We are back from Innaminxcka and like to thank the organisers for their work. Willem, for sorting through the links and bringing us together, with
Laura, Kev, Dave B and John T for organising events.
I must say though when
Laura and Sam started asking questions on the Simpsons in the Trivia quiz, I wondered where
the desert came into it as it just didn't seem to relate. I think in catching three yabbies I was more successful than any of the trivia questions though our group did win a couple of rounds. Not the medical one, but nor did Big Kidz Andrew, either.
The trip began with a head wind all the way to
Mildura and we camped beside the Murray on the Victorian side opposite
Wentworth, but had to buy enough Victorian manderines for our tripping. We were buying for Navigator 1 too for some fresh food so went back next day for another 4kgs of the sweet bundles. Pumpkins were cheap too and avacados. Hudaks
Bakery in
Mildura is always on our visit list for their beestings and
orange loaves, even though I am restricting my carbohydrate intake. We were late leaving so just did an easy drive to near
Packsaddle for an overnight.
Dave had warned us about the drive across to Camerons Corner being a little rough. There wasn't any fuel at The Corner either so we got a top up at Tibbooburra and were amazed Heather's Next G phone worked there. The sim from my digital didn't work in it though.
I was amazed at the skatty approach to driving by some road users. Some with UHF, some without. There was a Rodeo that overtook us at quite a speed. I tried to call on the UHF to no response to let it through, then his mate was behind me and I went to wave it through but the first one stopped in front to talk to the second ute. It stopped to talk of course.
The first ute came up quickly behind us again to overtake, then the second just near the flood marker for the 1974 flood. They sped off at pretty innapropriate speeds for the corrugation vairiations. Five minutes up the road they had stopped at a turn off to Fort Gray and then one called the third car coming more slowly. They had to wait for it and I really wondered the rush of the first two utes, it was rediculous.
We went through CC and then turned up through Bollards
Lagoon and paid our dues. We were to
camp overnight further up. The Southern part of the track was smoother, the clay pan at 80kph and then the dunes. Over the property tracks were pretty good considering rain a few weeks before. The lillies were responding to that rain,
well before we got to Bollards though.
We camped overnight between the dunes and next morning and moved up the track, over the
grid but along the way heard the UHF and there were others, we eventually caught when they stopped for a tea break. Four vehicles, all to go their separate ways from
Innamincka. There were some work vehicles about too, heading hither and thither.
We got to
Innamincka in good time, meeting Kev as soon as we got there. We fuelled before going to
camp. We renewed with lots of friends we had met before
Laura, and met her extended family before meeting with Nathan a day or so later. Dave and Nora, Michael from Mossvale, Trevor Ribbitor,
Ross H, Pete and Les and the Pestys. The Gone Bush family, we hadn't met before, John T, Scrub Cat, Sandman, Zukscoota.
My Bro, Willem and Judith - we aren't brothers, but when I get whiskery, I resemble Willie. The Geriatric Gypseys we have known since Wandin a few years back, their grandies since Pyrenees last November. Arriving in
camp though it was Big Kidz Andrew who saw us first I think and I just had to give Jen a hug.
Some were still to come in, NickR - Mad Cowz was a day behind us with Simone and our grandies, Des Lexic and his brother Jim, RayJen Paj came late at night, but during daylight when we were in the car we heard UHF traffic, someone agreeing "....Roger Roger....", then a female voice "Charlie, Charlie........" I said that sounded like Robyn - Navigator 1 and her with the quirkie sense of humour that is the trademark of she and Charlie. Heather agreed.
We visited
Bourke's Grave, Wills' too, King's tree and the petroglyphs near the choke. The usual visits and wondering that The Cooper is such a wounderous place with the starkness of gibber plain starting just metres away. People out of their normal surroundings are keen to converse, the outback is a great leveller, awayness is a great leveller.
We yabbied, we trivia'd, we horse shoe'd and watched
Bourke and Wills. Love to see it on a good screen. We raffled, we presented Willem with a "cat in a sack" to meeeowww at him and remind him of his past.
People had heard of Pud in the
creek trying to teach his Patrol to swim, but it wasn't til a few days later we heard of Roachie and his exploits. Navigator 1 said they wanted to go into the SD and would go across
Walkers Crossing, down the
Birdsville Track to
Warburton Crossing then in to Poeppels Corner, we asked if they would mind us joining them through to
Birdsville. We had crossed the Simpson with them four years previously East to West. We kew we could have trouble towing and were prepared to turn around and head straight for
Birdsville.
We enjoyed the track,
camping first night on the bank of the
Warburton. Next monring UHF traffic, heading our way wre two groups, including Kingsley from SA. Some 100s a 200 or so, and Nissans and ...... two cyclists. WOW
Having heard about the trials of the Eastern end of the
Rig Road, we hadn't expected to meet a pair of intrepid Troopied Germans so they talked with us over lunch.
Camped up early and roast pork was the go. Love
camp oven pork and it so easy to crackle with more heat in the oven. Veggies for cold next days helped too. Bubble and squeak for my breakfasts with bacon. Yum.
Next morning to
Poeppel Corner for photos and no Roachie in the visitors book was a puzzle. Turned the corner and listened to the UHF on scan to see where groups were. Not everyone used the UHF channel 10 we find. Why? Some you meet at dune crest without transmitting anything.
Across my bogging lake of last visit it is thankfully dry, and into the dunes. Some were very chopped up on the Western side. Why would that be, the sand looked just damp, it should compact
well but no. Obviously too high a tyre pressure from drivers. We had to be tugged at one severley chopped dune. We dropped tyre pressures further before the tug so there was opportunity to see a Toyota pull Toyota.
We later called up Des Lexic and heard a response from Big Kidz. Met the group of them plus, Mad Cowz, RayJen Paj and a prospective member for lunch before going on. Found the Polyairs on our car had deflated so pumped them up again but later in the day found a cut in a tube to repair. The hammering of the
suspension on the bump stops bent a join in a third party drawbar extension. Something more to fix.
Camp time, my beer had to wait til some repair work done to Polyair tube. Two goes to get it right
We travelled the rest of the way and climbed to the top of Big Red -
well within 2m of it unaided. Chatted with the folks aready at the top of the dune before heading to
Birdsville where we met up with Ruth and Ian before setting up
camp in the cvp.
BBQ at the pub, then off to bed.
Bakery coffee, then head Eastward. Pretty straight forward, the road through to
Quilpie was good, amazed at the green after the rain, plants ready to flower if they weren't already doing so. Fuel 2.02 - 2.05 in bvd but I wanted a short pit stop and top up with
water too. The price dropped as we went day by day Eastward.
The objective was the
Gold Coast as our Karavan is close to two years old and we organised for a service and a couple of fitments. Kath is garaged on the Coast at a fellow KKOG member's home. Jim's Karavan is most optioned I think so it was an education. Thanks Jim and Sandy for your hospitality while we were with you.
We have flown South now for three weeks before a KKOG gathering near
Alice Springs. Not as big as the EO gathering but a greater percentage of members going - about 25%. Shall be good to meet the people.
I guess the biggest puzzle is the dissapearance of a certain Collingwood flad. It hasn't made an appearance but will undoubtedly do so on the last Saturday in September waving triumphantly from the MCG from the hands of a new Magpies supporter. One amongst thousands of cheering fans.