Fussell Family Simpson Adventure - Innamincka

We're camped on a permanent billabong, Cullyamurra Waterhole, on the Cooper Creek. It's 28m deep so it doesn't dry out in summer even though there is no water flowing through the river, and the temperature can get up to 50C. In fact this river often has whole years go by when no water flows.

Most of the local roads around here are closed due to the rain that's fallen over the last few days. That means we cannot get to Coongie Lake , so we had a quiet couple of days.

Yesterday I had a strange start to the day. I woke up just before dawn and started coughing as i still have not shaken off the cold I've had for the last week. A nearby water bird took offense at being woken up and started honking loudly. Then another bird felt the need to squark back. Then another one joined in. After that it just kept going until the whole dawn chorus went off. So for the first time in my life I initiated the dawn chorus.

Yesterday, we went to the dig tree. Unfortunately the markings from Burke and Wills expedition had grown over. But you did still get a feel for the environment they camped in, next to a billabong under some coolabah trees.

Today we went for a walk around our billabong, ate some bush tucker (ruby salt bush), and went fishing.
We also watched the sunrises and sunsets over the water. Watched the local bird life. The kids enjoyed frying veggies on the Bbq plate over the camp fire.

Jacqui Fussell