In the morning we visit the gemfields of Sapphire and Rubyvale before continuing west through ranges before reaching the flat outback beyond Alpha. There are many roadkills along the highway and we stop at Barcaldine to visit the Tree of Knowledge where striking shearers met in 1891 to form an alliance which eventually became the Australian Labor Party. The tree was poisoned in 2006 but is preserved beneath a huge structure of wooden wind chimes. We make it all the way to Longreach for the long weekend and arrive in 35 degree heat, something we haven't had for quite a while.