Rose at 6 am feeling much better but still stiff and a bit washed out. Had breakfast and said farewell to the boys. Packed out bags, filled our water containers and packed Alfred, and at 9:30 am said goodbye to Mrs Morley and headed for Cunnamulla.

Spent an hour or so in town and again I felt odd while int he Chemist Shop and had to sit in Alfred while the girls finished shopping. Had 2 glasses of cold milk and felt much better – thought it must have been lack of food.

Everything went well today and we pressed on to Bolton, having lunch by the roadside, of cold lamb chops (from Cairwarro) and apple cucumber and tomato! Reached Bolton at 6:30 pm and decided to have a cool drink. Eventually found temporary premises of the local pub which appeared to be BAR only! One of the locals took our order and brought us three beers – ugh, it was vile! – that certainly settled our raging thirst.

We looked a bit like three Indian squaws – we were absolutely coated with thick red dust. Just as we were satisfying our dusty throats with some of our precious iced water one of the local women (wife of the chap who took our orders) offered us a cold shower in her small home! We were so taken aback at her thoughtfulness as we hadn’t even spoken to her, but she heard us talking about being dirty!

However, we still had 78 miles to go so we didn’t accept her kind offer – although in one way we felt we should, but with profuse thanks we headed along the still very dusty track to St George.

Arrived about 10:30 pm and Marye and I lit the fire and made hot soup which we couldn’t persuade Helen to have – she was pretty exhausted after her long day’s drive and went straight to sleep after a dish bath! Marye and I quickly followed suit.

Our camp was by the Balonne River on the opposite side from the township. Sometime during the night and old chap who swayed precariously above me woke me up with a “Hey there” – I half sat up in my sleeping bag, said nothing and after a couple of seconds he staggered away – don’t know where he came from or where he went to – but to my relief he evidently decided I was not the girl for him! I rolled over, hoped for the best, and went back to sleep. Neither of the others heard him!! Just after he had gone, I heard Helen up and scratching around, he had something in the cabin with her! Snake she imagined – but it turned out to be a stick insect! After that, all was quiet!!