Heading toward Longreach, we arrived at Barcaldine (pronounced Bar-cauld-in). We found ourselves a weir as usual and camped under the trees near the water. The weir is full due to a recent cold front that came through with heavy falls of rain. The water doesnt look very clean though so we wont be swimming here and the boys wont be putting the yabbie nets out.,

Al had a game of bowls - twilight- while Ray and Bev went to the movies in town at a really old radio theatre. I stayed home with Sandi, way out in the bush all by ourselves in the dark......I was glad to see them all arrive home again.

We toured the town and had a lovely cup of coffee and some lunch. The town boasts a few special tourist attractions. One is the tree of knowledge under which the labor party was formed. The tree is now dead but they have it under a huge structure with a huge number of hanging timbers representing its leaves. They also have a National Heritage Museum which houses stories that reflect Australias development.

The weather has been so hot here, we were lucky to camp where there was a tap so Allen and I were filling up buckets of water and dumping them on each other (fully clothed) to stay cool. Night washes were outside in the nuddy with a basin of cold water to wash and tip over ourselves. I know you are all thinking, oh my god, they are mad, but this life is so freeing, no inhibitions here lol.

Al and Ray went into town on Sunday morning for bowls again, they lost. When they returned we hooked up the vans and drove through to Longreach. Watch this space for Longreach news !!!!