Day 10 - Mini-Desert Trip 2011

It had been very cold overnight and froze some water we had left out. As we hade been sitting around the fire we spotted a dingo prowling around but not really taking any notice of us. In the torch light they have green reflective eyes. We slept in a bit and cooked a leisurely breakfast before heading north along the track. We crossed the river a few times but none of them were very deep. The track more often than not ran down the centre of the dry river and there were stoney patches as well as some soft sandy patches.

 

We got to the Boggy Hole camp ground and then went in search of the ruins of the old police station. This time we were luckier finding a track across the river and then walking when the sign said not to drive any further. We took some photos and headed back to the cars and ended up having a bit of lunch, before heading north along the track and out of the park, ending up at Hermannsburg. This is a great track to drive with lots of stunning scenery and fun driving, there are also quite a few very pleasant camp sites along the way.

 

We then drove onto Palm Valley about 20 kms the other side of Hermannsburg, when we arrived we found a nice camp site and Brett noticed that his rear suspension was sagging a bit, but there didn't seem to be anything noticably wrong with it. We set up camp and then took my car out for a drive to the walking tracks further in Palm Valley. The road was very rough and we ended up driving over quite a lot of large rock shelves. As I parked in the car park I hit a hidden rock with the new bull bar and tilted it down a bit. We went for a walk around the Palms and took some photos before heading back to camp. We had a look at the bull bar which was still very firmly attached, just tilted down, and tightened up all the bolts and adjusted the spotties up wards. Then we had a tepid shower with the remains of the hot water from the solar system  on top of the shower block. Then a quick dinner before going to bed early as it got bloody chilly quickly.

Day 9 - Mini-Desert Trip 2011

We packed up and left fairly early, heading back to the Stuart Highway where we turned south and Brett refueled at Stuarts Well again. We also had a spot of morning tea before heading further south, turning off the highway at Henbury onto the Ernest Giles road and stopped to have a look at the Henbury Meteorite craters. Then it was further west until the turnoff for the Finke Gorge to the north. Along the way we went in search of some old ruins at Illamurta Springs and failed dismally.

 

We continued onto Running Waters, just outside the Finke Gorge National Park where we crossed the river at a very tricky crossing as the rock ledges were pretty high, but we made it over with no real problems. Just over the crossing we found a great camping spot just beside the river with a great view of a large red cliff and some fresh water. We set up camp early and went for a walk along the creek followed by a very short swim as the water was very chilly. I then collected a fair bit of firewood ready for the evening fire. Brett went for a long walk to the other side of the creek while I lazed around camp. The fire was very welcome that evening as it got quite chilly. The view of the cliff was fairly spectacular as the sunset.

Day 8 - Mini-Desert Trip 2011.

We slept in a bit before having a cooked brekky. Then it was a walk around Chambers Pillar to take in the views and some photos. We packed up slowly and headed back to the old Ghan route whree we headed north for awhile before turning off onto the Hugh River Stock route. We stopped for lunch and some photos in the bed of the Hugh River where the new Ghan train line passes through. We continued onto the Stuart Highway turning north to go to Rainbow Valley. We stopped and refueled at Stuarts Well along the way.

 

We got to Rainbow Vally and found a good camping spot and set up camp before heading off for a walk to look at the cliffs, but there was not a lot else to see. While waiting for sunset to take some photos I repacked the car and everything was sitting much better. We went and set up the cameras and tripods for sunset and spent 45 min or so taking photos as the sun slowly went down. When we got back to camp some very inconsiderate people had set up camp right next to us and were using our fire ring. We were very pissed off. We listened to some of the Broncos versus Storm NRL game at a fairly loud volume and we got rid of them fairly early. We ended up going to bed fairly early but the whole camp site was pretty noisy.

Day 7 - Mini-Desert Trip 2011

We got up with the sun because of some noisy birds near camp. We packed and left early heading north to Hamilton Station where we turned right for Dalhousie Ruins and Springs. This stretch of road was the worst so far, very bumpy and rough. We stopped at Dalhousie ruins and took some photos before heading to the Springs. The water at the springs was warm and relaxing (about 40 deg C). In the springs were thousands of little fish all headbutting on your skin giving a pleasant all over massage. After some lunch we headed to Mt Dare where Brett refueled.

 

Then we headed onto Finke where Brett also refueled and we headed north along the Old Ghan train route. The road was in excellent condition except for the random occurrance of rail spikes left over from the rail track. Along side the main road ran the much rougher route the Finke desert racers use. We made excellent time and turned off for Chambers Pillar. After a lap of the crowded camp ground we went back about 1 km to some new camp sites that were just about ready and set up there for the night. Another dinner was cooked over the fire and we went to bed fairly early.

In Hermannsburg

Stopping momentarily in Hermannsburg after a few days in the Finke Gorge and Palm Valley national parks. The views as we drove along the river and in the river were spectacular. Working our way slowly towards home via Owen Springs Consvervation Park, the Painted Desert, Strzelecki track, Cameron's Corner, Innamincka, Hadon Corner adn a few other places we haven't decided on yet.

Day 6 -Mini-Desert Trip

Got up very early so that we could get to the Maree airport at dawn. Between Brett setting his clocks to SA time and me keeping Qld time but doing date and time relativity calculations we managed to set the alarms properly. Brett and I ended up in a VHF DN with four other passengers and the pilot. After takeoff we flew up the Birdsville track and over the Clayton wetlands where we had camped a couple of nights previously. Then on to the Cooper Creek ferry crossing and from there we followed the Cooper Creek until it flowed into Lake Eyre and then we flew south over Lake Eyre back to Maree. Just over 2 hours of flying time and the views were wonderful. I'm hoping the photos turned out OK.

 

Then we had morning tea in Maree while Brett refueled and we headed north on the Oodnadatta track where we stopped at a couple of old railway sidings and ruins for photos and a quick stop for a few photos at Plane Henge near Alberrie Creek. Then we had a look at some Mound Springs at Wabma Kadarbu Conservation Park, amazing sights as water bubbles out of the ground and supports some very green plant life. We stopped for lunch at what would have been an excellent camp site about 20 kms south of William Creek on the banks of Warriner Creek. Brett didn't refuel at William Creek.

 

Then onto Oodnadatta where we both refuled and continued onto to find a camp site about 30 kms north along the banks of the Alberga River. Very quiet and someone had even left us some firewood and it was not too chilly overnight.

Day 5 - Mini-Desert Trip

As it was a little chilly we slept in a bit and packed up slowly to let the dew dry off the car awnings. We left about 9'ish to head into Maree. When we went to refuel, I found my credit card would no longer work (neither eftpos nor credit) so something was very wrong, luckily I had enough cash to cover the fuel. There is no mobile phone reception (telstra or optus), so no internet and the public pay phone was playing up and wouldn't accept coins and the post office was out of phone cards. Long frustrating story cut short, a dodgy charge was lodged against my credit card (72 cents from a company I had never heard of) so the bank blocked it, they need to issue a new card which I can't do until I get home as I have to pick it up from a NAB branch. They gave me a phone number to call and I can get the card temporarily unblocked (10 mins) to get cash out of an ATM. So I hurry from the phone to the ATM in the pub only to find it out of order, but luckily I could get cash across the counter of the pub, so I have enough cash to pay for fuel for awhile and will have to repeat this in a few days.

 

While this saga was being sorted out we went for a drive out to Lake Eyre, Level Post Bay (about 100 kms there). You could see water in the distance and the occassional mirage which made it look like there was more water than there really was. The road out was pretty good except for corrugations on the last 15 km or so. Also, along this road there is a really nice camping place, Muloorina, which was located around a water hole with quite a bit of birdlife. Then it was back into town, where we organised a flight out over Cooper Creek and Lake Eyre but it left as the sun rose in the morning, so we decided to get a cabin at the caravan park as it would be easier to get going and get to the flight. The thought of a cheap curry at the caravan park didn't tempt us so we set up Brett's grill and cooked some magnificent steaks for dinner. Then after cleaning up we headed for a shower and an early night. I am hoping I set my alarm correctly as Maree is running on South Australian time and I have left my clocks on Queensland time and corrected for the half hour difference.

Day 4 - Mini-Desert Trip

We were up and gone from the Pub by 8'ish and headed off to the bakery for brekky. Then a refuel and we left for a drive to Big Red. We had to take a detour along the South Australian/Queensland Border fence because of water across the normal track. The were half a dozen or so dunes along the way to give me a little taste of what it is like to drive the Simpson Desert. There were a couple of people on top of Big Red and we drove up using the easy track to save having to let air out of the tyres and then pump them back up. We spent some time taking photos before we headed back to Birdsville, Brett took the steep track down the side of the dune while I took the more sedate track we had used to get up.

 

Back at Birdsville, Brett fueled up again and we headed off to Cooper Creek. The road was in very good condition and cruising on the speed limit was quite easy. We got to the Mungerannie Pub and Brett fueled up again while we had a quick rest stop. Then off to the Cooper Creek ferry via the diversion road. We got there about 3:30'ish and with 5 or 6 cars ahead of us we didn't get across until about 5 pm. The ferry has one bung motor so it was running at half speed. Then it was about 100 km drive to where we wanted to camp the night at Calyton Wetlands. We arrived just as the sun set and got camp set up - our first time for  the trip.

 

There were quite a few cute little native mice around and we had to keep the cars and the tents shut up so they didn't climb in looking for food. After a quick dinner we got the camp fire going and chatted for awhile until it got too chilly. Then it was time to crawl into a nice warm sleeping bag.

Day 3 - 2011 Mini-Desert Trip

Had another good evenings sleep before heading off to the Windorah
Information Centre to get the road info. The road to Birdsville was
still closed but a report would be made at about noon. So we headed off
for a bite of brekky and then headed back out to Cooper Creek to kill a
few hours relaxing by the creek watching the birdlife. When we got back
into town the news was good, the road to Birdsville had been opened to
4WD traffic, so we set off straight away.

The first 100 km of bitumen was fine and then we came to the dirt road.
It was wet and a bit slippery so we adjusted our tyre pressures down and
found that driving on the shoulder of the road was the best, rather than
the centre of the road which was a getting cut up. The soggy road was
only a problem for about 30 to 40 kms and then it pretty much dried out.
After that it was a pretty good cruising surface and we were able to
make good time. We had a stop at Deon's Lookout to stretch and have a
drink before continuing on to Birdsville. We arrived there around 5 pm
and checked into the Birdsville Pub for the night. We had the roast
dinner at the Pub before getting an early night so we can head off
reasonably early in the morning.

Day 2 - 2011 Mini-Desert trip

After a great nights sleep in the cabins and a positive sounding weather
forecast for Birdsville we decided to head off to WIndorah and to stay
there the night, hoping the Birdsville road would be open the following
day. We slept in until 8'ish and after packing we headed into town for
brekky at the bakery. Then off to Windorah at about 9:15 am. It was a
pretty uneventful trip, although for some reason the Paj was drinking
diesel not as frugally as it should. Along the way we saw Kangaroos,
Emus and chicks, and pigs and piglets.

We stopped at Cooper Creek Bridge for a look, there was tons of water
and heaps of birdlife, so we took a few photos. The ground was very
clayie and we built up a considerable amount of mud on our tyres and
shoes. Then it was into town where we initially had some good news at
the information centre that the road to Birdsville was open to 4WD's
which is what we were driving, so we were happy. But it turns out the
this road crosses two Shire Councils and the one at the Birdsville end
said it was OK but the one at the Windorah end said it was closed. SO,
we have to wait until the morning to see if it opens. Apparently a lot
of people have come through from the Birdsville side and although they
looked muddy they had no problems.

After, a burger at the pub for lunch we headed out to the west for a bit
of a drive and took some photos of the dunes. We came back to Windorah
and refueled and headed back to drive along the Nature track which would
take us back to Cooper Creek. Along the way we found a perfect camp
site, which will be involved in our Plan B if the road to Birdsville
doesn't open in the morning. Then it was back to the cabins for a relax
and shower before dinner.

Day 1 - 2011 mini-desert trip.

Got up at 4 am, showered and put the last of the freezer stuff in the
car and left just before 4:30 am. Refueled at Mudgeeraba and then went
on to meet Brett at the BP at Blacksoil ,just west of Brissy. Left there
just after 6 am and headed west through Toowoomba and onto Roma where we
arrived just after 11 am. Refueled the cars and drivers and headed more
west. Got to Charleville about 2:30 pm and Brett refueled the mighty V8
before we headed off to Quilpie. We got to Quilpie before 5 pm and
refueled and went to get accommodation.

Before Charleville it had been overcast with the occasional shower after
Charleville it pretty much rained all the way to Quilpie. Where it is
still raining. We wimped out and booked cabins for the night as it was
wet and cold. According to the caravan park managers the road to
Birdsville is closed after WIndorah, so it looks like we may have to
head south to Cameron's Corner and across that way as it is still open.
We will do a bit of research and have dinner at the bowls club a bit later.

The NextG WiFI-30 is working well, which is good because there is no
Optus 3G signal here for my phone. The cars behaved very well and I
clocked up over 1000 km driving in just over 12 hrs, so I think it is
time for a shower and a relax before dinner.

Early lunch in Roma

Refuelling the cars and drivers at Roma. Good run so far. Off to Charleville this arvo.

Test with picture

Testing posting with Thunderbird from the Netbook.

Packing

Just some of the stuff I need to pack for the upcoming trip. The roof box is on the car with some the stuff I hope I won't need to use (like a second spare tyre).

After bulbar and spotties

Before bulbar and spotties

testing an image posting

Checking to see if the attached image ends up posted to my blog.

Testing RSS feed from my Blog to Facebook.

Just testing to see how the Facebook App "RSS Graffiti" handles getting new posts from my blog (http://jcdmusing.blogspot.com/). Hopefully this will allow me to email updates to my blog while I am travelling and they will be automatically shared on my facebook wall.