Day 48 18/10 (Monday) – Wongan Hills to Kirkalocka

Up early and out before 8am to shop and get someone to hopefully look at air con options. Got new belt that fitted properly (authentic Toyota belt – only $53 compared with $12 for the one we got in Narambeen – must be good!) and reassurance from the Toyota guy that this was most likely the problem. Fingers crossed. Headed up to Mt Matilda to get that walk in before we set off further north. Started at just after 9 am and got round the 7.3 km by 11.20. Getting quite warm by the time we got to the last leg (actually registered 34 degrees when we got back into the car), so more than ready to stop. Nice walk, mostly on an escarpment rising up from the surrounding plain. Apparently laterite rather than granite (as everything else has been). Spotted no wedge tailed eagles, no echidnas and almost nothing else of the fauna variety, except galahs. Minimal wildflowers in evidence but some nice views.
Continued on along the Great Northern Hwy towards Mt Magnet. Lots of red earth and wide blue sky. Rather than go into Mt Magnet we stopped at a place called Kirkalocka Station (~ 50 km or so south). Privately owned sheep station with facilities for camping and caravans, as well as options for homestead stay or rooms in the old shearer’s quarters. Turned out we were the only ones there so had the place to ourselves. Our own outdoor entertainment area with chairs and tables under the stars! Big old camp kitchen  with a gas stove and sinks, as well as old agas. Showers in a tin shed with concrete floors and loos in the old converted caravan behind the shed. Great rustic experience and amazingly relaxing with wine, nibblies, more wine and fried snapper and salad gazing out at the moon and the stars. The moon was so bright that it almost seemed daylight looking out over the fields. Flies buzzing around but none actually trying to attack – bliss! No mobile coverage though – oh well!
The new belt seems to work! So far so good….