Sunday 11th Aug

Good news came through early that all was fixed on little Ian car and they would be on there way by mid morning.  We continued on to Well 39, 38, 37 & 36 and the decision to camp early and let the others catch up to us which will be tomorrow.

Great afternoon doing some washing have a great shower as there was water at well 36. Sitting around camp while the boys fixed John’s stove.

 

Saturday 10th Aug

Well 33 – Thring Rock

Now we are on another day and you never know what is around the corner.  Things have been going good up until today.  Krugers lost there high lift jack off the car (found), and when we arrived at Mallowa Native well John discovered he had lost the bracket off his fuel tank so after 1hr and repairs done we were on the road again.  Not far down the track Ian noticed Little Ian was leaking diesel so all stopped again.  It was decided that he return to kunawarritji with Pam & Jack to repair his fuel tank.   5 cars continued on to wells 31, 30 and Thring Rock before we found a camp site and waited for new on little Ian.

Friday 9th Aug

Well 37 – Well 33

Today we only have 4 wells to do as Well 33 has good water and we were all looking forward to a good shower and as we arrived there before lunch a well earned break.  We all visited Kunawarritji (aboriginal community) at some stage in the afternoon to get fuel and a few supplies.  Great camp spot room for all. During the day the corrugations were bad and we were sick of being shaken apart.

Thursday 8th Aug

Well 41 – Well 37

As usual we are all up early and on the road as we have another 5 wells to do before retiring for the day.  Well 41 was the first and before we arrived at Well 40 everyone except us took the wrong turn and had to double back. Saw Tobins grave, Well 39 and 38 before lunch.  Now onto well 38 and Rock art Cave no art there any longer.  We camped in a great spot amongst the trees after well 37.

Wednesday 7th Aug

Well 46 – Well 41 (before)

As the sun comes up early on this side of the world we are out of camp a lot earlier than we thought.  Morning tea at well 44 after some repairs to John’s & Jacks winch.  We have a few more wells to go before camping for the night.  We found spot was not working today so new batteries for it. Great camp site tonight.

Tuesday 6th August

Lake Gregory – Well 46

On the road early as we are not sure what today will bring.  Krugers lost there areal and body armor,

At well 49 I knocked myself out on the post as I did not see it.  Stopped at Breaden Pool & godfreys tank for a walk.

Now onto Well 47 (ruins) the road was rough with corrugations on the way into camp we got firewood along the road for our baked dinner. Well 46 has been restored and good water for the night so showers all round.  Pete had a flat tyre before getting into camp.

Friday 2nd Aug

Dingo Well – Batton Hill

Jack in the lead and Pete tail end

As  usual everyone was up early so on the road today by 8:00am we do not have far to travel today about 68ks so I thinks we will be in Batton Hill early.

The track was very narrow with trees hanging over so that slowed things down a bit so we stopped for morning tea on the side of the road with the cats eyes burs.

We arrived in Batton Hill about 11:00am and the wind was just starting to pick up which was blowing all the dust everywhere.

Now the tents are up and all zipped up we did a little washing, and as we are now a couple of days ahead of schedule we decided to go into Alice for the night as some had to get more supplies than others.

Lindsay told us about a short walk up the hill so to fill in time we did that and great view from up there.

Pete had been collecting paddy melons on the way so we had a game of bowls for hr or 2.

Now it is 4:00pm Northern Territory time and we are still on NSW time (I think we will have to change our clocks soon) Lindsay is taking us out to Goyder’s Pillar for sunset which is on private property.

It was great out there we had some happy hr and watched the sun go down with plenty of photos, everyone wore the shirts I tie dyed and they all looked great.

Thursday 1st Aug

Camp 14 – Dingo Well

Not sure what to expect today so we left camp at 7:45 as everyone was ready, Pete was the leader and Kruger’s tail end.

The road was very windy in and out of the trees and the river so the I think this will be like this for most of the day,

We had morning tea at 10:15am to give the drivers a break from all the stearing they have had to do.

We can only do 35ks per hr so in 2hrs we have done 25ks, so it is a bit slow going.

I spotted 5 camels onto of a dune and as they were on Pauls side and I was holding cameras and Pauls nexus I could not take any photos as by the time I tried to get out of the car they had run to the other side of the dune.

After lunch we found the track to Lake Caroline (not marked) nice drive in but no water it was very big though.

We are now drive in the Hay River and lost our way for awhile, We found a track out of the river but could not fine the main track so after some went back down the river looking Ian track back a short distance and found a way out.  We have just spent about and hr doing this and the day was getting on.

Now back on the track we came across Dingo Well and while everyone was looking around Paul filled up our water container for a well earned shower tonight.  We drove a little further to find a camp spot.

We had to do a bit of gardening so we could put up tents but it was ok. Show and tell tonight was something we had found in the bush and Pete & Robin had skulls (Camel head, Eagle head).Great fire.

Ian Mckinley shackle for leaving his side windows open and nearly driving off,

Wednesday 31st July

Poepple No 1 Oil Well – Camp 14

Schedule leaving time was 8:00am as usual everyone was ready at 7:30am so around the fire before putting it out.

The track was good and we were averaging 50ks for about 1hr, then we came to the sand dunes and that was a bit slower as some of them had twist and turns at the top which made it a bit tricky.

10:15am we stopped on the side of the road for a cuppa and a break before heading back on the road at 10:45am.

Once over the sand dunes on top of a big dune was an enomose camel so everyone stopped and took photos.

The track was very bumpy and at 1:00pm we stopped for lunch and we were averaging 30ks as it was winding around trees which was close to the road.

Now we are at the blaze tree and the time is 2:30pm then back on the road at 2:45pm looking for somewhere to camp for the night.

As we went along he scenery changed every few  ks.

After tea we played a game to work out what someone gave to others from the car.

Denise shackle for using a fly swatter in the car with the windows open

Tuesday 31st July

Birdsville – Poeppel No 1 Oil Well

We were ready to leave Birdsville at 800am so down to the pub for a last photo.

We are in lead today and Little Ian tail end out to big red and then into the Simpson Desert, the other saw a dingo on the first dune. 

Up and down sand dunes i started the count but as the day went on I lost count as there was so many and other things happening during the day it was just to hard to count all of them.

Around 10:30am we stopped for a cuppa as there was a few cars coming the other way so we thought it was easier for us to pull off for awhile.

Lunch was at 1:00pm after a few more dunes.

Now onto Poppel Corner for a look before heading back along the salt lake and onto the Hay River track.

At 4:00pm we found camp at Poeppel No1 Oil Well. Great spot all level set up all tents and the boys made a great fire.

Nominations for shackle are:

Krugers: Lost insect repellent out of bag on top of car