Here I am again. had to have another look on the blog once Huw had explained about comments being posted...der... So thanks for your feedback and your titbits of news, Palmer move to Devon, dinner, Jak and Ed's wedding news, sorry I'm not up to posting pics yet but will work on it.
I am aware that I could have included a bit more info about the early part of our trip, but as there was no e-access out there I had to keep it brief.
1st night Great Central Rd (GCR) at the Pines, a lovely bush camp, time to swot up a bit on what we could expect to see, and to find out what we had already missed! IE geocaches - these are hidden boxes containing small tokens; the idea is that you improve GPS skills by playing this game. The GPS coordinates can be downloaded, or like us, you forget and have to pay $30 at the visitor centre. You then hunt the caches, and when you find them you can exchange tokens in the boxes and record your find in the log in the box. Some we found, some we didn't, but it was amusing, gave a sense of achievement and improved the GPS skills.
This was when we discovered we had already missed 3 of the 25 sites!
We moved on to Camp paradise the next day; Aussies love to name things opposite to what they are, eg Niagara Dam, Henley-on-Todd. You can imagine the rest...
Camel tracks everywhere, also bungarra tracks (very large goannas, 2nd only to Komodo dragons) , but we didn't see even 1, tho we have seen them on other trips.
We moved the clocks forward as we neared the NT border, to give outselves more evening light.
Gnamma holes are water holes in granite, very important, and travellers are asked to keep them clean and sand free. we found several but couldn't find any with the tripod frames called patjarr spiders, which prevent animals from falling in.
Took a side trip of 30kms each way to a noted waterhole. for a swim??? Just more dust, rocks and hardship, but suddenly you get a sense of overwhelming isolation and realise how far you have come and how you must rely on your own skills and planning. Its quite humblimg. Also there may not be much water, but there are birds everywhere, zebra finches, honey eaters, raptors, so there must be water and life.
Giles met.station was a great treat. For years we have seen it on the tv weather reports and wondered where on earth is that? We were well entertained by the afternoon tour and watched the launch of the hydrogen ballon. Hydrogen is made on site, all sorts of risks and restrictions.
After this we crossed into NT and bought fuel at the only Aboriginal community we had been allowed into. Most roadhouses are on the outskirts of the communities and you cannot enter. This place was sad-looking, so much litter, about 30 dogs loose outside the shop, everything caged to prevent theft, but some amazing art work on display and available for purchase, so we did the decent thing, met the artist and got it signed. The fuel man has lived there all his life, has a good job and wouldn't live anywhere else.
We moved from the Gibson desert to the Gt Sandy Desert at this point and red sand dunes became evident, and as we neared Yulara and Uluru we started to feel anxious about merging once again with society, it can be quite daunting, usually because it means making decisions and spending money!
We are off walking and snorkelling again today, back to the mainland tomorrow and heading for Airlie Beach and possibly the Whitsunday Islands for a sail. Had to buy new shorts and T's because the red dirt had ruined what we had.
peter and Di as further south, but we are in text with them, and Barbara is now home in Shoal;water at 16degC!
Till next weekkk cheers from the tin can on wheels (oops sorry Rita, didn't mean to hurt your feelings)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
29 August, Magnetic Island, off Townsville, Qland
Since my last post we have been mostly on bitumen. We spent 2 days out of Alice in the MacDonnell Ranges (lovely) and had to access a few gorges via dirt;I went into instant decline as everything rattled and shook again! I admire Peter and Di for pressing on with the dirt. They are the ones who will be able to say they did it all. John said he had reached the stage where he was needing red wine by 0900 hrs! Just as we reached Alice we discovered that one of the 2 bolts holding the 2nd spare wheel on the front roo bar had sheared through, shortly to be followed by the other one at Mt Isa. We had spares, but it humbling when these things happen and you think of the risks...
Rain! At our last bush camp before Alice we camped on a flood plain, evidence of cattle and camels, plenty of shade and open space, Major Mitchell cockatoos, etc. We joked about what we would do if it rained in the night....At 0300 hrs we were all awakened by loud large raindrops on our roofs and we all leapt out of bed. Peter was all for driving out immediately, but to where? it is just more dirt. I was all for kicking back, wait for it to pass, dry and and then continue, having enjoyed a day or 2 of R and R. The others were somewhere in between. In the event, it came to nothing and we all went back to bed. Next day we heard that there had been 7 mms at Giles Weather Station, right in the middle of Oz ( and put there because of the Cold War) and where we had been only a few days before.
We spent 2 nights in the MacDonnells, somewhere I have long wanted to visit, and saw Alice for the modern city that it is. We managed to avoid several Aussie iconic events by leaving town on Weds - the Variety Club Bash (fund-raising) 200 vehicles were due in town in time for a John Williamson (folk singer songwriter) and new chum Leo Sayer concert on the Friday and then the legendary Henley-on-Todd dry river Regatta (only one in the world) on Saturday. We can't stand crowds. However we can say we saw the preparations and enjoyed several beers in the wonderful Bojangles Saloon. Also we had hit the heatwave, a record-breaking 36degC, in winter mind you. It's hard enough walking in a dry river bed, let alone run in it, and in a heat wave.
We spent our last evening having a bbq at the lovely Telegraph Station Reserve, a slice of history, the reason for Alice's very existence - a telegraph line between Adelaide, Darwin and the rest of the world. Our guide was an Aboriginal man who had grown up there when the station had reverted to a children's home; he was fascinating and loved his job.
We left town heading north for Tennant Creek, then East for Mount Isa, a renowned copper and lead/silver mining town. We side tracked to GemTree to see if we could be tempted by the Plenty Highway shortcut (600 kms of bad dirt) but peoples warnings convinced us it was not worth it.
Northern Territory has "fasten seat belt " signs as you leave every single town or car park or layby, amazing. 50% of roads deaths are related to no seat belts. The drivers are something else on that Stuart Highway! Also we believe firmly that the kilometers are longer in NT. We had to swap drivers every hour on this particular long leg of the trip, to reduce boredom and get some exercise, 10 times round the van.
We arrived in Mt Isa in time for Sat. night at the rugby league club, to see the rugby union international between Oz and NZ. The club looked after us very well, but we still lost. What with the cricket as well...not good.
We keep meeting the same people as we travel, many French people, families too, all having a great experience. It all gets quite pally. We find ourselves camped today next door to our neighbours from Mt Isa. Our other neighbours are from WA and also did the Outback Way, but in a matter of days, not 3 weeks like us!
One of the good things about being back on bitumen is that there are more chances to wash your hands. One gets very entertained at the mingled smells of wood ash, smoke, various foods and toiletries all on one pair of hands.
We have had some great walks, Uluru, Olgas, Kings Canyon, etc and the process for getting ready for these walks is something else. Thick sock, hiking boots, backpack with valuables (camera, GPS, binoculars, 2 way radio, can't leave them in the car) 1st aid, snake bite pack, several litres of water per person, hat sunnies, sunscreen, long sleeved shirt, long pants (spinifex and snakes), gaiters, then have a lie down to recover from all of that before setting off.
I have mentioned that we haven't seen as much wildlife as we expexted. The benefit of this is no road kill! Its always sad to see dead roos, and the huge wedgetailed eagles come to eat them and are then at risk of road death.
There have been many dingoes, and we have learned to keep our shoes in the van at night because they will run off with them if they can. (Not that they fit them mind you!). We had some caravan parks which were so wild and spread out that you needed a compass to get back from the loo at night.
Rita's aircon gave up before Alice and we have had to learn to manage with wet flannels and spray water bottle. It was ok but glad I don;t have to do it again. No point fixing it now as we would pay top dollar, risk being ripped off and anyway, it is getting cooler.
We have 3 buckets, red, yellow and blue, which we use respectively for sink drainage, rubbish and fire tools. I decided we needed another for handwashing water, but it had to be identical in order to fit neatly beneath the bed. Imagine my joy when one night in a bush camp on the way to Mt Isa I found an identical green bucket discarded just for me. Johm said "you don't know where it's been" but we have it anyway. Rule...the fossicker is always rewarded.
The road from Alice to Charters Towers was so long and boring we decided we had used all our existing tricks, such as highway cricket (score runs for how many fingers people wave at you) and needed a new one. So we each put on a purple washing up glove and waved our respective gloved hands out of the windows to oncoming travellers. These waves are usually cheerfully returned but....this time we went too far! We can only think that people thought "watch out for those sandgropers with WA rego plates, they are a worry!"
We had 3 rough bush camp nights in Qland, they don't want you to do it, once in amazing cobbled river bed, worse than any dirt road, then between a railway and highway. 8 trains came through while we were in bed and it seemed like they were coming thru the van! And then there was the night by the truck fuel stop. they never stopped refuelling all night.
We arrived in Townsville after 4 weeks exactly, enjoyed the lovely Strand promenade, are now on Magnetic Island for 3 days and feel we have died and gone to heaven; 28degC, balmy breezes, warm sea water, snorkelling, relaxing, wildlife everywhere, possums, parrots, wallabies, goannas and so on. Bryony knows what I mean
Time to call another halt. Please remember to register , it helps me
Rain! At our last bush camp before Alice we camped on a flood plain, evidence of cattle and camels, plenty of shade and open space, Major Mitchell cockatoos, etc. We joked about what we would do if it rained in the night....At 0300 hrs we were all awakened by loud large raindrops on our roofs and we all leapt out of bed. Peter was all for driving out immediately, but to where? it is just more dirt. I was all for kicking back, wait for it to pass, dry and and then continue, having enjoyed a day or 2 of R and R. The others were somewhere in between. In the event, it came to nothing and we all went back to bed. Next day we heard that there had been 7 mms at Giles Weather Station, right in the middle of Oz ( and put there because of the Cold War) and where we had been only a few days before.
We spent 2 nights in the MacDonnells, somewhere I have long wanted to visit, and saw Alice for the modern city that it is. We managed to avoid several Aussie iconic events by leaving town on Weds - the Variety Club Bash (fund-raising) 200 vehicles were due in town in time for a John Williamson (folk singer songwriter) and new chum Leo Sayer concert on the Friday and then the legendary Henley-on-Todd dry river Regatta (only one in the world) on Saturday. We can't stand crowds. However we can say we saw the preparations and enjoyed several beers in the wonderful Bojangles Saloon. Also we had hit the heatwave, a record-breaking 36degC, in winter mind you. It's hard enough walking in a dry river bed, let alone run in it, and in a heat wave.
We spent our last evening having a bbq at the lovely Telegraph Station Reserve, a slice of history, the reason for Alice's very existence - a telegraph line between Adelaide, Darwin and the rest of the world. Our guide was an Aboriginal man who had grown up there when the station had reverted to a children's home; he was fascinating and loved his job.
We left town heading north for Tennant Creek, then East for Mount Isa, a renowned copper and lead/silver mining town. We side tracked to GemTree to see if we could be tempted by the Plenty Highway shortcut (600 kms of bad dirt) but peoples warnings convinced us it was not worth it.
Northern Territory has "fasten seat belt " signs as you leave every single town or car park or layby, amazing. 50% of roads deaths are related to no seat belts. The drivers are something else on that Stuart Highway! Also we believe firmly that the kilometers are longer in NT. We had to swap drivers every hour on this particular long leg of the trip, to reduce boredom and get some exercise, 10 times round the van.
We arrived in Mt Isa in time for Sat. night at the rugby league club, to see the rugby union international between Oz and NZ. The club looked after us very well, but we still lost. What with the cricket as well...not good.
We keep meeting the same people as we travel, many French people, families too, all having a great experience. It all gets quite pally. We find ourselves camped today next door to our neighbours from Mt Isa. Our other neighbours are from WA and also did the Outback Way, but in a matter of days, not 3 weeks like us!
One of the good things about being back on bitumen is that there are more chances to wash your hands. One gets very entertained at the mingled smells of wood ash, smoke, various foods and toiletries all on one pair of hands.
We have had some great walks, Uluru, Olgas, Kings Canyon, etc and the process for getting ready for these walks is something else. Thick sock, hiking boots, backpack with valuables (camera, GPS, binoculars, 2 way radio, can't leave them in the car) 1st aid, snake bite pack, several litres of water per person, hat sunnies, sunscreen, long sleeved shirt, long pants (spinifex and snakes), gaiters, then have a lie down to recover from all of that before setting off.
I have mentioned that we haven't seen as much wildlife as we expexted. The benefit of this is no road kill! Its always sad to see dead roos, and the huge wedgetailed eagles come to eat them and are then at risk of road death.
There have been many dingoes, and we have learned to keep our shoes in the van at night because they will run off with them if they can. (Not that they fit them mind you!). We had some caravan parks which were so wild and spread out that you needed a compass to get back from the loo at night.
Rita's aircon gave up before Alice and we have had to learn to manage with wet flannels and spray water bottle. It was ok but glad I don;t have to do it again. No point fixing it now as we would pay top dollar, risk being ripped off and anyway, it is getting cooler.
We have 3 buckets, red, yellow and blue, which we use respectively for sink drainage, rubbish and fire tools. I decided we needed another for handwashing water, but it had to be identical in order to fit neatly beneath the bed. Imagine my joy when one night in a bush camp on the way to Mt Isa I found an identical green bucket discarded just for me. Johm said "you don't know where it's been" but we have it anyway. Rule...the fossicker is always rewarded.
The road from Alice to Charters Towers was so long and boring we decided we had used all our existing tricks, such as highway cricket (score runs for how many fingers people wave at you) and needed a new one. So we each put on a purple washing up glove and waved our respective gloved hands out of the windows to oncoming travellers. These waves are usually cheerfully returned but....this time we went too far! We can only think that people thought "watch out for those sandgropers with WA rego plates, they are a worry!"
We had 3 rough bush camp nights in Qland, they don't want you to do it, once in amazing cobbled river bed, worse than any dirt road, then between a railway and highway. 8 trains came through while we were in bed and it seemed like they were coming thru the van! And then there was the night by the truck fuel stop. they never stopped refuelling all night.
We arrived in Townsville after 4 weeks exactly, enjoyed the lovely Strand promenade, are now on Magnetic Island for 3 days and feel we have died and gone to heaven; 28degC, balmy breezes, warm sea water, snorkelling, relaxing, wildlife everywhere, possums, parrots, wallabies, goannas and so on. Bryony knows what I mean
Time to call another halt. Please remember to register , it helps me
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
About to Leave Alice Tuesday 19th I think.
Some more random thoughts since last post....
Please register as a follower, it would be nice to know if this is all worth while!
-Alice has been a welcome stop to clean out the dust, wash the bedding and re-pack the van with things in a more orderly fashion.
-John has been playing his guitar a fairbit which is great, I need to apply myself to the flute I rented for the trip. I managed to play happy birthday for Barbara and Adam's birthdays.
-We discoveredthat most of the dust was coming in through the back door, so have been taping it up when on dirt roads. This involves 2 permanent strips on either side of the gap, to avoid risking ripping off the paintwork every time we want to open the backdoor. The gap is then sealed with 1 strip over the 2 permanent ones. This actually a dressing technique to avoid skin trauma in chronic wound care.
-We have seen many signs on the way, related to aboriginal communities, saying, no entry without permit, no grog, no drunks, no drugs and no pornography. These signs are usually painted onto car bonnets salvaged from the many car wrecks out here.
-there is always something in flower out here in the desert.
-John says the rough roads re like beating to windward in a short sea - uncomfortable.
-our outback highway book has been useful in following the varios bio regions, as we pass from one desrt to the next (desert - evaporation exceeds rainfall).
-the road was so bad from Docker River to Yulara, if I had been travelling east I would have turned back!
-we are sleeping head to toe, with earplugs and anti snore nose plasters!...and find we are sleeping better and distubing each other less.
-had trouble with the cd player till found that it had a fly in ...our first fly!
-our vans have names, we are Rita, Barbara is in Smiffy and Peter and Di are in ...not big enough!
-breaking camp routine - windows closed, cupboard buttons clisked closed, clothing bags down on bed before they are jostled down, top shelf tied to keep heavy things secure, tea-making things in the sink, water bottles full, fruit bag to hand, maps to the ready, GPS battery full, 2 way radios ditto, wet cloth in door pocket because your hands are dirty constantly, back door taped, and so on.ww
-I
Some more random thoughts since last post....
Please register as a follower, it would be nice to know if this is all worth while!
-Alice has been a welcome stop to clean out the dust, wash the bedding and re-pack the van with things in a more orderly fashion.
-John has been playing his guitar a fairbit which is great, I need to apply myself to the flute I rented for the trip. I managed to play happy birthday for Barbara and Adam's birthdays.
-We discoveredthat most of the dust was coming in through the back door, so have been taping it up when on dirt roads. This involves 2 permanent strips on either side of the gap, to avoid risking ripping off the paintwork every time we want to open the backdoor. The gap is then sealed with 1 strip over the 2 permanent ones. This actually a dressing technique to avoid skin trauma in chronic wound care.
-We have seen many signs on the way, related to aboriginal communities, saying, no entry without permit, no grog, no drunks, no drugs and no pornography. These signs are usually painted onto car bonnets salvaged from the many car wrecks out here.
-there is always something in flower out here in the desert.
-John says the rough roads re like beating to windward in a short sea - uncomfortable.
-our outback highway book has been useful in following the varios bio regions, as we pass from one desrt to the next (desert - evaporation exceeds rainfall).
-the road was so bad from Docker River to Yulara, if I had been travelling east I would have turned back!
-we are sleeping head to toe, with earplugs and anti snore nose plasters!...and find we are sleeping better and distubing each other less.
-had trouble with the cd player till found that it had a fly in ...our first fly!
-our vans have names, we are Rita, Barbara is in Smiffy and Peter and Di are in ...not big enough!
-breaking camp routine - windows closed, cupboard buttons clisked closed, clothing bags down on bed before they are jostled down, top shelf tied to keep heavy things secure, tea-making things in the sink, water bottles full, fruit bag to hand, maps to the ready, GPS battery full, 2 way radios ditto, wet cloth in door pocket because your hands are dirty constantly, back door taped, and so on.ww
-I
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thoughts on the road from Laverton to Uluru
13 August 2009 here follows a random list of our experiences and education as we have proceeded along 1094 kms of variable road;
most important - safe, comfortable feet; that red dirt is awful for getting in any cracks and creases. Also the dust doesn't just swirl behind the van, it swirls inside too, and our first job when we set up camp is the damp dust! I haveen't done so much dusting since nursing training.
-we are still adjusting to one of the great joys of camping - moving 3 things to find what you want, like when we lived in our unit for 10 months! As the journey proceeded, it was a case of dusting dirt off 3 things...
-our usual trick of commencing the "what we forgot" list - we didn't forget anything, and actually have too much.
-the fire grill we found on a trip last year, discarded at a camp site, has done daily service; it is the back of an old fridge, bent over at the ends to give it legs; it is fully adjustable, in the you can turn over and have no legs, if required. A classy bit of equipment!
-My Tai Chi tour progresses, with Grasp birds tail at lasseters Cave, stork cools wings at the old camel corral, dan yus and tor yus wherever I can fit them in, and so on, all captured on film for the Tai Chi newsletter.
-people who travel too fast shower us with gravel chips and our windscreen bears the scars.
-we have had to learn to balance the needs of individuals against the needs of the group or majority. We are the weak links, we are slow with everything, but hey, we are on holiday and its not a race!
-the trick of having cold white wine when the fridge is small and must carry much - decant 600 mls into a cool drink bottle each morning; a most important task! Also, if you take a drink out, you must replace it immediately, too keep the precious stocks up.
-the weather has warmed as we have headed north and east, and now in Uluru it is 34C, but the campground pool is very very cold.
-the feature of wrecked cars along the way is to be seen to be believed.
-our speed range has been between 10 and 70 kph, very glad of new shockies
-you just have to get used to sweaty heat jammed under a hat, until the next shower opportuniy, usually every 4 days.
-John likes to refer to sphincter-clenching moments, usually related to corrugations!
-we spent $104 on a fly proof tent for dining; light attract moths and flies into your dinner, but there have been no flies, mozzies or moths!!!!!
-who would believe that a mouse lives in the safe confines of a spiky spinifex bush?
-we have a new respect for mulga scrub - an ugly name but a plant vital to Aboriginals, it has so many many uses.
-there have been no cattle grids to break the monotony of the sandy desert highway. Usually the become quite a talking point and we have missed them!
-techno chaos - what with leads for 2 way radio, GPS, camera battery, mobile phone, electric toothbrush, John's razor, and so on, it is a daily challenge to keep things up to speed, especially as the road conditions slowed us down.
-when we clean up, the used water is the colour and consistency of tomato soup.
-as much as possible, equipment must have more than one use, ie, the tool box is also a step into the van and also a coffee table when we have visitors, even a spare seat.
-we have just done some walks at the Olgas and Uluru; I have no intention of climbing Uluru - the Aboriginals ask us very nicely not to do so, and I am happy with that. Its also very steep!!!
-wildlife - lots of birds, main treat was 2 major mitchell cockatoos at our last bush camp; several rabbits, 2 roos, 1 emu, 4 lots of wild camels and that's it. Rather disappointing!
-the recent big decision is to miss the next section of dirt outback highway; the road condition is so bad that cars are disintegrating. We will go via tar from Alice. Bye for now!
most important - safe, comfortable feet; that red dirt is awful for getting in any cracks and creases. Also the dust doesn't just swirl behind the van, it swirls inside too, and our first job when we set up camp is the damp dust! I haveen't done so much dusting since nursing training.
-we are still adjusting to one of the great joys of camping - moving 3 things to find what you want, like when we lived in our unit for 10 months! As the journey proceeded, it was a case of dusting dirt off 3 things...
-our usual trick of commencing the "what we forgot" list - we didn't forget anything, and actually have too much.
-the fire grill we found on a trip last year, discarded at a camp site, has done daily service; it is the back of an old fridge, bent over at the ends to give it legs; it is fully adjustable, in the you can turn over and have no legs, if required. A classy bit of equipment!
-My Tai Chi tour progresses, with Grasp birds tail at lasseters Cave, stork cools wings at the old camel corral, dan yus and tor yus wherever I can fit them in, and so on, all captured on film for the Tai Chi newsletter.
-people who travel too fast shower us with gravel chips and our windscreen bears the scars.
-we have had to learn to balance the needs of individuals against the needs of the group or majority. We are the weak links, we are slow with everything, but hey, we are on holiday and its not a race!
-the trick of having cold white wine when the fridge is small and must carry much - decant 600 mls into a cool drink bottle each morning; a most important task! Also, if you take a drink out, you must replace it immediately, too keep the precious stocks up.
-the weather has warmed as we have headed north and east, and now in Uluru it is 34C, but the campground pool is very very cold.
-the feature of wrecked cars along the way is to be seen to be believed.
-our speed range has been between 10 and 70 kph, very glad of new shockies
-you just have to get used to sweaty heat jammed under a hat, until the next shower opportuniy, usually every 4 days.
-John likes to refer to sphincter-clenching moments, usually related to corrugations!
-we spent $104 on a fly proof tent for dining; light attract moths and flies into your dinner, but there have been no flies, mozzies or moths!!!!!
-who would believe that a mouse lives in the safe confines of a spiky spinifex bush?
-we have a new respect for mulga scrub - an ugly name but a plant vital to Aboriginals, it has so many many uses.
-there have been no cattle grids to break the monotony of the sandy desert highway. Usually the become quite a talking point and we have missed them!
-techno chaos - what with leads for 2 way radio, GPS, camera battery, mobile phone, electric toothbrush, John's razor, and so on, it is a daily challenge to keep things up to speed, especially as the road conditions slowed us down.
-when we clean up, the used water is the colour and consistency of tomato soup.
-as much as possible, equipment must have more than one use, ie, the tool box is also a step into the van and also a coffee table when we have visitors, even a spare seat.
-we have just done some walks at the Olgas and Uluru; I have no intention of climbing Uluru - the Aboriginals ask us very nicely not to do so, and I am happy with that. Its also very steep!!!
-wildlife - lots of birds, main treat was 2 major mitchell cockatoos at our last bush camp; several rabbits, 2 roos, 1 emu, 4 lots of wild camels and that's it. Rather disappointing!
-the recent big decision is to miss the next section of dirt outback highway; the road condition is so bad that cars are disintegrating. We will go via tar from Alice. Bye for now!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
August 5. Laverton and beyond.
First 5 days have been fantastic, bush camp every night with log fires and great company, COULD GO HOME NOW AND SAY WE HAD HAD A BALL!.
31 July - Mt Observation just outside York, then karalee Dam, just past Southern Cross. Its an old watering site for steam trains going to the goldfields in late 1800's. Barbara John and I tried to have a swim in the dam but it was too cold, so it was a splash wash. Its a fascinating walk roundthe huge granite rock where they captured the rainfall and channelled thru a huge flume in to the dam.
1 Aug - Then we went on our first dirt road to Snake Hill, overlooking Lake Ballard and the sculptures which were erected in the huge dry salt lake bed in 2003, as part of the Perth Arts Festival. We arrived at sunset, cooked, drank and yarned, then woke at sunrise, total silence except for birdsong, magic.
2 Aug - Next it was onto Menzies for a shower and beer in the old pub, then to Niagara Dam, another old town site related to the early mining days; bush walks and birdlife, log fire and then the singing started! Next day more dirt road to Kookynie where at 1000 hrs we had our first beer in the Grand Hotel, well we had to!
3 Aug - Next it was back on the bitumen, much to John's great joy, to Gwalia townsite, a mining town of tin and hessian shacks which was suddenly emptied in 1963 when the mine closed at short notice. The conditions in which they lived were absolutely basic, and it is all preserved for the traveller to explore. We fuelled and watered up and set of for the next campsite.
4 Aug - Old Railway Bridges, a bit more goldfield history, lovely low arches built across a large floodway. Lots of birdlife, Barbara was in her element. It was her wake that night, she turns 60 tomorrow. More drinking and singing round the log fire and B declared she was stunned that it had to be 2 poms to bring her out to these outback places, when she been an Aussie all her life! Not that she doesn't get around the world! Anyway, we are Taffs, not Poms.
We have mastered the art of cooking everything in foil on our fires and have yet to scrub a pot, after all, water is more precious than gold out here.
5 Aug - Happy Birthday Barbara. Saw a large herd of camels, they were huge! a first for us. Into Laverton today for quick shower, laundry, pick up permit to pass thru Aboriginal territory and then we step off this arvo into THE GREAT BEYOND. There is a film show in the Vis. Centre, we could watch it and then go home!
Till next time
P
First 5 days have been fantastic, bush camp every night with log fires and great company, COULD GO HOME NOW AND SAY WE HAD HAD A BALL!.
31 July - Mt Observation just outside York, then karalee Dam, just past Southern Cross. Its an old watering site for steam trains going to the goldfields in late 1800's. Barbara John and I tried to have a swim in the dam but it was too cold, so it was a splash wash. Its a fascinating walk roundthe huge granite rock where they captured the rainfall and channelled thru a huge flume in to the dam.
1 Aug - Then we went on our first dirt road to Snake Hill, overlooking Lake Ballard and the sculptures which were erected in the huge dry salt lake bed in 2003, as part of the Perth Arts Festival. We arrived at sunset, cooked, drank and yarned, then woke at sunrise, total silence except for birdsong, magic.
2 Aug - Next it was onto Menzies for a shower and beer in the old pub, then to Niagara Dam, another old town site related to the early mining days; bush walks and birdlife, log fire and then the singing started! Next day more dirt road to Kookynie where at 1000 hrs we had our first beer in the Grand Hotel, well we had to!
3 Aug - Next it was back on the bitumen, much to John's great joy, to Gwalia townsite, a mining town of tin and hessian shacks which was suddenly emptied in 1963 when the mine closed at short notice. The conditions in which they lived were absolutely basic, and it is all preserved for the traveller to explore. We fuelled and watered up and set of for the next campsite.
4 Aug - Old Railway Bridges, a bit more goldfield history, lovely low arches built across a large floodway. Lots of birdlife, Barbara was in her element. It was her wake that night, she turns 60 tomorrow. More drinking and singing round the log fire and B declared she was stunned that it had to be 2 poms to bring her out to these outback places, when she been an Aussie all her life! Not that she doesn't get around the world! Anyway, we are Taffs, not Poms.
We have mastered the art of cooking everything in foil on our fires and have yet to scrub a pot, after all, water is more precious than gold out here.
5 Aug - Happy Birthday Barbara. Saw a large herd of camels, they were huge! a first for us. Into Laverton today for quick shower, laundry, pick up permit to pass thru Aboriginal territory and then we step off this arvo into THE GREAT BEYOND. There is a film show in the Vis. Centre, we could watch it and then go home!
Till next time
P
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)