Wednesday 19th April

We stocked up on supplies in Birdsville, bought fuel at $1.39/L and headed north.  We briefly stopped to see the Cordory station ruins and forged ahead up a well graded gravel road interspersed with bitumen sections - luxury!  We stopped at Bedourie for coffee then decided to go on to Boulia.  We were travelling so well we decided to head west and were amazed that the desert suddenly turned to green lush fields.  We heard afterwards that the road had been under 3 metres of water just a day or so ago and usually this area is a dust bowl.  We caught up with a tagalong tour and joined them for a great night at the Middleton Hotel.  To camp at Middleton, you just go in and buy a beer then pitch your tent across the road in the "Hilton Hotel".  The pub is the only building in Middleton and doubles as the family home with it's own helicopter parked alongside a Cobb and Co coach.