Mariala National Park July 26 - 29 2023
 
  After a slow and steady drive out of the park, with some damp patches of road, we are back at our favourite scrape.

We passed the rolled over tanker we saw on the way in, being recovered.

One tow truck thing to pull the tank which still had its wheels attached.
     
  A low loader for the cab, looking only a bit mangled.
     
  Knowing the mobile phone signal was a "bit iffy" we perched the truck on the highest point we could drive to. Then placed phone on top of pole.

Wifi to computer from which we can make calls and browse and email and ......

After 12 days people had begun to worry. For which we are grateful. Our satphone "all ok" texts don't reach everyone. But eventually everyone connects.
     
  In Taroom we learned there are about 400 species of bottle tree in Queensland.

We saw two examples like this.

     
  After a bit of dithering, and in need of supplies, we decided to head towards Charleville rather than Roma.

Don't believe everything I read on the internet - there isn't a Woollies supermarket in Charleville, and one of the IGAs closed.

But the remaining Supa IGA was well stocked and fulfilled our needs.

To get to Charleville, instead of heading south to Mitchell then follow the Warrego Highway we headed west, then south to Mungallalah.
     
  The east west part was good road.
     
  The north south bit not so good.

Perhaps we should have gone through Augathella as the local grazier, who stopped to see if we were lost, suggested. How nice.
     
  We stopped at Morven, the Recreation Ground. Dump point, water, showers if we wanted, and lots of space. For us $5.
     
  We took the Old Charleville Road west, for a short way. The 100km or so of Warrego Highway reminded us of why we choose back roads.

Fuel, food, wine and chemist at Charleville, all good. Other, less common, purchases unavailable. It isn't as big a town as we thought, and looking a bit tired. We failed to find a pie shop, or a newsagent (we've nearly read all the New Scientists we brought with us.
     
  From Charleville north west to Mariala National Park.

The campsite involves a longish drive in along a fenceline. Through the Mulga.
     
  To Number 3 Bore campsite.

The old and the new.

We have no idea what a stationary steam engine would be used for in this area. Though we've read of them used for clearing trees this area doesn't look much like its ever been cleared. I believe they've also been used for ploughing, but the ground here is hard, with little soil.
     
  Next morning, a brief look around the campsite area.

We followed the creek south for a bit. The bore looks like its on a high spot, the creek flows away from it both north and south.
     
  The old trough, associated with tank and windmill (not functional).

The pipe from the bore was about 150mm and didn't look like the windmill could be connected. We didn't investigate further but there may have been a shaft around the pipe, at least a largish hole.
     
  Some shy birds around.
     
  We drove beyond the campsite to a second campsite at Mariala Rock Holes.

Stopping at the lookout .... the edge of an escarpment looking roughly west.
     
  With some more shy birds.
     
  And a steep track down the escarpment.

We thought twice, engaged low range, and set off.

Without incident ........ climbing back up is more likely to be an issue.

     
  The Rock Holes campsite has marginally more appeal than the Bore.
     
  A bit too much sediment for a bath. Though the fish seemed to be enjoying it.
     
  A walk along a management track. Just enjoying the colours of the Mulga - did I mention there are about 10 species of Mulga, and 10 varieties of the dominant species.

This was the second fungus like this we found on the track. It didn't look quite like it belonged, and burst when disturbed.
     
Idalia National Park July 30 - August 1 2023
     
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