton – the straight narrow road runs to the horizon in front and behind There’s no hills, no trees, no cars, no peopleThe gentle gradient means floodwaters spread out into of small channels Now we are in the Channel CountrySpinifex grass is really pretty but up close it’s a mass of pricklesSuddenly, red hills appear – remaining from 95 million years ago when this area was a lakeThis isolated hut featured in the 2016 movie GoldstoneMiddleton (pop 2) is the last remaining Cobb & Co horse changing station9 passengers withstood a jolting and jarring journey in this coach up until the 1920sLuckily there was a vacancy at the Middleton Hilton NO AIRCON NO TV NO POOL NO CHARGEJeff having a beer with Lester, proprietor of the 144 year old Middleton Hotel
Thursday 23 July 2020: Middleton to Boulia 193 km
A flock of galahs take fright as we approach the Middleton windmillNo mobile coverage out here but there is a phone boothBlack Kite looking for prey Mesas, outcrops left behind by an ancient inland sea, stand out above the horizonDriving along the countryside looks dull but stop and you’ll find patches of unusual flowersAlways thought Brolgas were water birds but these no water anywhere near here
At the Australian Hotel in Boulia – we tried the Crazy Camel Larger and Camel Bangers
Friday 24 July 2020: Boulia to Dajarra Dam 168 km
Normally there are camel races at Boulia now but this year they are cancelled due COVID-19Burke River water birdsBoulia Stone House – constructed in the 1880s using local stone and timberThe last remaining Corroboree Tree for the local Pita Pita people The Waddi Wattle lives for 200 years and only grows in 3 small areas in AustraliaSingle lane roads and you must get off for Road Trains, they cannotDon’t be on the road when a 150 tonne Road Train is coming at 100 kphWildflowers between Boulia and DajarraBrown Falcon – there isn’t much road kill for them on this roadQueensland western white gum is endemic to a small area of QueenslandOld Dajarra lockup Dajarra was once the largest cattle trucking depot in the world but there is no sign of prosperity nowThis looks like a good spot for the night – Dajarra Dam
Saturday 25 July 2020: Dajarra Dam to Corella Dam 205 km
Stirring the breakfast baked beans on an open fire beside Dajarra Dam Ant hills everywhereCows at one of the few waterholesThis Wedge-Tailed Eagle wasn’t going far from his meal on the roadIn the middle of nowhere, 80 km south of Mt Isa – bikes in treesWe are leaving the flat plains of the Channel Country as we approach Mt IsaA good camping site at Corella Dam about 60 km east of Mt Isa