The Land of the Min Min Light.

Departed Mt Isa on Monday morning. On this occasion we are departing from the popular tourist route which is east to Cloncurry, then south on the Matilda Hwy. to Winton and Long Reach.
Instead we drove south from Mt Isa to Boulia, possibly the most remote place we have visited to date. A distance of 305km, bordering the Simpson Desert and traversing the flatest, driest and treeless plains imaginable. Unfortunately we had a strong breeeze directly in our face consequently fuel consumption increased dramatically.

Boulia is regarded as the centre of the Channel Country of Queeensland and known better as the area where the Min Min Light has mysteriously appeared to locals and travellers alike. Situated 360km west of Winton, Boulia is really in the outback. Not being confident of sighting the Min Min, we instead visited the town attraction known as The Min Min Experience. This is a high tech laser and animatronics display which simulates this mysterious phenomena. We also visited the fossil display which has the most remarkable fossils of sea creatures dating back millions of years when this area was an inland sea. The curator of this exhibition, Dick Suter, the guy who located most of these fossils throughout the area was in attendance working on recently discovered finds. We were fortunate to be the only ones there and he gave us a personal tour - extremely interesting.

Another coincidence while at the Min Min Experience was that the guide, Sharon Walsh came from Wolumla on the NSW south coast where Colin lived for a number of years. Her family are well known in the area.

We departed Boulia around 5pm and drove East on the Min Min Hwy. for about 75km to our overnight rest area, Hamilton River (ruins) which was once one of seven Cobb and Co. staging points between Boulia and Winton. Talk about deserted - we were the only travellers there. Our only company being a pair of brolgas, a lonely bull and a windmill that creaked and groaned all night. We fully expected that if anyone was going to sight the Min Min Light, we were in the ideal isolated spot. Unfortunately (or fortunately) no sighting tonight.

Moving on next morning we stopped at a lookout which had magnificent 360 degree views of the Messa like country. A brief morning tea stop at Middleton, population 2, which is another story, then on to Winton where I again tried to resolve the gas problem.

Another overnight rest area stop 47km south of Winton, this time in the company of about 10 other travellers, then on to Longreach the next morning where we intend to stay for 3 or 4 nights at the Longreach Waterhole rest area on the outskirts of town. This free rest area is beside the Thompson River and is extremely popular with folks like us. I counted 54 caravans, trailers and motorhomes here on our first night. Tomorrow we are booked in for a Cobb & Co. gallop through the bush in a restored coach with billy tea etc.

Another coincidence - the couple next to us come from Tathra, once again a place where Colin spent a lot of time while living at Wolumla. This ladies sister has worked in the office at Bega High School for many years, where Colin also worked. It is a small world, isn't it.

Kevin and Gail.
View a small sample of our trip photos at:
www.picasaweb.google.com/kevinh055