Saturday 19th June,

 Lorella Springs.

Unbelievable wild flowers!

Took off from Roper Bar in a leisurely manner and headed into Limmen national park. An out of the way , be self sufficient kind of place.

Camping at Roper Bar

Entering Limmen National Park

Many creek crossings. At one we stopped for morning tea and boiled the eco Billy- watching out for crocs! There were feathers everywhere and I chose us a couple each for our fancy hats. A couple of fellas drove up and parked right next to us then got out and asked if we had seen a green fishing tackle box, which we hadn’t. He did tell us that the feathers would be from when an aboriginal person shot a bird. They would pluck it on the spot. He said it would have been a Turkey bustard. Such beautiful feathers.

Loads of red dust in our wake

One of many creek crossings

Feathers of the turkey bustard

We stopped at a camp site for lunch then headed out on the road again, stopping occasionally to take photos including the blue flowers we saw another couple taking photos of. Didn't see anything like this again for the trip, just the odd patch - they clearly like it damp!

Amazing March of the Termite Mounds!

Can't cheat that we weren't there - evidence!

We saw the turn off to the western Lost City but there was a warning sign that you needed to leave at least 4 hrs of daylight, register with the ranger and have a code for the gate so we backed off and kept going down the road.

Fantastic changes in landscape from coastal scrub to dry sclerophyll forest and the rocky quartz ridges were amazing and dramatic.

Really remote countryside, places we've never heard of

Not often you see a water buffalo post box like this one!

At the turn of to the southern Lost City we drove in 4km, put on our sensible shoes and sunscreen and headed off in the walk. Quickly realising that this was a significant site that needed more time to really appreciate so we decided to go to Lorrrella Springs station that was 'nearby' to camp and go back next day to look properly.

29km in to Lorella station and plenty of bull dust and traffic- slow.

Several gates to get through and the kind gent in front opened and closed gates for us twice then pulled over to let us past.

Lorella station was a real oasis. A million acres of playground and plenty of space to pitch up our camp.

Home sweet home, Lorella Springs

All the comforts of home

We set camp and changed into swimmers for a swim in the hot springs (no crocs, just little fish that nibbled your toes!) which was lovely and relaxing. Then a quick change in time for a drink in happy hour, back to make a camp fire and heat up left over chicken curry. Yum.

Just 400 km that took all day. Pretty corrugated red dirt but fantastic scenery and vegetation followed by a relaxed evening at Lorella springs. Maybe tomorrow we just chill out, wash the clothes, fix the tail gate...

What we saw today:

Flocks of little birds, only a few were budgies, don’t know the rest (cockatiels). Lots of raptors, looked like black shouldered kites , osprey and a small eagle with white spots under its wings.