Day38-Day 40 Cunnamulla -Home!

Not sure how I managed to get the large Photo of Montecollina Bore at the end of my last posting but it is very nice so will leave it there.

Yes we are now home!!
We left Cunnamulla a Monday morning by 0830 and stopped at Bollon for Morning Tea on the banks of the River.

Went to the heritage centre there and Col,Lyn and Jan checked out the camp area on the riverbank which they found to be excellent and there were several vans already there.
Continued on, had lunch in St George then went and set up camp at the Nindigully Pub. got a great spot on the bank of the Moonie river.

Went up for happy hour at the Pub and they had a singer /guitar player there to entertain.

                        Cooked our last Camp Dinner and had a lovely mouse free nights sleep.

Left Nindigully by 0830 and headed up Chelmer Rd -through properties connecting us to the St
George /Moonie Rd.It was a nice drive with  lots of Kangaroos and Emus out and about plus lots of great looking Cattle.
We headed up this way to call in on some friends of ours who have a 9000 acre property at Flinton.Had Morning Tea with Sharon and just caught Kent before we left. He works on a Moonie oil field 4 days a week and was able to duck home to catch ou with us. 
Headed for Toowoomba through Westmar/Moonie/Dalby. We all stayed the night at Graeme's brothers place at Highfields. It was lovely to be in a nice warm house as the weather continued to be very cold and bleak.Had a good night with Ross and Sandra and of course Bundy-the Dog!

Jan was the unofficial trip leader the next day so the girls decided to go to "the Village Green" at Highfields where there was a quilting shop/Scrapbook shop /Chocolate Shop/ and other gift shops!!
as the fellas were outnumbered they very graciously filled in time.We arrive at the shops around 0830 and after a lovely coffee left around 1000. The day was once again quite cold and bleak.
We headed towards Warwick, Jan leading from No2 position, but turned onto the Settlers Way. this was a lovely scenic drive through  hills and villages to Killarney. Had lunch at the Pub in Killarney. On leaving Killarney we turned off the main Rd once more to Queen Mary Falls Rd.
This was also a very scenic drive .Stopped at Dagg Falls

and Carrs lookout-looking towards Wilsons Peak.

We connected up to White Swamp Rd

 and came back onto the main Rd at Old Koreelah.Turned onto the Mt Lindsay highway to Kyogle.

Stopped for the traditional ice cream at Wiangarie shop.
Arrived back in Lismore around 1630. What a great trip !! Great group!!

Just wanted to add a couple of photos of note not  previously shown on this Blog. The first is to show a a piece of camp gear contributed by Jan which was used everyday at least once and most days twice.Only a woman travelling on her own could carry such an essential item,the rest of us have the brakes put on us about what is truely essential by the male of the species.Yes we used it at the painted desert to wash up after our pancake breakfast. Jan and her dishdrainer.





The next photo is a Panorama taken driving into Palm Valley -Finke Gorge National Park. Very beautiful spot -even the Panorama shot does not do it justice.

It has been fun sharing our travels with you all. We travelled approx 9000Klm and saw some really beautiful parts of Australia. 

Signing off from Graeme and Yvonne

               Col and Lyn

 Jan

Day 32-Day 37 Coober Pedy/Lake Eyre/Maree/Montecollina Bore/Noccundra/Cunnamulla

Day 32 – Day 37  COOPER PEDY – LAKE EYRE – MARREE – MONTECOLLENA BORE – NOCCUNDRA - CUNNAMULLA

Well hi to all of you trip followers, Col here, and have we got some stories to tell now!

First of all we had a birthday party at Cooper Pedy for Yvonne before we travelled via gravel to William Creek, the road was OK and William Creek now has a bitumen main street (Only one street in town), this town is now buzzing because of the water filling Lake Eyre, they now have a real caravan/camping area, flight booking buildings, public toilets, and roadworks depot as well as the original pub.

We had the customary drink in the pub, bought our pass to the Lake Eyre National Park, and travelled on the rather rough track into the Lake at Halligan’s Bay, WHAT A SIGHT, more than we expected, looks like a beachside landscape more than a desert and salt lake scene.

We set up camp before taking the mandatory sunset photos.

After dinner we were invaded by the hoards of field mice,

 even though we were warned, we were not prepared for this onslaught, finally we gave up and went to bed, only to find that these were circus mice, they climbed the tents and somersaulted their way back down all night.

After an almost sleepless night (And some people call this fun) packed up and headed out to William Creek again before heading further south towards Marree, on the way we stopped at many Old Ghan rail siding ruins.

. Further south we stopped at the South Lake Eyre lookout for more photos. We camped at Marree for the night for a good nights sleep (At last)!

Next day saw us travelling to Lyndhurst for fuel and turn left onto the Strzelecki Track which now has some sections of bitumen.

 We stopped at the Montecollena Bore

for the afternoon and night, big camp oven cooking night with campfire session after. Still a few mice around but were dazzled by the antics of the dozens of native ‘Dusky Hopping Mice’

 which kept us entertained all night, they were friendly to the point that you could scratch their back with a stick, and did not climb anything.

Next day saw us travelling further along the Strzelecki Track to a short cut to bypass Merti-Merti and get us to Cameron’s Corner a bit quicker, beer and pie lunch at the ‘Corner Store’

This is the border of Qld/NSW/SA

where we were informed that the road through Bullo Downs was still flooded and closed, so we headed along a desert track to Ormicron Homestead and then north along the very rough and very, very dusty road which goes between Tibooburra to Noccundra. Stayed at the Noccundra waterhole for the night with dinner at the pub. Still a few mice jumping on tents but mild compared to previous episodes.

Next day – up at dawn again and headed into Thargomindah for fuel and morning tea, while in town we visited the Tourism Information Centre, which is now in the old hospital building and also now has a historical display, did a town crawl to check out the other sites, is still a nice, neat town!

Further east we had lunch at the ‘Lake Bindigolly Nature Reserve’, this place is full of water birds and the lake is full.

The road between Noccundra and Cunnamulla is alive with emus and cattle, most of which seemed to like our section of the road and caused us to stop occasionally to give them ‘right of way’. Set up camp in the Cunnamulla Caravan Park for 2 nights as we reckon we deserve a rest and it is another friendly town.Had some beautiful roses growing in gardens around the town.

Cunnamulla Fella

Day 29 to Day 31 Alice Springs to Coober Pedy

My previous entry should have been to Day 28!! not 24. Guess I did not want to see the time go too fast.
After our stock up day in Alice we were upnext morning at 0600 and spent the day on the Bitumen travelling the Stuart Highway.Stopped for the night at Cadney Homestead campground.
Next morning it was back on the Gravel roads, which were surprisingly good, and headed to the painted desert. We reached Arkaringa Homestead at approx. 1030,the closest place to stay for the Painted Desert to do Sunrise and Sunsets.We stayed in cabin accommodation with a camp kitchen. we had a cook up and made a camp oven stew,Damper and another batch of CWA scones-date this time!
In the afternoon went out to the Desert (approx 10 Kl) and went to a couple of lookouts, one involved a 1Kl walk. Both spots in the Arkaringa Hills had some magnificent views and the landscape was incredible.

Had Happy hour watching the sunset which was very special!

Returned to camp had our stew and Damper.
Up very early next morning to catch the Sunrise- 0545!! Bit cool. Graeme was delighted he finally caught the mouse in our vehicle which had managed to evade 4 traps but eat the bait for 3 days!!
Got to the lookout and watched the sunrise

 and then we had pancakes for breakfast.(Had prepared them the night before). Fantastic morning!

0800 saw us  on the road to Coober Pedy. Once again a really good Gravel Road. Cut across from Arkaringa Homestead through Mt Barry station to the Oodnadatta track. We were in Coober Pedy by1030.
Set up camp at the Stuart Range CaravanPark.We did a 4 hour afternoon tour of Coober Pedy and The Breakaways -very similar landscape formations to the painted Desert.

Toured Opal fields and mines

and visited underground churches

 and viewed many underground houses. Amazing to see.

It was a great afternoon and really interesting. All agreed living underground is not for us.
Tomorrow we head off to Lake Eyre-Halligans Bay.Hope to spent a couple of nights there.
Catch you again soon.
Yvonne  

Day18-Day24 Alice Springs-Alice Springs

DAY 18 to DAY 24

 Here we are again! It has been so busy there has been no time to catch up with the news. Although, most of you would have received an Uluru sunset picture from one of us on our phones. That was to make you all envious.

We left Alice Springs and travelled The Stuart & Lassiter Highways to Yulara calling in to the Henbury Meteorite Conservation Reserve and the lookout to Mt Connor.

Camp at Yulara great –No mice!! Plenty of Bunnies but they were no problems.

Up and out to Uluru by 0900. Graeme did the full walk on the Rock. Jan went as far as the chain and Col and I a bit below that – the height was too overwhelming for us.

Uluru was incredible. Went for other walks and saw some aboriginal Art. The changing faces of the rock as you go around it awesome. As most of you saw we went to see the sunset on Uluru and that was special - we stayed after dark to see the full moon rise over the Rock and that was also Special.

Next morning saw doing a helicopter flight over Uluru and the Olgas. It was good despite it being a bit hazy due to some burning off the day before. After the flight we travelled to the Olga’s and did the Valley of the Winds walk which was 7.4 Klms.

It was a bit difficult and hot but really beautiful and well worth it.

That afternoon we were picked up from Camp for “The Sounds of Silence” dinner in the Desert. It was a desert site between Uluru & The Olgas. We were served Canapes & Champagne and watched the sunset – beautifull!

Dinner was served to the sounds of a Didgeridoo playing and there was a Star talk.

Met some some nice people, Including a couple from Houston. Texas and a young couple from a mining camp near Mackay.  All round a lovely evening.

Left Yulara next morning, had a brief stop at Curtin Springs then turned off the highway onto Luritya Rd. and onto Ernest Giles Rd. And Went onto “The Boggy Hole Track”. Advised the track was still impassable but more towards the other end so decidedto give it a go.It turned out to be a 5 Hr Marathon of Sandy Riverbeds/Rocky Riverbeds/Watercrossings-(Finke River)/Bulldust/Grassy,narrow,rocky Tracks.

We travelled through the lovely Finke Gorge National Park. The scenery was truly beautiful.Dark overtook us after 68Kls and we still had not found the Boggy Hole camp area so camped on the edge of the creek – Next morning walked along the track approx 2 Kls and found the Boggy Hole Camp ground –the Creek was passable but the exit from the creek was very deep, dry, boggy sand. The flooding had made many changes to the area. Decided not to continue so packed up and drove the 68 Kl out. It was a beautiful trek back out stopping for many photos.We took a little short cut to Ernest .Giles Rd which meant a long Sandy Palmer riverbed crossing. After letting our tyres down to 20lb we all made a successful crossing.It took another 5 Hours.

Travelled Luritja Rd once more onto Kings Creek Station where we planned to camp for the night. Great camp –baked camp oven dinner and fire. Days are lovely and warm the nights cool.

Sunday morning Jan was dismayed to find evidence of a mouse in her car!! Yes we are in a mouse area again.!! The hunt is on.

Spent the morning doing The Rim Walk at Kings Canyon. It was a 6 Kl walk- Ascents and descents a little difficult but the scenery was awesome! It took 3.5 hours and we all enjoyed it immensely.Checked out Kings Canyon Resort.

Had a lovely evening once more with Jan making CWA Pumpkin Scones, Lyn making (Rhonda’s) dessert and I made a Mango chicken for the main meal all in the camp ovens. We are still chasin’ the mouse in Jans car!Col made an elaborate water trap for overnight( cannot buy a mouse trap –all sold out)to catch it.

Next morning the mouse had been for a swim but had eaten its way out of the trap!! So still mouse hunting!

Had a very productive morning doing all our chores washing,writing journals,down loading photos, and I was writing this to “word” Had Jan,s Pumpkin scones for MT.

In the afternoon went for a walk to Kathleen Springs Walk (2.6 Klm) very beautiful walk and the Kings Creek Walk (2Klm) a lovely walk up the creek bed to a viewing platform with stunning views of sheerCanyon walls. Had thought to stay for the sunset on the ranges at Kings Canyon but decided it was not worth it.

Left Kings Canyon next morning-Tuesday 24^th May- to travel the Mereenie Loop Rd to Hermannsberg all Gravel - Pleasantly surprised   the road was quite good. Saw Albert Namatjira’s house

Called in to see David Fisher (works C7 LBH ) who is out working at Hermannsberg at the moment for approx 6 weeks.Visited the Hermannsberg Historical Precinct- Memorabilia of a Lutheran mission established in the late 1800,s.

Drove into Palm Valley campground very beautiful once more – water crossings, along rocky and sandy river beds and some lovely red Gorges – Awesome!!. We were in the top end of Finke Gorge National Park this time.

Set up camp in the NP camp ground, had a good camp . Had one Dingo visitor which was not problematic.

Next morning-We- drove an interesting 4WD track to Palm valley then went for a walk up the Gorge into the valley with the Palms then along the Ridge of the gorge and back to carpark-Beautiful!!

We left PalmValley and travelled Larapinta Drive then onto Namatjira Drive.Stopped  at Gosse Bluff-very rugged Mtn. Range thought to be a Meteorite basin..The drive to Ormiston gorge was was surrounded with mountain ranges – fantastic!

Stayed at Glen HelenLodge campground which was beautiful with a hugh red gorge wall as a backdrop.We went and watched the state of Origin at the Pub.-go you beautiful Maroons!!

Today Thursday 26^th has been very busy. Packed up by 0800 – very cold!! Went for a stroll to the Glen Helen Gorge then drove to Ormiston Gorge. Went on the Gum tree Walk which was an uphill walk to a lookout over Ormiston Gorge.

Did not do the full walk as you had to SWIM to cross the creek to finish the walk-This definitely was not an option given the temperatures!! Great view of the Gorge.2.6Klm return walk.

Called into the Ochre Pits then onto Serpentine Gorge.

This was a 1.3 Klm walk into a Gorge and water hole then a  climb up a Rocky “Goat track” to a lookout over the Gorge-Awesome!!

Had lunch at Ellery Creek Bighole a beautiful big Rockhole and Gorge.

Travelled back into Alice Springs which is always fantastic through the Ranges

We are now back in Alice Springs to restock before we head south.

Not sure when we will catch up on the Blognext as we are now heading south to the Painted Desert our next place of note.
Yvonne