Day 488 | Clayton Wetlands: I'm now official

89 km | zzOz total: 15,735 km

A strange landscape, bereft for the major part of shrubbery, just a vast ocean of saltbush and grey grass, with a low but always present swell and occasional sand dunes, vegetation clad of the small variety but with the steeper parts, those on the eastern side, with a strong burst of orange showing, giving the impression of a rogue wave, more like a tsunami of the 10 m proportion.

Today even the wildlife abandoned me, nothing for a bird to perch on, although a few goannas did a flat to the ground sprint, legs rotating wildly, then abruptly stopping, head popping up, completely still, before slinking low to the ground at pace into the saltbush.

No more surprises with Brolgas feeding in large groups although the clouds of Little Corellas and Galahs at the waterholes will continue.

It’s the last night out on the Birdsville, I finally stop at one of the four official campsites, toilets, a warm shower and even an empty spa pool all connected up to the artesian bore, the water is warm with the usual foul sulphurous smell and kerosine taste.

That’ll soon change, civilisation’s close at hand.