I have not posted a blog for quite a while now, but here is a little update on our current position....

After joining the World Guiness Book of Records attempt of the longest line of RVs (caravans, motorhomes, etc) we headed deeper into the outback, visiting towns like Yaraka (population less than 20 but about one million flies) where we camped behind the pub. We were here for state of origin night, which was fun in the pub. Wednesday, Royal Flying Doctors come in for their fortnightly clinic, so we got to tour the little plane. Pop also did a mail run with the local postie - 400k, 4 properties.

On to Adavale (population about 15 and about one million flies) where we camped opposite the pub. Obviously, both towns have a pub, but nothing much else. At Adavale, we visited the historic town dump, where we found lots of really old broken bottles, kerosene tins and other rusty rubbish! We also went to a cafe called The Intelligent Emu, and had coffee and cake for Pop's birthday.

From Adavale, we headed down to Eromanga, another tiny spot (with lots of flies) on the map (population 15) before heading out into the desert to see the Dig Tree. Eromanga is one of the outback town where dinosaur bones have been found.

The Dig Tree is on Cooper Creek, and is where the explorers Burke & Wills left some of their expedition at a camp while they continued up to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The base camp were told to wait three or four months. They waited for four months, and eventually, the buried some food under a tree beside the waterhole, carved into the tree "DIG" and left. The same day (later in the afternoon), Burke and Wills arrived! They both subsequently perished further up the creek. There were lots more flies. Beginning to wonder if they are following us

After the Dig tree, we drove through sand dunes to get to Cameron Corner. This is one of the corners where Queensland, NSW and South Australia meet. We found a cache there, and had lunch in the pub. This is one spot where you can visit three states in less than 3 minutes, or play golf in three states amongst the sand dunes. Cameron Corner has a population of 2, 4 or 8, and plenty of flies. depending on the time of the year, or which web site you check.

We are now in NSW, at White Cliffs, which is an opal mining town. Most of the population live in dugouts - underground. Yesterday, we were invited to visit one of these homes. The home/dugout is five levels, half of which is underground. It was started back in the 1900s as a shack over a mine. The mine has been enlarged to make beautiful bedrooms, sitting rooms etc all below the surface. The walls are coated with a resin to stop dust from dropping, their beds all have roofs over them. Upstairs are the bathrooms, laundry, kitchen etc. The temperature in the dug outs remains at 18 degrees day and night, all year. Most people who live and mine in White Cliffs go back to various  homes during the hotter months. It can get up over 40 degrees apparently. After we looked in their home, we went out to their mine, and climbed down a ladder into the mine. Bid scary, the ladder was really wobbly. Interesting all the same.

The weather has been really cold, down to zero most mornings, but our diesel heater keeps us warm. The added bonus is that because it is so cold, the flies don't like it On Friday, we move on to Wilcannia, then to Broken Hill, where we will probably stay for another week.