Fun with a stick

We continued our northerly trek after leaving the serenity of Carnarvon Gorge and set up camp in Emerald, where the traditional custodians of the land are the Gayiri people.

Our first day here was momentous. I rummaged around in the cupboards I'd packed back in April, pulled out a tee-shirt and a pair of shorts, and displayed legs whiter than the frost I left behind in Canberra. Finally weather warm enough to shed a few layers, take the winter blankets off the bed, and sit outside with a pretend beer and a good book. Oh happy day.

Today we visited Lake Maraboon, which means 'where the black duck fly'. It's Queensland's second largest lake and when it's full, is three times the size of Sydney Harbour. Right now, it's only about a third of its capacity and the water's a long way off spilling over the Fairbairn Dam. But it's an impressive sight all the same.

I expected to see people everywhere, as the area's known for its water sports, including fishing for Barramundi and the local Red Claw crayfish. But we had the place almost to ourselves while we (that's the royal "we") enjoyed a picnic lunch and had the very rare opportunity to have a short uke session without making our neighbours' ears bleed.

The Labs had fun with a stick.