Left the
Gold Coast and headed to
Camp 0.5 at
Charleville where one observer claimed Burke and Wills were at it again. How rude, Dave hadn't seen his tent before. He nearly died of cold that night and had to purchase a better sleeping bag.
On to
Coopers Creek where we had ice on the windscreen in the morning.
Birdsville had a warm welcome from Ruth awaiting us, sadly we were in a hurry.
A mystery stone in the brake system delayed us at
Bedourie, and Dave's sleep in didn't impress the manager of the caravan
park at
Boulia. Dave later mentioned about that %itch from
Boulia seeing the min min if he ever returned. Naaastee one.
The Plenty was pretty ordinary. One "gentleman" did a tyre and needed a jump start because his wife left the radio on all night, he wasnt impressed. Neither were we when we learned that he was travelling at high speed and didnt even bring a screwdriver along. The campground at Tobermorey had green grass...4 star
camping !
In Alice we had a motel and the temperature plummeted.
On to the GJR and it was almost balmy at the tower hotel near
Kintore. Checked out Lens old truck up the track and came across two stranded
young female schoolteachers. Dave fixed their flat tyre and gave them some hand lotion ! (where do ya get it ?
Gibson Desert of course !)
Met with two lots of Kidson bound travellers at
Gary Junction.(They kindly made us a cuppa in 2 mts flat ! Talk about experienced bush travellers !)
My satphone service was still on the fritz but HF worked every day.
Well 33 was a scream. $2.80 a litre. Dave yakked to the lady about management and marketing and mentioned that I knew lectrical stuff so they wanted us to stay for a while...I was outta there as soon as the shower and pie was
finished. The place was full of CSR travellers. Lovely people but I wanted to press on.
Rang Willem but couldnt get through properly as usual, and he isnt on HF much...pity.
The two groups were supposedly in front of us on the Kidson so we pressed on in the dark. (actually they had camped and arrived days behind us.) Once onto the track in the dark we were committed. Exhaused, we camped at Razorblade
Bore where I got rained on, sleeping outside on the ground.
The track was very narrow and almost overgrown in
places. The bush is reclaiming it, although I screamed along at 80km/h on Swindel Field
airstrip. Talk about a hoon !
The rest of the track was corregated and with regular washouts. Despite what the map says, take care everywhere. Heavy sandy sections were "interesting".
The desert was in full bloom with spinifex as high as the windows, and bushes that had to be removed for access to the washouts (track). We had some very interesting encounters with camels...lots of em in different groups. Imagine a guy with a colostemy bag jumping out of the passengers
seat to shoo the camels away...I have the pix of the same guy swinging an axe...setting up tents etc...I thought it was suppiosed to be a disability ? :))
Apart from camels and birds we saw no
sign of life between
Well 33 and 80 mile beach (we didnt realize at least 4 parties were behind us somewhere) I spent two days in 2nd low, almost reaching 60 at one stage. Whoopee.
We reached Sandfire about 9pm on the second day. Dave needed to do some stuff in civilzation. I had planned on spending much longer on the track, but there are few
places to
camp on the ground due to the small rocks. The "rocky outcrops" were very interesting.
Dave recouperated by chatting to people (he's a city boy....he hit the roof when neither mobile would work...hint...you can take the boy out of the city etc.). His targets included female backpackers whose boyfriends werent really impressed (he's old enough to be their grandfather...but still...). Harmless but embarrassing at times. Of course I didn't chat to anyone...of course :))
On to
Tom Price and Parrabadoo to have coffee with my son. Beautiful area that I'll return to one day. Quite a unique part of the country.
Back to
Perth to let Dave recouperate ($18 for a hamburger at one roadhouse...didn't they hang Ned Kelly some time ago ?)
I scooted home to the
Gold Coast, frozen to the wheel. The heavens opened up to greet me.
I really should unload the car, but I have post trip lack of stress. Its also called "I don't give a ........".
Highlights...the people we met, the
places we went...what a diverse, beautiful country
Lowlights...the cost. Plenty of people on the road but not as many as I'd expected.
Recommendations.....Just do it !!!!!!