After early morning walks and breakfast, we were on our way to Winton at 8:25am. First (about 10am) stop was at Corfield, (we stopped here for mornos two years ago whilst travelling in the opposite direction) for mornos. It was the only decent spot to stop since leaving Hughenden. While finishing our brews we received a visit from a bunch of Yellow-throated Miner birds that were looking for a free feed, cheeky fellows. There is still not much to see in Corfield so we didn't linger after our brews were finished. We arrived at Winton just before midday, refuelled, parked up, went for wander through the Waltzing Mathilda Centre (we did the museum last time), then had lunch. Bob and Noel, who are staying in Winton to do the dinosaur thing, joined us as we finished. We wanted to get a spot at the free camp about 40km towards Longreach, so we bid them farewell until Monday.
We arrived at the Crawford Creek Rest Area free camp with proper flush toilets and Telstra 3G just before 2pm. There's also CCTV and street lights, all run off solar / wind power. After setting up we had a little rest, then went for a wander in the bush surrounding the free camp. When we arrived, we were one of three campers here. At the time of writing (5pm), it is almost standing room only.
The road from Hughenden for the first 50km or so is in desperate need of some love and attention. The closer we got to Winton, the better the road became and it continued to our free camp. We hope it is like that all the way to Longreach tomorrow.
Leftover Chinese takeaways for dinner tonight. This is night seven of being off-grid (in five different camp sites).
Curious cows at the showgrounds; Wendy had to stand still for about five minutes before their curiosity got the better of them and they came forward
Early morning Hughenden
Mornos at Corfield
The Yellow-throated Miners on B&N's caravan
Drive scenery, including a convoy of motorbikes
RV day park at Winton
Waltzing Matilda Centre (WMC) Winton
The sheep are still here having a drink
Vivid petunias
Photo at the gallery at WMC: Tibooburra Rodeo c.1980s
Flock of budgies
North Gregory Hotel, Winton
Re-stumping the rail bridge with monster girders; see the flood debris in the fence beyond the rail bridge
Solar and horizontal windmills to power the CCTV cameras and the 3G
The Crawford Creek (CC) Rest Area is in memory of Selwyn Watkins (unsure why?)
Us, not after arriving at the CC Rest Area
Drone shots of the CC Rest Area and surrounds
The wider free camp
