(Kate)
We went to the Innaminka Trading Post to fill up the jerry cans, and to get advice on the latest road closures. We decided to take the low-risk route going east on the Adventure Way towards Thargomindah, then going north to Quilpie.
Crossing the border into QLD was an exciting moment, and the landscape seemed to change straight away. Green on the ground as far as the eye could see, with frequent creek crossings with large trees in them. Mid-afternoon we turned onto the Cooper Developmental Road, and saw more evidence of recent rainfall (puddles) and lots of cattle grazing. There has been lots of single-lane bitumen since we left Innaminka, with double lane sections on crests and over creeks.
We stopped in Eromanga for fuel. Eromanga's claim to fame is being the furthest town from any sea in Australia. About 50km before we got there, an ABS warning light came on in the car. We didn't know what it meant, and the car didn't feel any different, so we decided to press on and look it up in the manual later. When we stopped for fuel, one of the back tyres was down, and an examination with a solution of shampoo and water revealed a hole. Ben extracted a 3 inch nail from the hole ("well there's your problem") and plugged it using a "worm". Now we know that the ABS warning light is a signal to stop and check tyres.
We camped at a gravel stop on the Diamantina Development Road between Quilpie and Windorah. Because of the recent rains, we decided to stick to the bitumen and a known campsite, rather than risk getting bogged trying to find our own spot on the side of the road, even though it will mean setting up in the dark.
Wildlife that we've seen today - lots of birds at Innaminka, camels, a pig, kangaroos, cattle, emus and eagles.
Our new favourite desert is peanut butter spread on corn thins :)
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