13 November 2016 - Quilpie to Toompine

We have had a surprise day.  The temperature reached only 30 degrees today and there was a coolish breeze blowing continually.  What a change this was.

We have extended our stay here so that we can see some nearby features and avoid unnecessarily taking the caravan on gravel/dirt roads.

131116 Today's trip, follow light brown line south
from Quilpie to Toompine

131116 In the main Street of Quilpie

Today was a visit to Baldy Top and Table Top, hills about 6km from Quilpie.  There are not many high spots out here.

131116 Baldy Top

Noel climbed Baldy Top to take in the view of the surrounding countryside with Quilpie in the distance.  There are two videos taken from the top of the hill.  The countryside is too difficult (wide) to photograph.

131116 The view from Baldy Top

131116 Quilpie and Di swatting flies, from Baldy Top

131116 Part way up

131116 Made it!

131116 The top of Baldy Top

131116 Di studying the rocks below Baldy Top

Nearby was Table Top, but we chose not to climb it.

131116 Table Top from Baldy Top

131116 Table Top from ground level

We decided to take a 75 km diversion from Table Top to the old town of Toompine which is on the Quilpie to Thargomindah Road.  It was bitumen all the way.  Not surprisingly, there is little at Toompine.  It has an opal mining history but now the town is simply an hotel with some accommodation attached.

131116 The town of Toompine

131116 South Western Hotel at Toompine

131116 Serviced apartments at Toompine - once again
 a note of country humour

There were wildflowers aplenty and the mulga trees were showing off, with their shiny, silvery leaves glistening in the sunshine as the wind waved them from side to side.

131116 Yellow wildflowers

131116 Mulga trees, waving in the wind

Once again the land was in very good condition, with water in some of the creeks and the Bulloo River, and even water remaining on the roadside from recent rain. The cattle were in good shape.  

131116 Healthy cattle on the road from Quilpie to Toompine

We saw only three cars on the 150km drive.

Early back to the van today.  Tomorrow, who knows?