Friday, Apr 08, 2005 at 21:41
Hello Footloose
In the past I have been an avid reader of many expedition journals such as those of Liechhardt, Giles,
Forrest, Canning, Terry,
Carnegie, Eyre, Stuart, Sturt, Strezlecki and more modern day adventurers like Bartells, Tholstrup, Mangels and Douglas, just to name a few. I have mainly researched these
explorers when I have been planning a trip to gather that extra information which could make a trip more interesting. It has paid off sometimes and I encourage others to read and research these subjects if they are interested.
David
Carnegie wrote about
Helena Spring, which lies 90km east of
Well 42 on the CSR. He called it "The Diamond of the Desert". I conjured up totally unrealistic ideas about this place and decided I had to see it.. In July 1994 we were on a solo trip doing the Canning north/south and ventured off from
Well 42 along a track which had been roughly made by a bloke from
Melbourne only two years before.
Helena Spring is a depression a tea tree swamp and not very inviting at all. I did however dig open the
Native Well and salty water soaked to the surface. Out of nowhere the birds arrived for a drink. They ofcourse could smell the water from a distance. This in itself was quite an experience.
I found a
plaque left behind by an expedition dated 1982. Recently Equinox, the originator of this post, visited
Helena Spring by following
Carnegie's journey from the south. I think Equinox did it on a quad bike with vehicle backup. Quite an adventure in itself.
Hopefully now, with the advent of the Internet, more and more history will be retold and so become part of the cultural
heritage of this great island.
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