Whooo whooo!!! Made it to Winton and then on to the sheep station on the catchment divide between the Thompson River (becomes Cooper Creek into Lake Eyre) and the Diamentina River (goes down past Birdsville to Lake Eyre).

An earlyish start to the day with damper and strawberry jam then a 19 km roll into Winton. Straight through town to see the original town site at Pelican Waterholes about 1 km out on the north-west side on the Western Creek. First small drainage line was damp, 30 cm later the back wheel was jammed with mud and not turning. End of historical expedition. On black soil; moisture = stop.

Back to Winton, a full breakfast at The Australian Hotel ($15, excellent value), up to Searles variety store (search it, famous little shop) and get a pocket knife to replace the one left at Yulara campground. Finally a trip to the local supermarket to restock the larder for the next big leg from Winton up to Townsville.

About 13:00 left town and a great downwind run to Chorregon at 65 km. This went faster once I had dug the last of the mud out from under the mudguard and freed the drag on the wheel. A bit over 2 hours for the 65 km downwind on the bitumen then an hour and a half for the 18 km crosswind on the black soil road.

Only two horizontal dismounts when the wheel caught the dried out mud in the truck ruts cut into the previously wet black soil.

Down off the shire road, up the farm track, around the tennis court and there is the brother, camera in hand, recording The Arrival.