Day 345 | Corfield Sports Club: great free campsite

88 km | zzOz total: 9193 km

Day 28 since I left Alice and I’m fully into the swing of travelling once again.

There was a significant change to the feel of the trip rumbling into Winton, the Matilda highway seemed to be a dividing line between Remote and Civilisation, the landscape to the north is fully cleared, no shrubbery to be seen, fenced both sides of the road, a huge series of high tension power lines, and, of course, the road is sealed.

Where I’d come from south and further west it was the opposite, no fences, power lines, dirt road, plenty of bushes around.

The other major change: people.

On the Plenty there were occasional long distance travellers, generally used to camping in obscure, remote places, a modicum of discomfort as they rattled across the dirt roads, having to eschew a long, hot shower for a few days.

The rugged types are probably here as well but they are swamped by the caravan park dweller, those who start early in the day and speed to the next to grab the optimum location, gotta set up before lunch.

It’s just a different world.

I’m friendly enough, I don’t mind a chat, but to be truthful I’m somewhat demanding in my conversation, I just hate engaging in yet another robotic inquisitorial style session where I’m there to satisfy someone else’s needs, like self justification of all that crap in, or being towed by, the big 4WD, who is oblivious to my own, ie, real communication.

I’ve become more pre-emptive, often just ignoring those early boring questions and instead focussing on my own: What’s the most interesting thing you’ve discovered this week?

Some just respond by staring blankly, blinking, not quite thinking, brain just twitching, confused.

Nothing, really.

(Man, travelling out here and not seeing anything to excite you in a week, check your pulse.)

But it can bring out interesting dialogue in others, hearing of some inspiring places to visit, Porcupine Gorge, Cooktown, or tales of seeing a platypus in the wild.

I prefer to crank it up and don’t mind if the dozos quickly slink off with some mumbled excuse.