As you can see from the cover photo (especially for our Victorian friends) it was shocker here today. We overdosed on vitiman D and only some late high cloud sent us scurrying back to write this blog over a beer or two from the local spa and pool heated with artesian well water so its beautifully warm. By the way all the water for this town comes from bores and comes out at 50c plus from the tap. Any cold water you need has to sit and cool or go into the fridge. It has a sulphury smell that dissipates after a while. It is fine to drink

Blackall is I suppose what you would call the architypal country town. Strains of country music float from everywhere. Cattle road trains by the dozen head down the highway southbound, everyone wears coyboy hats, the local shops are staffed with old grannies who know everybody and to cap it all off the local baker told us this morning when he rolled up for work at 1am this morning they were locking up a women in a paddy wagon who had been fighting in the pub next door.

Around the caravan park its all talk of who has been to the remotest part of this country and we are probably the youngest inhabitants of the park by 10 years. A Tamworth Golden Guitar winner (Graham Rodger) is in residence each night for 3 months around the camp fire at 5pm and plays (quite well if you like that sort of stuff) for an hour or so before they provide you with a roast dinner followed by hot damper and golden syrup all for $20

The actual 'Black Stump' is in town not far from where I sit now, the local attractions include a steam driven Woolscouring operation that only ceased commercial activity in 1979. It been lovingly restored and fully works and is a very interesting look into Australia's 'riding on the sheeps back' past

We are off for a counter tea at the pub hoping to get ringside seats for tonights punchup then off to Longreach tomorrow