Kulgera, Eringa, Dalhousie, Purni, the Simpson,
Birdsville,
Peterborough
I had planned to travel north along the Sandover Hwy from Alice over to the east to
Brighton Downs Station to visit Member Bob Y. But a week before we were due to leave 100mm plus of rain fell in those areas and closed the roads for weeks. Whilst thinking of alternatives I saw that Member Eric and Member Crazie and their friends were at
Coober Pedy, so I rang Eric on his mobile and got a reply. Anyway we stayed in touch by Sat phone and arranged to meet at
Purni Bore on the French Line. At this stage in our travels we had our dog Jeddah with us and we thought we would take the chance through the National Park disguising her as our Grandma. This is what she was referred to over the next few days over the radio.
We did the run down the bitumen to
Kulgera and then swung east along the road to Finke. We visited the
Lambert Centre, the Geographical Centre of Mainland Australia. There seem to be two tracks in all leading to the same spot. So I drove one in and another out. There was 100 metres difference in distance. Near Finke the graders were working on the road and we got a smooth run for a few kilometres. Then we threw a right at Finke and headed past New Crown and on towards Charlotte Waters. There we got lost, driving in to an aboriginal settlement. After back tracking I found what looked like a possible
campsite. I was doing about 10kmh and turned in slowly only to look in my mirror to find 60 series right up my bum missing me by metres. Found out it later it was a friend of and travelling with Member Jiarna. We had a good
camp. No traffic but in the early morning a tame donkey came over from the aboriginal settlement to annoy us. The dog didn’t scare it and waving my stick at it didn’t help at all. Some
well-aimed stones had little effect as it stood a few metres away looking sad at being rejected.
We took the road to
Abminga Siding Ruins and with many water puddles did quite a bit of skirting around the edges looking for hard ground. Then on to Eringa Station
Ruins, which was where, Sir Sidney Kidman started his cattle empire. We backtracked and made for Blood Creek
Bore and then Dalhousie. Did not swim this time as we have been there twice before and did not want to draw attention to our travelling companion. Along the way to
Purni Bore we caught up with Member Jiarna and his mates having lunch on the side of the track. While we were talking a group of 4x4’s
bore down on us hardly slowing down their pace and passed by with only a nod of the head and the dust that followed. Bush etiquette seems non-existent these days.
Around the campfire at Purni were Member Eric and his son Dean, Eric’s mate Jim and his son Costa, Member Crazie (Adam and Kir), Member Jiarna (
John, Anita and children) and Asleigh and Evan (friends of
John). These days Purni has a thermal shower, laundry tub and long drop
toilet. There is also a shaded picnic table. Quite civilised compared to days gone by. I got everybody up early the next morning but by the time everyone had his or her act together it was 10am!
We took the WAA line, the
Rig Road and Judith and I took the WAA line again forgetting that I had done it before. Adam and I took the vehicles off to look for the abandoned airfield and the lake at the Erabena Track turn off while the others went on to Lone Gum. While we were on the WAA line and crossing some rocks with the GQ lurching from side to side ‘Grandma’ let off steam by telling me off in no uncertain terms that she did not appreciate all these bumps. We all had lunch at Tilly
Junction and made for The Knolls. About 17km along the French Line we turned north up the track to Lake Mirranpongapongunna and found a very nice sheltered
campsite.
Poeppel Corner was an event for everyone and my third time there. The site is
well managed these days to contend with heavy traffic but there are still those who are intent on vandalising the area by driving diagonally across the
salt lake, breaking down the barriers and walking over areas where regeneration is taking place. The run up the lake to the QAA line was very rutted due to recent rains and vehicles pushing through the wet sections. Eric had a few small hiccups with his gas fired 80 Series but lying underneath and fiddling with some wires got it going again. Once out of the National park we stopped for lunch before
young and old went for a play on Big Red. We arrived in
Birdsville at about 4pm to a warm welcome from Ruth and Ian Doyle at the
Birdsville Caravan Park.
We spent ten days at
Birdsville camping for six days and in a cabin for four. We experienced a full cycle of
Birdsville touristy things and had great meals at Member Karsten’s, Big Red Café and cold beers at the
Birdsville Pub. It rained, the roads closed, it was cold, damp and almost miserable but then we had a great National ExplorOz meet. On the Sunday we had a play on Big Red and a
cook-up at the bottom of the dune. The roads dried off and on Monday the
Birdsville Track opened to Maree. We took this window of opportunity to scoot the 930km back
home to
Peterborough in 14hours, ploughing our way through around a 100 mud patches and sloppy creek crossings. Just north of Mungerannie we met up with Member Roachie and his entourage and had a chat.
It had been a wonderful holiday and now we have vowed to disappear every winter from this chilly place for three months at a time.
Mechanical wrap up:
GQ 299,000km
We did 15700km in 89 days
The Cooper STT’s (old style) acquitted themselves very
well. We had no punctures but the sidewalls and some of the tread show distinct wear and tear. They have done 20,000km
The waterpump died and was replaced Replaced one belt
The Rotronics battery isolater died. Ran batteries in parallel
The oil sender died
The temperature gauge died
The radius arm bushes clunked for 10 thousand km
The mudflaps got torn off and flares dislodged
The engine rear oil seal is leaking again after being replaced
Broken side light and bent sidestep
Broken Wog Pole
GU 51,000km
Windscreen wiper stalk spring expired and switched wipers on over corrugations
Tore off both front flares
Replaced LH shockie rubbers.
Goodyear Wrangler MTR’s did
well on splits but had two tube failures.
Changed fuel filter