The weather drives us north again on a beautiful, red dirt road, full of wedge-tailed eagles, reviving wild feelings to overnight in Gregory beside the river.
The road continued with heavy corrugation, then soothing asphalt to windy, remote, one-horse town, Burketown. Just outside town, there's a psychedelic, 68 degree C bore that spews bright colours.
We set up camp on a high riverbank with a fabulous panorama of the Albert River snaking round below.
It doesn't take long before a 4m croc lazily hauls out on the opposite shore. Large roos lollop near him.
What a scene: blue sky, roaring wind, bright sunshine, crocs, roos, birds, and ruffled waters. Welcome to the Gulf of Carpentaria!
Late afternoon becomes a scene of latent drama as the croc lurks around the roos. Eventually he moves slowly from the water, across the muddy shore, into the sandy forest margin and continues 50m deep into the forest on the prowl for prey. We watch with bated breath as roos nervously pass inside and outside the trees. They can sense something is amiss.
Pheasant coucals start their rythmic booming calls, then one flies across the river. Flocks of galahs pass overhead.
To complete the evening now that the wind has abated, we have a fire to complete a fine day.
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Burketown, Queensland; Albert River
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