After another cold night we awoke to a glorious morning at Mary’s Pool. While we were packing up to leave, a 4 wheel drive Kimberly Wild tour bus arrived as part of their authentic early morning activities. Unfortunately they chose the wrong place to park today as while drinking their billy tea the tourists had a great view of a large fifth-wheeler (not ours) pumping out their black-water tank into the dump point. Very authentic!
Packing Up at Mary’s Pool Rest Area
Leaving Mary’s Pool
First stop for the day was for coffee and to refuel at Halls Creek, where we took the opportunity to visit the Tourist Info Centre and also have a bit of a look around town. I was partly interested because one of my nieces (with her father) had lived and worked here for several years not too long ago.
On the Way to Halls Creek
Cattle
Cattle Yards
From Halls Creek our next intended destination was the Spring Creek Rest Area which we thought might be a potential overnight stop. No way José, so we continued on.
The next potential free camp was the Muluk Rest Area, where we actually stopped for lunch. However there was really only one decent spot, which was already taken, so we somewhat reluctantly hit the road again.
Driving today has been pretty much the same as previous days, with more single lane bridges, plenty of ant hills of all sorts if shapes and sizes, cattle (some in yards today), some horses roaming free, and, as always, beautiful mountainous scenery.
It was, however, somewhat disconcerting today to see smoke directly ahead of us on the highway, and eventually to be on both sides of us, with the roadsides still smouldering. Speaking to a fellow traveller, he wasn’t at all concerned and just said it was the locals burning off! The big thing is that there never seems to anyone actually looking after the fires. In Turkey Creek they were even burning off their nature strips, again with no-one in attendance.
Smoke Ahead
Burning Off
Mountain After Burning Off
Our next possible overnight stop was the Doon Doon Roadhouse and Caravan Park, but as we arrived the signs indicated that the caravan park had closed.
By now it was getting quite late to be driving, although the scenery was still amazing. Places to stop are rather spread out around here.
Fantastic Scenery
Fantastic Scenery
Fantastic Scenery
So we headed on up the highway and finally stopped at the Dunham River Rest Area in the Bungle Bungles, where we simply slotted into a great spot and had a chance for a quick sit outside before it got too dark.
Today was the furthest distance we have driven in a single day so far this trip, but all’s well that ends well.
Shorty's RV Adventures 