Day 11 Rubyvale to Barcaldine

305km from Rubyvale east along the Capricorn Highway via Willow, Alpha and Jericho, had us at a free camp outside Barcaldine by mid afternoon.  Again, brilliant weather.  Highlights for the day were crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, the view east from the Drummond Range east of Alpha and entering the catchment area for Cooper Creek and Lake Eyre  We did not know the catchment area stretched so far north.  The countryside is sparsely populated, cattle grazing mainly.  Roads were excellent and gun barrel straight for a lot of the way.  At the free camp we met one of the cleverest cockatoos we have seen for many a year.  The bird travels with his owner in a caravan. He can all but have a conversation with you and boy, can he laugh.

170414 Crossing the Tropic of Capricorn near Rubyvale

170414 Looking east from atop the Drummond Range

170414 One of the cleverest cockatoos we have ever met