19 July - Bush camp between Lark Quarry and Winton to bush camp just South of Tambo.

A windy night last night - really our first one all trip, tents were flapping and the dust and prickles blowing around weren't great. It cooled off too, we were glad of the fire and burnt all Steve's wood that he has been carrying since before Diamantina Lakes NP. 

The colour before the sun.

Here it comes.

More shots.

Long morning shadows.

Thought I'd try and jump in.

Up to take the sun rising and lighting up the nearby jump up.

Someone else grabbed the camera, packing up.

Steve is going to try and pick up a second parcel that arrived at Mt Isa after we'd left. So a photo of me with my licence, to support the letter I've written authorising Steve to collect for me.

A lovely psuedo 'last night' camp. This morning we said goodbye to Steve and Carmel who are heading back up to Mt Isa, to Sarah and Michael who were shooting off to Longreach and eventually heading south via Canberra, to Stef, Milani and (poor Meg was still in bed with a migraine) who are off to Longreach to see Stockmans Hall of Fame, Qantas Museum and to catch up with Jadon again, they are then heading home via Charleville and the Bilbies, Jadon is going home via Dubbo to visit his dad. 

We headed out of camp about 9.30 with Steve and Carmel and left the Dundek's with Meg in tent sleeping off the migraine. We had a radio call not long after to say goodbye, hope she is feeling better soon, didn't sound too chipper on the radio.

Straight through Winton, where the Davey's went one way and we the other. Onto Longreach - fuel, quick loo stop (ran into Sarah and Michael - they copped a hit in the windscreen on way here, so were planning to visit O'Briens before heading to Qantas museum,) a squiz at Main Street, pie for lunch then I made enquiry at Post Office as to how I could authorise someone like Steve to pick up my parcel in Mt Isa (a tent part from Black Wolf that arrived several days after we left.)  I have given Steve a letter authorising him to collect, also fowarded the text and we took a mug shot of us both with me holding my licence. Longreach PO folk say this should be enough. 

Then Dad and I hit the road to Ifracombe, Barcaldine, then to Blackall and Tambo for a fuel and air stop. We found a bush camp off to the left not far out of Tambo. 

A pair of bustards, just near where we turned in to find a camp.

Small fire, scrounging poor wood from around the campsite.

Dad and I in the Eastern colours of sunset

and there's the tree again, as the sun disappears behind us in the West.

This morning was cool, but still braved shorts, got up for sunrise onto the nearby "jump up". (It's a hill really, they jump up out of nowhere) and to struggle with packing up with wind, prickles and dust. All happened pretty quickly. We were intending to hang around to say goodbye to Meg, but Stef suggested we go and take the pressure off Meg (really I think Stef thought they were holding us up, but both Steve and us were happy to wait)

An uneventful day all up, as will then next few as we shoot for home - lots of driving, sleeping etc. 

Forgot to mention we did have phone coverage for a lot of this morning so I was able to prepare and publish some blog posts. Hopefully more over next few days. 

9.01pm - the wood is burnt, warmest place is bed, my arms hanging out are cold so off to the land of nod I go.