The main accommodation building at Fitzroy Crossing Lodge (photo 1) was quite interesting as the entire structure seems to be corrugated metal, and surrounds the swimming pool.

It was quite cool last night with temps (I am guessing) in the mid 40s°F (10°C) and while making coffee I noticed this little group of birds sitting on a tree branch huddled together, with feathers fluffed up trying to stay warm while waiting for the sun to get them warmed up. A little after the sun hit them they departed.

One of our rest stops today was a place called Mary Pool. Its a large area beside a small river and the reason for the name is that a pool of water remains well into the dry season. We were surprised to find a couple of dozen campers/caravans parked here. Included a photo of an Australian dump station just for interest.

Later in the day we arrived at the town of Halls Creek and explored a short section of the Duncan Road which initially heads South out of Halls Creek but eventually turns North and East to finish after a few thousand kilometers in Katherine, Northern Territory. However we only travelled about 20 km along this road. Firstly to view a local attraction called China Wall, an outcropping of white quartz amongst the otherwise red rock and then to find Caroline Pool, another small river with a waterhole that remains well into the dry season.

Caroline Pool is another informal camping ground with no facilities. There were about a dozen people at the camp.

The Halls Creek is the site of the first gold rush in Western Australia, is well known to Australian 4x4 enthusiasts as it is the town at the Northern end of the Canning Stock Route, the longest historic stock route in the world, and now an 1800km (1100+mile) 4x4 track. Halls Creek is one of the gateway towns to the Bungle Bungle and Purnululu National Park.