Thursday - 26th July

Left Longreach and headed for our next stop at Winton.  We had an uneventful run until we found ourselves behind a large transport 30km out of Winton.  It was huge, the chassis of a large mining dump truck, and it took up most of both sides of the road.  We listened in to the CB conversation as the lead car warned other road users of the approaching load, everyone had to get off the road even the triple-trailer road trains.  We weren’t held up much as it was cracking along at 80kph.  We set up camp behind the North Gregory Hotel.  Excellent location but no power or water; but you can use the hotel showers and toilets for free.  We did a walking tour of the town and visited the very interesting and comprehensive displays at the Waltzing Matilda Centre, the fossil display at the beautiful old Corfield and Fitzmaurice building and the quaint wall surrounding the residence behind the hotel.  We had dinner in the hotel with Kerrie and Ron,  the managers of the camping facility before adjourning to the beer garden to listen to the impromptu band put together by members of a Jazz Club who were touring through the area.  I was enjoined to sing a couple of songs and did so adequately.  After that, we retired to bed, with headlamps for reading. (We wanted to conserve our batteries for the fridge.)