I was awake just after 6, and up I got. I had a morning phaffing, an hour later I hadn’t started normal morning tasks but I did
1. replace flag on sand flag (thanks to Jackson’s for the sand flag they found earlier in the trip)
2. Set my camera charger up to charge batteries in preparation for a flight from Birdsville fingers crossed.
3. Picked up all the fuses that had shaken out of their tin
4. Collected some red Desert sand for Con my fruit man
5. Tidied up the tool drawer
6. Assisted Phil to extend his sand flag to meet specifications.
7. Walk to the top of the sand dune where Col was enjoying breakfast as the sun peeked over the horizon
8. Peeled an orange that was gifted to us by some Queenslanders, Cheryl and Robert, staying at Jervois. We helped them download the manual for the Garmin In Reach device. They gave us half a dozen avocados and some oranges from their garden.
So it was a bit of a slow pack up for me this morning, but we still managed to get away before nine earlier than yesterday surprisingly. Got a bit of help my friends thanks to all for help packing up.
We cruised across the dunes up and down and then along between the dunes for awhile before turning west and heading back across the dunes some more.
Evidently the dunes get a little more challenging this way in this direction.
We had a shuffle of passengers today. Mary M jumped in with Kate, Stef took the empty seat in Yoda to ride with Phil. A bit later Ann hopped in with Brother Steve and a little later Stef hopped in with me. He suggested letting a little air out of my rear airbags so I did that at lunch. It did make a difference thanks Stef.
After lunch we turned again and hit quite a hard road surface that has bloody corrugations. Steve pulled off for a rest and let a group of two vehicles behind us pass by. We collected a bit of wood and went on our way, with Stef and I in the lead. We think it’s yukky hard surface to Poeppel corner now.
A clanging sound from my front end. An ABS line has come loose. Brian cable tied it up after Phil and Stef rode alongside for a bit and then rocked the vehicle to replicate the sound, while Brian laid under the car. A couple of bolts needed tonight.
We continued on past Poeppel Well and across a few clay pans.
They look so inviting but you can see where others have dared venture out and hit the soft gluggy and suck you in clay.
We arrived at the junction of the QAA line across the desert at about 4:20 and decided we should head out to Poeppel Corner tomorrow ( about a 40km round trip) then head towards Big Red and into Birdsville on the 18th.
So we choofed across the big claypan to find a camp over the dunes on the other side.
A nice campsite site other than the messy dead fires left by other campers. We have a ‘tread lightly’ approach and strive to leave the place better than we found it. As an example today I stopped to pick up several bits of rubbish and broken car bits from the track and we have done this everyday. We have also seen lots of fires that look to have been left without any attention to ensuring they are wet or buried. Col and I dug out the old fire, retaining some of the big cold coals for our fire. Then did our best to cover them over.
Mary and Steve put drones up and Phil and I bolted back the ABS bracket to my car.
Kate has been keeping track of her bigger trip travelling with her van around the country, and has added this trip as well. You can see on her Australia map where we have been from our meeting place in Mildura. Today I clocked up 3500kms so far.
We had a drink and some snacks around the fire and spotted at least 8 satellites following the same path plus a few others ibefore all setting off to prepare our evening meals. We had a sausage and bean hot pot followed by fruit and custard. Once the dishes were done, it was time for some chocolate and the last of the Chocolate Orange liqueur and some Stanley cask port. Then hot water bottles and finally into bed to finish writing this. A bit weary but having a great time.
Travel adventures with Nicola & co. 