Day 8     After packing up, we had one last look around & saw Molly Clarke’s grave. Then I got to be trip leader from Old Andado back to Mt Dare, back through the dusty Binns Track.  Myles was Tail-End-Charlie so the 60 Series could take a steady pace over the corrugations.  With our camp set up, we enjoyed a lovely meal at Mt Dare Hotel.

Day 9     Rest day.  Pretty cruisy trying to stay away from the annoying flies, Mum did the wash, another Fisherman’s Basket at the Mt Dare Pub and that was that.

Day 10     We woke up to the howling of the dingos in the early morning.  Myles helped me put the sand flag on.  We headed off from Mt Dare to Dalhousie Springs.  Once we pulled up, we changed & went for a dip. The water was warm, like a very warm bath temperature.  A few other visitors came in to join us.  Lots of tiny fish were nibbling us. It felt weird, but good weird. After lunch we departed to the Spring Creek Track & the French Line towards Purni Bore.  We crossed the first few sand dunes ready for our Simpson Desert crossing.  We set up camp at Purni Bore & had a look around. We saw quite a few dingos staying close to the water.  The water at Purni Bore was really hot. I know because Mum was silly enough to stick her finger in. It smelled like Sulphur which was a bit stinky.

Day 11     We woke up to a chilly morning with damp swags.  I lowered our tyre pressure down to 16psi. The first dunes were fun to go over and they got bigger and bigger.  We continued on the French Line and then turned onto the Rig Road and then the WAA Line where I got to lead the rest of the way to a spot beside the track to set up camp. Some people on a Diamantina Tour were coming West, we were headed East. They found a spot to pull up, so we could pass.  A good day of driving.

We're stuck.   What next?

Day 12     Mum rode with Kez, and Jeff was my passenger and navigator.  At the turn off to the Lone Gum we saw a guy laying in the shade. He had a broken collarbone after coming off his bike earlier in the week out of Oodnadatta.  He was riding with one arm, and he was resting in a lot of pain. Our crew helped him out with some painkillers. Another bloke named Justin then fell off his motorbike close by.  We helped him pick up his bike. Further down the French Line I saw Mark with sand shooting out from Mark’s tyres. I could tell it was a soft dune.  So, me, and Marie made it over the side track, but Kez opted for the same line as Mark and her and Mum got bogged in the sand.  Jeff & I went back up and they had dug deep in the sand.  We shovelled and shovelled and stuck in the Treadz.  It didn’t really work.  So, the only option left was to use the kinetic rope and a couple of soft shackles.  We snatched from behind but Jeff’s Prado went back into a sand bank.  So, Mark camp up with his V8 Landcruiser to help and with the mighty power of the V8, we managed a successful recovery.  After a fun day of driving, we made camp along side the WAA line.  

Day 13     We woke up to a cloudy morning after the full moon.  We enjoyed bigger dunes & drove along salt pans.  We visited Attora Knolls, and then had ort lunch break at Poepells Corner. Then we continued along the K1 Track.  After we drove along a big saltpan we turned right onto the QAA Line. I forgot to mention Kez & Jeff got stuck on top of a dune again, so I reversed up and snatched them out from the front.  It was epic.  I loved it.  Another great day in the desert.

Sand, sand & still more sand.

Day 14     Today we left the QAA Line and departed towards Lake Eyre Creek bypass.  There were lots of big & small bumpy dunes & soft tops.  The crew saw a herd of wild camels.  The dunes got bigger and further apart.  They ranged from medium to difficult but luckily no-one got stuck.  Mark tried a few more difficult ones.  Then we turned off onto the Eyre Creek Bypass Road.  The landscape changed a bit once we left the National Park.  We arrived at the Eyre Creek Crossing to set up camp. Jen walked the creek.  I took a video.  Then Jeff and I jumped into the Prado and crossed back and forth a few times, practising, checking the depth, making excellent bow waves with water well over the running boards.  It was fun.

The amazing colours of the desert.

 

 

Our Address

Albury-Wodonga 4WD Club Inc
PO Box 1105
Albury NSW 2640