Canning Stock Route andTalawana Track Blog 7

Blog entry 7
I am writing this with cold fingers but warm legs. I am sitting close to a camp fire made of an assortment of Desert Oak, eucalypt of some variety and acacia which are also of some variety that we don’t recognise. They look tough and leathery and to use a previous boss’ favourite word, “robust”. (‘Our decisions must be robust!”)

The weather for the last couple of days has been unpleasant: despite looking wonderful with brilliant blue skies, there is a strong and bitterly cold wind. Our camp last night should have been glorious with a young moon and endless stars but it was awful. It was so cold and windy that we sat in the car after dinner and I sulked and played cards on the computer. Anyway, that is past and tonight is more pleasant. We are in a grove of Desert Oaks surrounded by sand hills and of course, spinifex.

Camp cooking continues to go pretty well. We use the Cobb almost exclusively although we do supplement it with the little black stove fuelled with a gas canister. Kevin cooked an excellent Osso Bucco. Needless to say, it was perfect for strengthening one in trying conditions.

My meal tonight, a Thai chicken curry with chick peas and zucchini, was more delicate in nature, reflecting the better weather and our sense of being more comfortable. Last night we did not have a fire – and that didn’t help!

Now, some of you will be wondering about our dear travelling companions – you may even have sensed that they are missing from the scene. Well that is correct, they are missing and we are missing them!

It is a sad saga but things could obviously be far worse.

Having aborted one attempt at the CSR due to a broken air compressor and useless air bags (new this trip) and slack springs (we should have noticed the last before leaving home), and having gone to Newman to fit our LC out with a new air compressor, new rear springs and to get the umpteenth check of the air bags and the UHF radio, we finally left for the Rudall River National Park. We didn’t need new air bags but trusted that the new springs would give such a good lift that the air bags would no longer rub on the auxillary fuel tank and deflate. We also had a new UHF fitted. Dollars! Frances and Ross stayed with us at Dearloves Caravan Park of course and we all washed clothes and ourselves furiously and all got woken up at 4am for the beginning of the procession of BHP etc vehicles that leaves the park from then on. What a nightmare!

When all was ready, we headed east to Jigalong but unfortunately we missed the art coordinator and whilst the young artist painting there was very friendly we found it hard to have any really meaningful conversation about the work. Two gorgeous children came and draped themselves around me which made me miss my angels sooooo much!

More in the next Blog.

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