8 June 2021
We have left Winton and its agricultural show that included pet dogs dressed up as fairies running through tunnels and jumping hurdles. I can only wonder what the working dogs that were being judged on Sunday thought of their contemporaries dressed up with wings. Maybe those hard working dogs that manage flocks of sheep and help with mustering cattle don’t recognise the pet dogs with wings as fair dinkum dogs. Could it be like country folk relating to latte sipping office workers from the cities.
The Road 
Porcupine Gorge 
The Pyramid, Porcupine Gorge
We headed across the empty plains to Hughenden again with more dinosaurs on offer. After a good wet season season the Mitchell grass looks to be at its best. In Hughenden I learned that if they get a small amount of rain it will critically spoil the grass. If it’s going to rain they need 20 mls at least to ensure the grass responds as grass should. I was advised by the local that no rain is the best thing for the country at the moment. The things you learn.
On our way to Hughenden we passed through a spot on the map called Corfield. Although Corfield is really no more than 2 two houses it does host the Corfield races every year and yes there is a Corfield Cup. This is not be confused with the $5 million Caulfield Cup that is run in Melbourne every October.
Excitement on the Road
Running parallel to the highway is a well used railway line. Unlike some of the old lines in the area that no longer operate this line carries huge train loads of lead and silver ore to the port of Townsville. It turns out the biggest underground lead and silver mine in the world is just down the road. This country is not so empty after all, it’s just underground.
Train stuff 
New sleepers
As we drove along we were entertained by the railway technology removing old sleepers and forcing the new sleepers under the rails. Trust me this is exciting stuff in this largely empty country.
Food in the Outback
You may not always find the food brands you might enjoy at home, nor might the range of choice mirror what you expect at home. You can however always find what you need, maybe not what you want.
You can be assured however that if you are carnivore your needs will be well met. It seems the further north you go the better the meat. I am regularly informed that the steaks come from a local property and that maybe the bacon is cured by a business just down the road. It’s all very local and it’s all very good.
More on the Rhythms of Life
We have discovered that up here in the warmer parts the cattle stay put during the day. This is probably a behaviour that is about avoiding the heat of the day. During daylight hours cattle can be found laying down in large numbers, ruminating and just chilling out around water holes and dams.
I think this means trucks collide with dinosaurs 
The cattle are very large, they eat cars and tip them off the road
However, come sundown they are up and on the move. Now they don’t move fast like kangaroos but they move in large numbers and unlike kangaroos they might just stay in the middle of the road and stare you down. In the context of no fences a drive at sunset and beyond is not a time to relax.
In contrast to the movement of cattle, the people travelling with their vans and RVs commonly referred to as grey nomads (we are not them) tend to settle down for the evening when the sun sets and get back on the move with sunrise.
Like the cattle, the touring population heads out to all points of the compass. Their primary driving force is to be settled into the next camping spot by early afternoon in time for happy hour and to avoid those roaming cattle.
And so the rhythm of the grey nomads (not us) and the cattle represent the yin and yang of the touring season in outback Australia; cattle at night, caravans during the day.
On to Longreach …
A Traveller's Tale 