Towards Julia Creek

After three days in Boulia, we headed north towards Mt Isa along the Diamantina Development Road, which had occasional passing lanes; otherwise, it was a single-lane bitumen road. Remarkably, we are in the twenty-first century, yet we still have single-lane bitumen roads. 

On the way, we passed through Dajarra, a small town that appears to be on its last legs. Thank goodness for having air conditioning in the vehicle, with the outside temperature showing 46 degrees.

We filled up at the ISA, then parked on a side street, and both enjoyed our enormous salad sandwiches at the Buffs Club, where we had eaten before. They were so large that we could have shared just one between us. Afterwards, we headed to the attached bottle shop where Ros could buy her favourite Stone and Wood Pacific Ale, red wine, and a nice bottle of Whitney Neill gin. 

We then headed west to camp at Mary Kathleen, just as we had done for my birthday on August 11. However, fewer people are camping here because we are late in the season, and the daily temperatures are hovering around forty degrees. We are surrounded by the cement pads that used to be for the carports. 

As we were not in a rush and it was Queensland school holidays, we decided to spend three days here before heading to Julia Creek. We had never stayed at the RV stop on the eastern outskirts of town. Still, upon arriving, we couldn't believe how small the waterhole actually was and wondered why anyone would want to stay here for the allocated four days, apart from it being free. 

We had planned to stay for four days, but just two proved to be enough for us. There are many geese here that everyone feeds, so having food or a drink outside the van becomes quite tricky without them approaching.