Trish Travels: September 2012

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Menindee

Day 7 - Menindee

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Guess what?, yep it is those wretched school holidays - that is why the CPs are full. Probably all the National Parks will be busy as well, grrr. We have been so spoilt. Went into the NP office in BH and was amazed at the helpfulness of the ranger, more info than you can shake a stick at. I think we both feel a bit sad, like the remoteness, that we love, is over for now. This is all a bit too civilized for me. When we were walking around the info centre in BK, some people were so smart and dressed up - he, he wonder what they said about us?

We were going to race down to Minindee NP to try to secure a camp site, but have found another lake just before Minindee (still part of the Minindee lake system) where it is quite and we have set up here. Caught up on some cooking, and will have a fire tonight, first time in ages.

PAV finally got a chance to fish, so far only Carp.

	Photo 1 [Map]		Photo 2 [Map]
	At last, fishing [Map]

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Monday, 24 September 2012

Broken Hill

Day 6 - Broken Hill

Monday, 24 September 2012

Up early and into Broken Hill. Read there was a free guided walk from the Info Centre at 10:00. We had been on a few of these in San Francisco and they were brilliant. It was a freezing morning, and as we set off with the guide we were huddled in the sunshine areas. Nturned out to be rather disappointing. The old gentleman had a memory problem, and even though he had lived there for years, he couldn't remember names, or the stories etc. He kept resorting to telling us about his life, wife and mother-in-law. After 2 and a half hours the group of a bout 20 people had dwindled down to about 10, and the rest of us were trying to hurry him along. A bit sad. I did manage to glean that Broken Hill was run by the unions, it had not been very pleasant life. Oh yes, the band on the Titanic, when it went down, was from BH! I mentioned to PAV, I had a bad feeling in the place, this was before I understood a bit of the history. Although there was some lovely old buildings and architecture, the atmosphere was overwhelming negative.

After stocking up on fresh goodies (no complaints about Woolworths, lovely to be able to find my favourite herbal teas) we went out to a caravan park - no room at the inn, even unpowered. Fortunately they had unpowered at the next one, however, their unpowered, whilst only $20, was on the side of a hill. We were backed up right next to the pool fence to try to get level. Oh well, this is all an adventure, but I did find it hard to keep a smile on my face as I was trying to fit all the fresh groceries into the kitchen/fridge and cook some things up to freeze. By the time we sat down for dinner (inside) I was frozen, but all was not lost, I remembered the hot water bottle Jude had bought me:)

	Park Bench looking down on Broken Hill [Map]		Broken Hill, cafe and Memorial [Map]
	Inside the Trade Hall [Map]		Memorial over looking BH [Map]

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Dingo Fence to Silverton

Day 5 - Dingo Fence to Silverton

Sunday, 23 September 2012

The wind came up during the night - a bit of a understatement. PAV had to go out twice to tie the awnings down more securely, and they weren't even up. We decided to have breakfast inside as it was too unpleasant to go out. PAV boiled up the billy for my coffee and made toast whilst I sat up on the bed. Later listening to the radio we found it was Stay in Bed day!! How fitting was that. Eventually we had to go out and brave the sand biting wind, it obviously was not going to die down. It was quite horrible, but by the time we were finished and in the car I had a good laugh, far worse things could happen. Like I had another 32 gates to open!!! No kidding, wish I had counted them yesterday, would have been at least 20. At least there were 7 gates jammed open, with no catches and 16 grids. The wind was so strong it was a battle with some of the gates, nearly pulling me over. We were entertained by some emus who couldn't decide which way to run, so were zig zagging only they couldnt keep their heads over their bodies as they zagged and zagged, it was one of those tears running down the face moments and lots of snorting from me.

Eventually I had opened and shut the last gate and we arrived in Silverton. I knew it was a history type of place, but I didn't realise that the whole little town is basically a museum. We spent a couple of hours walking around. It has been the base of quite a few movies, Mad Max among them, and we of course ended up having a beer in the old Hotel.

Found there was a campground at the old oval, so we checked in.

The wind had died down so we thought we were in for a peaceful night, but the cockatoos, or we're they corellas, the bloody noisy ones anyway, we're in the hundreds, don't mind too much In the evening but at dawn, nah! Nothing we could do.

	Photo 1 [Map]		Piggies along Dingo Fenceline [Map]
	Emus our for Sunday .stroll [Map]		Mad Max, Silverton [Map]

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Tibbooburra to Dingo Fence

Day 4 - Tibbooburra to Dingo Fence

Saturday, 22 September 2012

Checked out a small mine site before hitting town, along with a 'nature' walk. Got to get some exercise in as there is a 3rd iconic Aussie Bush Pub in Tibbooburra! This is getting to be hard work having a beer at lunch time, I know I don't have to have alcohol, but you sort of feel you should support these places, dont you? Before we went in, we checked out the info centre again, sure enough the same delightful lady was there from last year. We exchanged all the goss, told her about our frog hitchhiker that we picked up last year in Tibbooburra and had a laugh. Se also double checked that the part of the dog fence we wanted to drive was in fact open to the public, then we went across the road to the iconic pub. Didn't serve food either, but only today as there was work being done in the kitchen, and this lady was not as obliging as Mel, in fact she seemed downright grumpy! They also didn't have XXXX Bitter, told us she couldn't give it away (well she could to me) people there would rather drink XXXX Gold. I kept my mouth shut!

Afterwards we parked beside the open air theatre (relic) and sat in a couple of their old chairs to eat our own sandwiches.

Off to find the dingo fence. I have never opened so many gates in one day -in fact I doubt in all our travels, this year and last. I've certainly earnt my keep today. Eventually we got through all the homestead paddocks and came to the dingo fence only to discover still more gates!!! Was just wondering which side the fence was meant to keep the dingos in when a large dingo ran across the track in front of us, carrying in its moth what I thought was a fox, but PAV thought it was a dingo pup. Looked too big to me, but it all happened so quickly.

Lots of crests, red sand, lots of green, has obviously rained recently. Just lovely. Not sure where we will pull up to came when we spotted Lake Boolka. WOW, the dingo fence runs right through it, in fact in the middle it is submerged. Found a small track leading off beside the lake and we eventually found a suitable campsite - quite a few ant nests on all the level places.

	What time does it start? [Map]		Camping beside Lake Boolka [Map]
	Sunset Lake Boolka [Map]

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Eromanga to Olive Downs via Noccundra

Day 3 - Eromanga to Olive Downs via Noccundra

Friday, 21 September 2012

The lady in the pub last night told us of the scenic route to Noccundra so off we went. An area of old opal mines. It took us through an area of rocky outcrops and dry creek beds, right up our 'street'. Came across Daryle's mine and camp, not abandoned so we had to retreat and head up the track that took us up on to higher ground. Daryle had a very interesting letter box, in the fork of the a tree and a little while later we found ourselves on an airstrip. It took a while before we realised by the track was so wide and level :). I actually asked PAV what the little reflector strips were on either side before the penny dropped. We then ran out of runway and had to do a little detour to find the real track - by the tyre prints around, we weren't the only ones who had made this mistake. About 100km later we came back onto the main track south to Noccundra. We were only 35km south of Eromanga! Passed Pam and Graham who were parked up in their mobile home, guess it was morno's time. Re tried to call up Pam the Ham on the radio, but they weren't listening. Graham had bought Pam a hand held two-way, and the previous day she had used it for the first time and chatted to some truckies that she could see heading towards them, she was so excited, it was really funny. Like a little kid with a new toy.

We arrived at Noccundra, to see to Cesna's parked alongside the Aussie bush pub (yes it is in the book as well, so the obligatory drink was called for). The lady serving drinks, Mel, said they don't usually do food, but the manager was away, so she could make us a couple of rounds of ham/cheese sandwichs for $8! That will do just fine we said. Not long after Graham and Pam arrive, so it was another round of drinks. In the meantime another couple of planes (from BRoken Hill) with some tourists aboard dropped in for a drink. It was quite amusing to watch them walk out of the pub and climb aboard again, then the plane take off right beside the pub. One way of reaching a pub that is hundreds of miles from anywhere else. Had to say our goodbyes again and we set off for Olive Downs, which is 50km north of Tibbooburra. We stayed here last year.

	In the dry creek bed [Map]		Darryl's letter box! [Map]
	Take me home James! [Map]

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Friday, 21 September 2012

Southward Bound, after Winton

News tells us we are in for a hot day and high free danger in the Channel Country. I've wilted already. We are only approx 100km east of the Diamantina Rd, still channel country but it is so different. One minute it is grass, next time I look up we are in trees, next it is grass again. At least the track is good, and we can eat up the next 250km as quickly as the cows gobble up this Mitchell stuff. We have started to travel perpendicular to the 'channels' so lots of whooop-de-doos and dippity-doos! A few things get airborne occasionally :)

Jundah was a tiny (pop 57) neat little town with a curious country hotel. How fortunate, it was a hot day, it was lunch time - must be ok to have a cold beer then. We were served by a VERY tall, blonde Irish backpacker, no kidding you could see the top of her legs as she stood behind the bar - PAV told me! They were preparing for Oktoberfest in a couple of weeks. These QLD country towns bring life to the places by having annual events, races, rodeos and Oktoberfests. There seems to be quite a circuit around here. Lots of paraphanalia on the walls to check out. Beside the stuffed pigs head on the wall was a notice board. Couldn't help noticing Outback ?beauty, manicures, waxing etc. then I noticed I was standing in front of one of those trolleys that you see in salons, overflowing with the goods. Next to this was the public phone and on the left of this was a wax heating unit. Behind me was a pool table, wonder if this converts to a massage table - the pub with it all -one stop shop :)

Outside on the WWWWWide street the apostlebirds were having a feast, lots of flowering trees and shrubs, must be something to do with the Raw Water they are fed. Had to chuckle at this sign, but when I saw the river, I guess it meant it was unfiltered - the channel rivers look like liquid mud, and the reticulation is probably straight from there.

We headed out to Welford NP. Not very well signed, and when we got there a bit disappointing. Still PAV had bought some bait and climbed down the riverbank. Something swam off with his prawn, but it was smarter than PAV and got away. Lots and lots of birds. I have spent my time searching my Australian Birds iPad book, but by the time I have narrowed it down, I have forgotten its song, or the color of its beak etc. I suspect we will be woken early.

Day 1

Wednesday, 19 September 2012

Day 2 - Welford NP to Eromanga

Thursday, 20 September 2012

Off to explore this NP. Not too impressed so far. Some interesting plants on the dunes. What are they - no info at the ' rangers' place. A bit disappointing really. Oh well, Eromanga here we come. As usual we stuck to the off road tracks, traveling through stations and through a dingo fence. Had my work cutout for me today, quite a few gates to open. It was hot.

The sign at Eromanga said "the furtherest town from the sea". Hmm, 'furtherest' ? Not sure about that one. Not sure whether to stay here or push on to Noccundra. Better have a beer in the Eromanga Royal Hotel whilst we decide. Turns out this pub is in The Aussie Bush Pub book! And to think we nearly drove past it. Happy to be able to buy XXXX Bitter, only $4.40 for a stubby! Diesel was well subsidized as well, $1.58. When we were told it was pizza night at the pub we decided to stay - would at least be able to get the sheets washed :).

Checked into the caravan Park - shocked to be told it was $30 a night. But we stayed. Should have checked out the washing machine and showers first!!!!!! We just parked in the middle of some donga type accommodation. Should have suspected something when he said don't worry about the big flash/bang when you turn the machine on, it always does that! Ha ha, at least I made PAV turn it on, did he jump! It was an old twin tub, (always think they have the best spinners), and it was manual every thing. Oh well, it was a laugh - at one stage I thought the sheets might come out dirtier then they started. We were even game to do a second load and by the time that was finished the sheets were dry, it was that hot. Did have to tip toe around the cow pats! It's all part of the experience of life eh?

Another couple in their mobile home turned up and we met up at the hotel for pizza. Once again, fellow travellers Graham and Pam were lovely company and we enjoyed sharing our 'stories.

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Bladensburg NP

Day 13 - Bladensburg NP

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Set off for the Bladensburg NP, most of these places have been stations in their past life, now bought back by the Govt and destocked, hopefully then it will eventually return to is original flora and fauna. Is that the way of all NPs?

The homestead here blew us away. Would have been quite a well to do place in its time. A lot of the old homestead (ruins) are just crumbling stone walls. This was wood and tin roof. There were ceiling roses, shaped architraves around the door frames, and even a fancy front door. Maybe not quite as old, but I think over 100 years old. The ranger here had actually lived on this station as a child in the 70s when her Dad worked here. Drove around the Mitchell grass plains, then on to the Jump Up, to see the rock gorge, and billabong. A curious octopus tree. Remains of the old race course.

On to the Lark Quarry Stampede. This place is home to the only known evidence in the world of a Dino stampede! Aussie Dino geeks are very proud of this place. Mary Wade was the paleo in the 70's who uncovered most of this along with the help of Mr Lark! It has been protected in a huge rammed earth, passive solar building. Oh I would so lose to build a home like this. It was the old story of a farmer on his station finding some curious 'rocks' and years later someone taking some interest in them. Verne our tour guide, was obviously another Dino lover and did a very good job. However, I have to chuckle at the story that is 'made up' about how the foot prints got there. There are over 3000 of them and the building built around and over them reminded me of photos I have seen of the Terracotta Warriors.

Had to move on as it was late afternoon and no where to camp here. Found a lovely spot alongside Mayne Creek about 100 down the road.

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Winton, on the Dino Trail!

Day 12 - Winton, on the Dino Trail!

Monday, 17 September 2012

Time to check out this little town, Winton. Waltzing Matilda centre -I am a bit over 'memorabilia' centers, however, the history of Qantas starting here was interesting. Felt the tickets were very over priced, but it did give you a couple of disconts in town, firstly a free beer with a meal at The North Gregory Hotel. A delightful place full of art deco furniture and light fittings, and is meant to be the first place Banjo played Waltzing Matilda! Then a tour of a craft centre/ memorabilia/ Dino place - knitted toilet roll covers, plastic Dino's and fossils:). Then the delightful open air cinema. Gave a real feel for life in the town during the 40s and 50s. The front portion of floor was also used as a roller skating rink! The back film room was lined with all the old posters, Greta Garbo, John Wayne, Rock Hudson, Marilyn Monroe. Could just hear my mum and dad, saw that one, loved that one, etc.

After stocking up at the Spar 'supermarket' we headed off to Orlando's fruit and vege place to get 5% discount. Huh, I thought small country towns were friendly. Nearly got my head bitten off by Mrs Orlando, because i hadnt shown my 5% discount ticket before i started shopping! I was gob smacked - she was so aggressive about it, PAV and I just stood there like stunned mullets, there was no way we were getting 5% off. After paying (full price :) I decided to point that she had charged me full price for a discounted bag of green beans, so I asked for a copy of the receipt. Well, when I pointed out her mistake, she went in for another go at us. He, he, what a laugh. Talking about it later, we decided that the reason she needed to see our discount ticket before she ran things through the till could be because she had a different price list (+5%). What a con, but we had a right old laugh.

Headed out to the Trail of the Dinosaur museum. This is about 20km out of town and on top of a Jump Up - Mesa. A rammed earth, aesthetically pleasing design nestled on the edge of the cliff. It was a thoroughly well done place. A great scramble/walk/climb down and along the base of the cliff. Partly a climb because PAV led me astray:). But it was a place that inspired visions of Dino's roaming the plains below, or even hiding behind giant boulders (that I had to clamber over). The laboratory tour at the other end was extremely well done, and it was interesting to meet 'Matilda', 'Dicksie' and a few other ancient relics. The paleo's working there were very knowledgable and passionate about their work. You could also work as a volunteer, but it would cost you a donation of $2000, however, that did include food and board! They had a couple of volunteers sitting at the work benches painstakingly slowly, with what looked like a dentist drill, separating stone from bone! A real paleo had a box of 'pieces' of bone, trying to fit them together, a bit like putting a jigsaw together, however, you don't know how many pieces are missing, or what the final thing should look like!

Eventually the show was over, oh yes we then went back to the main centre to be shown a tour of the cleaned up, pieced together, real actual bones (in other museums what you see is usually replicas). The young man explaining all this to us was so excited about the real ness of them, spoke almost reverently about Matilda, Elliot, Wade, Banjo, McKenzie! There is passion for you.

Driving back down the Mesa (jump down) there were dark clouds in the distance, quite dramatic. Hope we don't get rained on tonight! Would be the first rain since Perth.

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Monday, 17 September 2012

Diamantina to Winton

Day 11 - Diamantina to Winton

Sunday, 16 September 2012

Explored the rest of Diamantina NP. We must have come in the back door. Wt we saw Today made yesterday make sense. We first discovered the Hunter Gorge campsite was the place to be,we had been warned that it was very exposed, so chose the other spot :( There must have been 150 pelicans that called the river home. I think PAV was thinking if we had camped there, he could have been lucky with the fishing rod - they have to be there if that many pelicans are happy there. We walked along the riverside, PAV creeping up on the pelicans, then throwing a stone in the water with the camera ready as hey all took off, quite an amazing site (and sound). On to the lookout and Janet's leap. Quite spectacular, would be even more so during a big wet! Then the information centre held all the clues to the settlement (and dis-settlement of the indigenous people). Oh, the history, and damage white settlement has caused this land.

We continued north to Winton. Station country. Flat, grass plains, station cattle grids, etc

Mayne Hotel ruins was quite interesting, with it's below ground cool room and the fact it had been operational until 1951!

Eventually got into Winton late afternoon, and after a quick beer in the old hotel ($10 for 2 XXXX bitters). Why can't we get this beer outside QLD. We have only ever found XXXX G old. The bitter is not bad.

Found a free camp spot a few Km south of town beside a water hole. All the flies and midgies were here as well.

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Bedourie to Diamantina NP

Day 10 - Bedourie to Diamantina NP

Saturday, 15 September 2012

Fortunately it's hadnt rained during the night so we weren't washed away, but the flies were interested in our scrambled eggs. It felt like a long road out to Diamantina NP, this is Channel Country, a land of extremes, during the wet the 'channels' fill and flood over the flat land, it is rich soil so produces several varieties of Mitchel grasses, very good cattle fodder. But then in the dry, it becomes very desert like, the grasses rapidly losing the protein content. There is a lot of artesian water, so for stations today, putting bores down is very important. Expected Diamantina to be greener, but at first it seemed quite dry. We did the 90km loop drive which not knowing much about the area, and after the lushness of the Simpson, I felt a bit disappointed. There had been a station here, operating until the 1920's - Janet Holmes a Court sold it back to the Government in the 80s. Quite a few relics of stock yards etc.

There was a choice of 2 campsites, so we chose the more sheltered place (by the write up). Nothing impressive, but it was level, and when you get into cap late, there is only time to set up, cook dinner, clean up and then it is dark anyway.

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Sunday, 16 September 2012

Birdsville to Bedourie

Day 9 - Birdsville to Bedourie

Friday, 14 September 2012

Took our time decamping, making use of the CP camp kitchen to fill the flask. Chatting to some one who had just finished the Madigan's Track - a convoy of 8 vehicles, I think that would have been a challenge.

Tried to stock up on some groceries at the roadhouse, but forgot half the things that I needed. I always have trouble in small country towns, there never seems to be anything I eat - fresh stuff! The little museum was good, then we headed or to the bakery for morno's catching up for final farewells with Inara and Lange. The bakery was more characterful than the hotel, and PAV certainly approved of the curried camel pie. Coffee wasn't bad either whilst I caught up on emails.

Back on the road north to Bedourie, had to visit seeing as I have a Bedourie Oven. Just north. Is a stand of Waddi Trees, one of only 3 places where they grow wild. One of the hardest woods, when it is dry apparently impossible to drill a hole in. Halfway to Bedourie is Carcoola homestead ruins, good place for lunch (I hadn't had a curried camel for morno's and was hungry) but it turned out the flies were hungry as well, and it was a race to eat my sandwich before they could. In the meantime we heard on the radio that the Birdsville Bakery Curried Camel Pie had won the Great Australian Pie Competition in Melbourne!

Bedourie felt like a ghost town, but for $50 deposit you got the key to the local artesian spa, Michael had told us it was worth it so off we went for a soak - it was lovely, but it didn't take long before I felt I was being cooked - were the cannibals hiding around the corner? So we had to check out the hotel pub for a cold beer. However, it was not paycheck week and was not a hive of activity either. We headed out of town and camped in a dry creek bed, quite hard, but lots of flies. Fortunately they went to bed before we had dinner.

	Birdsville Bakery [Map]		The original Birdville Hotel [Map]
	Birdsville 'Artesian' water supply [Map]		Waddi Trees [Map]
	Cacoory Homestead Ruins [Map]		Cacoory Views [Map]
	Cuttabuck Crossing [Map]		This little Piggie! [Map]
	Bedourie Hotel [Map]

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Day 4 - Big Red

Day 8 - Day 4 - Big Red

Thursday, 13 September 2012

The wind had come up during the night and flapped the camper around. Not fun putting it down as the fly was flapping around. Not made easier by the fact that the down button on the remote control was not working and it meant using the button in the kitchen, which means having the kitchen door open, which means you can't tuck the side in, so it is a pain in the bum closing the door, tucking in a bit more, opening the door again, to shut the lid further etc. but we got there. Hmm, so I should have remembered to bring the spare remote!

Came across a large salt pan. This would have been one of the places on Michael's DVD where there were horrendous muddy boggy places, treacherous for getting vehicles stuck. Oh was I glad it was dry. But it meant the end of the Hay River Track, and we now turned left (East) along the QAA Line into Birdsville, via Big Red! Now we were crossing the dunes perpendicular and was just about to comment it was rather monotonous after the Hay Track when we discovered the source of the foot prints we could see. Yup, 2 walkers! Why? Because you can! We stopped for a chat. They just enjoy walking in remote areas - had done Kokoda last year, and have lots more interesting places to conquer in the future. They did have a support vehicle which would drive 5km ahead and wait for them. They averaged 30km a day, starting at 5am. It broke the monotony of the trail for me :) The desert is still quite green in the valleys. I took to comparing the heights of the dunes - valley height being around 34m and the crest of the dunes between 48 and 60. Very easy going compared to the Hay Track, but still 'lumpy'. The tracks up the dunes we're in very bad condition, the west face really cut up and scalloped out' it felt a bit like the 'rock walk' you sometimes have to do coming out of a creek bed. You are thrown side to side in your seat. Wonder how the beer is doing, did I wedge them in tight enough?

Passed through Eyre Creek, completely dry! Eventually there she was - BIG RED. We could hear on the radio there was a few people already playing there. I had already told myself I was going to stay in the car this time! No wimping out for me.

Waited our turn, communicating with the people on the top for the all clear. And we were off, yee haaa! A bit like a bucking bronco ride. Came to a grinding halt about 1 meter short of the crest, much to the cheers and encouragement from the onlookers - think not quite a fast enough run. Anyhow I got out, seeing as I was just about there, so I could video the next run. No problems 2nd time round. We were very proud of Max and his new exhaust. Lange and Inara followed. They are not as driven as PAV to conquer these obstacles, but did it all the same, good on them. However, I did notice, once over the crest Lange spent the rest of the time on the far side taking photos of the lake and birds -that was of far more interest to him than the challenge of the dune! After PAV had thoroughly satisfied himself with a couple more conquering drives up and down the Big Red, we decided we had collected enough sand in our hair and clothes and drove down the other side beside the lake and aired up. I'm glad this wind hadn't been with us the whole trip, it certainly was not nice. The track was a detour around the lake and then on into Birdsville. Lange headed straight to a garage as the bushings on his shockies had gone and we checked in at the CP. wind not nice, quite bleak but we we having dinner at the iconic Birdsville Hotel, after a shower and hairwash - i think half the sand from Big Red went down the plug. Unfortunately an APT tour bus was in town, so the hotel was rather busy. Not my scene at all, but it was to be our last night before we went our separate ways from Lange and Inara - they had some insurance covering them for the car repairs that paid for their hotel accommodation. Again we had a lovely evening - even if the lamb shanks were rather overdone.

	QAA Line [Map]		Salt Pan on the QAA Line, Simpson [Map]
	QAA Line [Map]		Simpson Desert Walkers!! [Map]
	Typical QAA line [Map]		Big Red! [Map]
	Posing on the top of Big Red [Map]		Where is the track? [Map]
	Hmm, shall we risk it? [Map]

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Day 3 Hay River

Day 7 - Day 3 Hay River

Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Still very overgrown and lush (scratchy to some). Not long before we found 'Camp 16' - Madigan's blazed Tree. Madigan blazed his trail in 1939 with 9 men and 19 camels. There was a Visitors book to sign!! Quite a few people had had a plaque stamped up before they did their iconic trip to leave attached to a picket at the site! The blazing on the tree had nearly grown over, but there was a photo of it taken in 1974 that was in the visitors book.

Had to move on. The scenery was starting to become more desert like, lower scrub and we were, although still heading in a generally south direction, starting to cross the dunes, instead of running parallel to them. In fact the first dune took us by surprise as the approach to it wasn't visible. A sharp turn, steep incline and very soft sand, it needed a second run at it. Turned out to be a common approach to the dunes on this section, sharp right hand bend at the base, followed by a left hand turn on the crest. Fun. Found the camels further on. Surprised to see so many, at least 25, but I suspect there could have been a few more scattered around. We were admiring them, but we're reminded they were feral, and probably not doing the native flora/fauna any good. Was a bit more challenging today to find shade for lunch, but it wasn't too hot and it was fine to shelter in the lee of the vehicles.

We made it to Beachcombers camp for the night. This was an old exploratory well from 1988. A bit too much of a 'beach' no trees, so we moved around the corner to set up. We found our first casualties on opening the fridge. It smelt of beer when I opened the medicine chest, sure enough a XXXX gold had self opened, but fortunately only one. Also a couple of cracked eggs - I had forgotten to wedge them down, so was surprised only 2 broken. However, it meant the carton was rather soggy so storage was a problem -solved it by having a large omelette for dinner :) the pumpkin had taken a beating as well, so that was next on the list to be eaten! Another social evening in the delightful company of Inara and Lange.

	Camp 16 -Madigan's Track [Map]		Madigan's Tree [Map]
	Eagle Nest [Map]		Camels on the Simpson [Map]
	Eagle [Map]		Simson Sand [Map]
	The first Dune [Map]		Simpson Flowers [Map]

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Day 2 Hay River Track

Day 6 - Day 2 Hay River Track

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

We had discovered a mutual love of the outback with our new travelling fellows and we set off to an early start, taking turns to lead. Lots more of scratchy bumpy, windy track, but it was so interesting. Average speed 25/35 km, rarely getting out of 2nd gear, but we were engrossed in the flora. Inara and Lange are from Adelaide so are more familiar with the trees and flowers. We were to discover they were very knowledgable about lots of the outback and we hungrily lapped it up. They also have a love of the Pilbara like us so every stop we found so much to talk about.

We found a suitable campsite around 3:30 at Madigan's Camp 15. Yet again we had a delightful social evening- you couldn't have asked for moe interesting and amenable traveling companions.

	Lake Caroline [Map]		Hay River Tk [Map]
	Scratchy Hay Tk [Map]		Hay Tk [Map]
	Typical Vegetation Hay Tk [Map]		Hay Tk [Map]
	More Hay Tk [Map]		This is the Simpson DESERT! [Map]