An Update

It has been some time since I last posted, there have been a few reasons but I guess the main one is that I was just slack! So here is a short update, I'll expand over the next few months.

Not long after our return from the 19,000 Km trip to Perth via Darwin we decided that it was time we upgraded to a caravan with a shower etc., so it was visits to all the dealers to find the one that suited us and the bank balance. We found a 19ft Bluestone and so traded our Snowy which had given us such great service.

Melbourne Cup weekend (1st Tuesday in November) we did a 'shake down' 91Km trip to Daylesford where we spent a most enjoyable weekend. There were a few small problems so returned the caravan to the supplier who did the necessary repairs.

Next was our week at Lakes Entrance from Boxing Day to the 4th January with two of our children and their families, unfortunately Paul and Derek had to work, but we had Derek's three boys with us and a great time was had by all.

We then spent a long weekend at Sorrento which is near Point Napean with Maryleen and family, a most relaxing and enjoyable time.

After that it was planning for our next Simpson Desert crossing. This time it would be just two vehicles Derek and his two youngest boys and Chareen and her youngest with me. We left on the 12th September 2015 for Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Innamincka, Birdsville, Mt Dare, Old Andado, Ayers Rock, Coober Pedy, Leigh Creek and arrived home after 6,983Km on the 3rd October. A fantastic trip that just went too fast and a bit sad as this is my last hard 4x4 trip.

In November we traded the Terracan for a more comfortable Pajero and then it was to Lakes Entrance Boxing Day to the 3rd January, Three of our children and their families joined us, unfortunately Paul could not get time off but they were able to spend two nights with us. It was such a blessing to have all our children and their families together, only Jane who is in the UK and Tim were missing.

Our site at Lakes Entrance

  In April this year we had a three week holiday we visited Canberra, Batemans Bay and Huskisson Beach, returning home via the spectacular Kangaroo Valley in NSW, all in all a relaxing and enjoyable time.

After this month I will have more time to write on this blog as after 50 years and 7 months I'll be retiring, in all that time I'm proud to say that I was only out of work for three months when we emigrated to New Zealand back in 1994. I will be working a three day week in a temporary position until the end of November and then? Who knows?

Until next time.....................Safe travels, make happy memories and enjoy this wonderful land.

Crossing The Simpson Desert - Part 2

Day 4 (12 Aug)

After breakfast we packed up then filled all the fuel tanks and checked that all was ready for the crossing. First stop was Big Red for a bit more fun then at 11:30 AM it was down the QAA line to Eyre Creek for lunch, only to discover that none of us had bought bread so we were on biscuits for many days to come.

Not long after crossing Eyre's Creek we came to the official Simpson Desert National Park boarder, although there was no change in the landscape.

Late afternoon we found a area below a dune and set up camp for our first night in the desert.

We had traveled 145 Km, crossed 146 dunes and passed 29 vehicles cumming in the opposite direction.

Day 5 (13 Aug)

We had a good nights rest in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, no glow from city lights could be seen in any direction, the only sound that could be heard was the silence of the desert, it was a clear night and the stars were magnificent. How wonderful it was to sit quietly and just enjoy the moment.

After a good breakfast we packed the vehicles and set off for Poppel Corner, along the way we decided to have a 'drag race' on Lake Poeppel it's dry at this time of the year and I'm not sure how often it has had water, it covers about 1,100 hectares.

And the winner is.........

In 1880, Augustus Poeppel, a South Australian Government Surveyor, marked the corner with a coolibah Eucalyptus microtheca post, 2.1 metres long by 0.25 metres in diameter. The post was dragged 58 miles (92 kilometres) westward from the Mulligan River. On three sides Poeppel chiselled into it the words South Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland. Below the South Australia inscription he carved LAT 26 LONG 138 for the latitude and longitude. The post was placed by Poeppel to complete his survey of the South Australian/Queensland border along the 26th Parallel. From this point, the South Australia/Northern Territory border ran east across the Simpson Desert and the Queensland/Northern Territory border ran due north to the Gulf of Carpenteria.

                              'Old Post'                                                          'New Post"

Then it was down the French Line making our way to the Knolls, along the way we had some fun

Not long after the wind started to blow causing a mini sand storm

At Lindsay junction we turned South down the Knolls Track to the Approdinna Attora Knolls a rare and fragile gypsum outcrop of great scientific significance, they are the highest vantage point in the area. David Lindsay was the first European to visit the Knolls on 11th January 1886

As it was late afternoon we found a nice spot to camp some 15 Km later.

We traveled 93 Km crossed 182 dunes and passed 30 vehicles cumming in the opposite direction

Day 6 (14 Aug)

Sun Rise

Packed the vehicles after breakfast the continued to WAA Corner, turned West along the WAA line to the Junction then South to the Lone Gum Tree. It is in fact a box eucalypt, a member of the Coolibah family, they normally grow in the clay soil of flood prone areas, but this one is far from the nearest watercourse it is thriving - strange to see

The Lone Gum

Then it was back (North) on the Erabena Track passed the Rig Road Junction and WAA Junction heading for the French Line when after 13 Km (from WAA Junction) there was a call on the radio from Dozer who was bringing up the rear “guys I think I just lost something” and he had, in the middle of the track was the remains of his wheel/fuel carrier! We also noted that my wheel carrier had a crack so the wheel was removed and we divide the load – thank goodness for the roof rack and proceeded to the French Line and turned West once again to find a camp spot for the night.

We traveled 196 km, crossed 211 dunes and passed 5 vehicles cumming in the opposite

Day 7 (15 Aug)

We continued (saw a herd of 6 camels) to the Wonga Corner turning South to the Mokari Airstrip, then back up to the French Line then onto the Creek Track to Dalhousie

Dalhousie Springs are collection of natural artesian springs on the Western fringe of the Simpson Desert. The water temperatures range from 38 to 43 degrees C. and highly mineralised but drinkable if you like that kind of thing.

                                                                  Mokari Airstrip

We all crossed without assistance (snatch etc.) although we needed a second or third attempt on some dunes. Only time I needed a helping hand was while having a play on a dune and not using the track – this was done many times by all for fun.

What a pleasure to have a swim in the thermal pool, most enjoyable.

We traveled 200 km, crossed 516 dunes and 10 vehicles in the opposite direction, that’s a total of 634 km, crossing 1055 dunes and passing 74 vehicles in the opposite direction, i used 151 Lt of diesel.

We had now crossed the Simpson but this was not the end of our trip, there was still more to come.

Until next time.....................seize the minuet

Crossing The Simpson Desert - Part 1

After months of preparation the day of our departure had finally arrived. 

Day 1 (8 Aug 2009)

Up early to pack the last few things then to the big "M" at Hogans Corner, Hoppers Crossing to meet with the others for our traditional breakfast before leaving on a 4 x 4 adventure. At 6:12 AM we left for our 14 day journey that would prove to be challenging yet rewarding and the most memorable. My notes read - 'left pillow at home' - at least I discovered this before we reached Adelaide so was able to purchase one there.

The 'Magnificent Seven'

Our first night stop was Port Wakefield some 800 Km, the first casualty was my 7" display screen mounted on the dashboard which I used to display Memory Maps to track and folow our route, packing up just outside Horsham.    Problem was solved by adjusting the rear-view mirror so I could see my PC screen, I became quite proficient in reading the maps in the mirror image.

We reached Port Wakefield around 5:30 PM after a brief stop in Adelaide to purchase fruit and vegetables which cannot be brought across the Victoria boarder.

Day 2 (9 Aug.)

We were up and on the road by sunrise as we had another long day of driving to our next night stop.

We stopped at Hawker to refuel then on to Wilpena Pound and the Flinders Ranges, sad to see them so dry but still a spectacular drive and our first taste of sand.

We left the ranges through Blinman then on to Leigh Creek (our night stop) arriving at 5:30 PM after some 540 KM.

Day 3 (10 Aug)

Early departure and made a brief stop at Farina (63 Km) now a ghost town, it was settled in 1878, in its heyday it had two hotels, an underground bakery, a bank two breweries, a general store, an Anglican Church, five blacksmiths, a school and a brothel. The post office closed in the 1960's  and the railway line closed in the 1980's.

We left at 8:46 AM then it was on to Marree and then Birdsville Track

along the way we found a place to "play"

Then we were on our way to Mungerannie hotel for lunch and Joff was able to replace the tyre he had "shredded" on the track when he did not realize that he had a puncture!   We continued up the track to Tipipilla Creek camp site arriving at 6 PM after some 461 Km.

Day 4 (11 Aug.)

Sun Rise

We departed for the last 182 Km to Birdsville at 9 AM arriving before lunch. After setting up camp and doing the washing it was off to Big Red for some fun and did we have some fun! We all got up the West side left track which is the most difficult and it was late when we finally called it a day and returned to camp. Big Red is the largest and most famous dune in the Simpson, it is 40 meters high.  

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Until next time ............................ Remember life is an adventure, enjoy it.