Went north on Sunday on the road to
Bedourie, specifically to see the water in
Lake Machattie. When you drive north under normal conditions you would notice a sign saying
Bedourie (via
Lake Machattie) but not many people take that road just for the drive - we didn't have a choice, as you will see in the first photo. There had been storms around last week to the north and the evidence on the road (mud puddles) and water still lying in the paddock - very patchy though.
Ian had been up there and warned me about how much water was there - I have to say I was totally blown away by the amount. I have seen water in the Lake previously but enough to say there's water there. No this incredible inland sea. Whilst standing on the eastern edge looking to the west, for some reason I made the comment to Ian, that if Christopher Columbus was sailing west he would surely think he would drop off he edge of the known universe!
Part way between
Birdsville and
Bedourie is the Cutaburra - usually a good spot amongst the lignum to stop and admire the water in Eyre Creek and the birdlife - this photo shows you:
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Between the No 3
Bore (smoko stop) and Cluny
Airstrip - which is as far as you can go - the
Airstrip is almost surrounded by water and separated from the
homestead I found the next photograph just waiting for me. Interestingly the emus were feeding in the water.
Check out the red dune which is completely covered in vegetation :
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We were at the Lake by sun up - as later in the day the light changes and heat rises and it is hard to tell what is dune sand, flat country or coffee coloured water and driving back south around 11:00 am a lot of the country we saw coming up was under mirage. Some of the pilots are talking about flying over the water in the middle of the day and the difficulty they have with land and water - sounds bizarre doesn't it?
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For those who aren't too bored with flood stories - the Diamantina River is having it's fourth rise - began rising here yesterday so we will be cut off again from the south in a few days.
We are cut off from the east as the Cooper is flooded at
Windorah, the north because of Eyre Creek at
Bedourie and the west because of Eyre Creek (River!). We did see a TOURIST yesterday - a Landrover Extreme with a T-van, gosh it was exciting. Still haven't had a fuel delivery tho and Jet-A and Av-gas in very short supply - plenty of diesel for the power house. Weather has been very hot but a cool change due tonight (probably after a dust storm). No fish yet, still too much water.