We did try and book an expensive long flight down to lake Eyre from Birdsville. Yes they were still doing flights but tomorrow's flight was full and it didn't look like they had enough interest to run another one in the next couple of days. We hit the road and headed on up to Boulia.

I had threatened last time we were out here that I would camp at the Carcoory ruins and play around with star shots over the ruins. No that didn't happen this time either.

"Clifford" at the Vaughan Johnson Lookout on the road up to Boulia. Our destination was the Diamantina Lakes National Park but we got fuel and did a "shop" in Boulia first

We had a look at Elizabeth Springs on the way into the National Park. We couldn't find a real spring. The best I could do was some wet areas on the top of some of the mounds but it didn't flow anywhere and was quickly soaked up.

In it's own way the dry gibber plain we parked on was more impressive.

The water hole was full, it had obviously been overflowing over the road recently. As the lady at the min min centre in Boulia had said the sites here were pretty small, and not suitable for large caravans. We did check out the other campground later on and seeing we are small this is or preferred campground.

At first I didn't think this nest was occupied. It was only by using the binoculars that we saw this almost fully fledged chick.

Sunset over the waterhole.

Night - no moon yet. Time to play with some star shots.

There are two sets of yards near the campground. These steel yards within walking distance and another older set further away down a track that has some deep ruts from the rain a couple of weeks ago.

We took a drive out to the eastern edge of the park and the old Mayne Hotel.

On the way we went to the look out over the park with Janet's leap being the outcrop in the left of this panorama.

The bend in the road at the hotel.

The roof of the cellar. Open at night and closed during the day to try and keep the drinks cool.

I guess this bed is free tonight.

I enjoyed the drive out of the National Park. It was more a track but not a main road either. We drove across gibber plains, clay pans some gentle rises and then great expanses of "nothing" and mostly looking green after the rain a couple of weeks ago. Even a couple of patches still damp enough to throw mud back up the sides of Clifford.

Windorah has its own solar power station. Its a little different with the parabolic reflector throwing light onto solar cells in the middle.