We left Cracknback and drove back up the range to Armidale. Enjoying the amazing views and scenery as we went.

The next couple days we spent mostly in the car. We had 2 days to get to Cunnamulla for the start of Simpson Desert crossing. Armidale to Cunnamulla is approximately 800 kilometres.

From Armidale we headed west, our goal Moree. Or at least somewhere close. Moree the half way point. I decided to take the road less traveled and toke a more direct route instead of following the major highways. Traveling on a mix of bitumen and good unsealed roads we worked our way down the western side of range. Joining the Gwydir highway at Warialda.

I do love a well maintain dirt road. It was a great drive down the range. 

We stopped at a look out a little bit past Warialda. Looking back at where we had come from.

Pushing on to Moree the country flatten out. We started to see large tracks of land being used for cotton production as well as some cereal cropping. The extensive irrigation channels and dams used for cotton production could also been seen.

Yep lots of straight flat road out here.

A bare cotton field as far as the eye can see.

Some of the large earth works required for the flood irrigation used in cotton production

We fuelled up at Moree and made our way to the small town of Boomi. I read that the town of Boomi had a artesian pool and cheap camping.

Unfortunately we got in later than expected. 15 mins before the pool closed. The lady in charge must have felt sorry for us and let us have a free swim and allowed us to stay past the closing time until she had packed up for the day. The Artesian poll was like having a large hot bath. Perfect after a big day behind the wheel.

After our swim we set up camp and found dinner at the local pub.

Our camp at Boomi. The pool in the back ground. Sorry no pictures of the artesian pool. To busy enjoying our limited time to take any.

We got going early the next day. We had another 400 km to travel before we would reach our next camp. From Boomi to the town of St George the cotton country continued. Most of the paddocks were bare. So when we found one with cotton that had not been harvested. I toke the opportunity and pulled over and showed Alec cotton in it’s natural state.

We picked up this bit from the side of the road.

For morning tea we somehow managed to be at a pub. That’s what happen when you follow sigh’s on the side of the highway. The Nindigully Pub is famous for being Queensland’s oldest hotel. Still located in it original condition and position on the Mooni River. After our morning tea and a look around we continued on to the town of St George for lunch.

A healthy morning tea.

With all the stops in morning is was well into the afternoon by the time we left St George and that when I realised we still close to 300 kilometres to go. We settled in for the long drive. Alec with his DVD player and snacks ready to go. We left town and headed west.

It seem like a line had been drawn at St George one side cotton the other side just scrub county. All the way to Cunnamulla the country didn’t change much. The scrub not overly tall but enough so you couldn’t see over it. Which made it feel very lonely. Tracks going off into the bush were often seen. A home-made sigh at the entrance the only indication that there was any sort of life in the scrub.

We made to camp late in the afternoon. Having to slow down a couple of time for Kangaroo’s and goats as they picked on the green grass on the side of the road. Happy to arrived and ready for a couple of days out of the car and to get ready for the next part of our adventure. Crossing the Simpson Desert.

Even on the road washing has to be done.

We started to meet some of our fellow travellers for the trip across the desert.