SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER   RUBYVALE TO ROMA   487kms

We were up at 5am and away at 6.15. We are getting good at this. It was not long after sunrise.

The early driving was pleasant, not too hot.

We stopped to take a photo at the Bottle shop/pub on the Tropic of Capricorn, between Rubyvale and Sapphire. So, today we officially leave the tropics again, after seven months. However, I suspect we will not notice much change, weather-wise.

We drove to Emerald, then turned south, going through Springsure, to Rolleston. There we turned south again, onto the Carnarvon Development Road. This took us through Injune and on to Roma.

The country from Springsure onwards, was interesting – dramatic hills around Springsure and then the Carnarvon Range was off to our right. We must return and explore these parts, sometime.

It became quite hot. We had a couple of drink and stretch breaks – at Rolleston and Injune.

We passed the turn off to Carnarvon Gorge National Park – another intended future destination, but not at this hot time of the year.

The roads south from Emerald were all sealed and quite good.

We reached Roma about 1pm. Got diesel – 70cpl.

Booked into the Villa Caravan Park for the night – $15. Did a quick set up, then had our sausage sandwich lunch. John then had a nap for a couple of hours.

Later in the afternoon, we walked into town – about a km – and had a look round. Being the weekend, all was rather quiet. Back at the park, I had a swim in their pool.

Tea was bacon and omelettes, and some of the yummy red grapes we’d bought at a roadside stall for $3 a kilo.

It was still hot at night.