The stench of death hung heavily on the wind today: Kangaroos and foxes mostly. Not much out here dies of natural causes, natural predators, cars, trucks, and hunting account for most.
We had punishing headwinds with little cover all day as we headed northwest through the cotton and grain country out of Moree. Cotton buds litter the roadway like snow as massive road trains with their gargantuan bales slow down for us or toot hello as they head to the nearby small town of Ashley and the Cotton Gin.
We took the back road to Boomi (pronounced Boom-eye) which was open and mostly paved. Grain farmers, having recently harvested, were burning off the stubble, and thick smoke filled the air. We were increasingly nervous as we traveled west, seeing the huge plume of smoke heading our way, blown onward us by a fierce northerly wind. We managed to get ahead of the fire as it grew to huge proportions and watched willie-willies (Australian for mini-tornadoes) form while emus and kangaroos ran for their lives.
Cattle on the road near Garah were startled by our presence and started to run wildly alongside us. The mob grew into a stampede! Threatening to break through the wire fencing  Thankfully we got to Boomi just before the storm where surprisingly we were able to jump into a hot artesian spa. Setting up camp under the barbecue awning we managed to survive the torrential downpour overnight, before pushing on early next morning into the humid wet vastness and then crossing the McIntyre River into Queensland.
Everyday cycling is an adventure within itself.