Left Lightning Ridge round 8.30 after a world record 30 minute pack up and minimalist breakfast. We did stop to pick up a latte and a muffin for ‘Ron  as we passed through town and then we were on our way.

Had to back track through Walgett and then started our Darling River Run.  The road was quite a way from the river system (the Barwon in this section) so it was pretty much flat, treed, yet dry as a chip landscape.  The litany of road kill reminded us of the importance of getting to our  destination before roo hour.

We arrived in Brewarrina n time for a late lunch. It’s a historic town right on the Barwon River – at the highest point where the old paddle steamers used to be able to reach on the Darling. It has strong aboriginal history including the 40,000 plus  year old fish traps constructed by 8 tribes of Aboriginal people.  It remains a significant meeting place.

We did the local Aboriginal cultural tour. A young aboriginal man shared stories about the local aboriginal history, the design and construction of the traps and how they work (they’re still used by locals today) as well as the much more sobering impacts  of colonisation on the local aboriginal people.

Tonight we are camping on a local farm right on the edge of the Barwon River – Beds on the Barwon- only a few campers here and an enormous gang of kookaburras who have been chortling at us for the last half hour. Very tranquil spot – ot it will be once our feathered friends drop off to sleep.

We’re about to light a fire and settle in for the night, and enjoy our first campfire cooked meal for the trip.