11.7.18 - Simpson camp #1 (just out of NP) to Simpson Camp #2

A very cold night - below freezing - tyre temperature gauge says -4 to -6. Reve’s water froze in her bottle INSIDE the tent. 

Phil and Mary’s tap froze.

This was a tea slushy this am.

The aim today is an early finish as we need to be sure to avoid arrival at Birdsville before the bash ends. 

We are heading down the WAA line across the Simpson. 

Starting on the French Line we turned off onto the Rig Rd to the Mokari Oil Well and abandoned airstrip whew we turned onto WAA line. 

Shot of the track.

Signage along the way. 

Here we are lined up at Mokari Oil Well

The grave Jaroslav Edward Pecanek.



More track

Cresting a dune.

Our lunch stop - the gang playing Vortex.

Milani in the hot seat after lunch

Looking pretty happy about it too

Mmm now who is that cresting the dune?

Down they go, just the flags visible. Highlights the need for flags in the Simpson.

You wouldn't want to crash into that coming the other way. Oh, it's Milani at the wheel.

A rattlepod grevillea

We tootled along very nicely, through a few junctions and intersections, past some of the old markers and other seismic lines and such. Sarah was driving the Davey Whale, after lunch Milani drove the Disco, Mary was in the hot seat for the morning. 

One of the old markers



Shot line marker



Here we are in the Middle of the Simpson

Signs





There are quite a few tracks crossing the Simpson

All was going well until Steve asked us to stop so he could do some drone flying over the convoy. Phil had some difficulty with the next dune ( definitely seeing parrots) then Steve had trouble too, as did I and Stef. Stef and I adjusted tyre pressures and got over, but it was a bit of a challenge. 

A grevillea

Rattle pod Grevillea

Steve hanging out the window flying the drone, which is that spot just above the tree line.

Sunset colours.

The changing colours. Different direction = different colours.

Soft hues.

Love the pinks, purples and blue of sunset.

We stopped for camp early as discussed at 3.00 so we all had time to phaff about, eat and drink. Mary and I played with some night star shots. OMG  it was amazing- the sky out here is just so big and dense with stars.The Milky Way creates an arc above us. I have taken a couple of shots from the back of camera, will need to add some to blog at a later time. 


One of the Milky Way - just a shot of the preview from back of camera. 

And an upside down one from my camera.

Finally got around to some from the camera. Reviewing these hits home just how amazing that night sky was.

The Milky Way.

Reve's tent lit by her torchlight, backdrop of the Milky way...a little firelight giving Sarah's tent and the grass a bit of red hue.

Stef going to bed, in the rooftop tent, Milani is in there with a light on, and the bright light in the sky was Mars I think.

Ahhh, the Milky Way.

Chatting by the fire.

And again. 

Trying to capture some of the 'black spots' in the starts...this was all STARS, no clouds at all. 

10.7.18 Mt Dare Hotel Campground to Simpson Desert night # 1

After an easy tea at Mt Dare Hotel and a drink, we sat around for a while as there was no fire to return to. There was a tv, we have been listening to the plight of the Thai Soccer team trapped in caves at Chang Rai. 4 out last night and now we are out of contact. 

A good nights sleep. Up to breaky and pack up, fuel up at a $2.45, tie my fuel jerry to top of Steve’s roof. I changed my wiper blades - thanks Phil. 

Mary and Reve doing the breaky dishes. 

Stef and Steve replacing the top of Steve’s snorkel, 

which fell off on the track yesterday.

A two man job with quite a few tools.

Out camp at Mt Dare.

A bunch of Crested Pigeons roosting in a tree in the campground.

and another little un identified LGB (Little Grey Bird) also at Mt Dare Hotel Campground

Putting up the fuel, thanks Steve for carrying my 20 litres

Well tied down.

The info boards at Mt Dare





Mt Dare petrol station 

The diesel bowser.

I think that was Steve’s bill inclusive of my 20 litres.

This sign sits on the corner of the pub, the faint lines are
flood levels - the top one in 2011 from Cyclone Yasi,
the bottom one a local storm in 2013.

Signage leaving Mt Dare

All the roads and conditions

We headed off towards Dalhousie Springs 70kms down the track. This was the same destination that thwarted us 8 years ago, when my car broke a leg and we had to camp out, weld the strut and hobble back to Mt Dare. We stopped along the track to pay homage, before heading onto Dalhousie. 

The track was much better than last time - we did go the longer way, as advised it was the better option. 

Changing scenery along the track.

More views

Can you see the corrugations?

Lots of trees

3 o’clock Creek

Hills in the distance.

Great looking trees.

More trees and Creek

Crossing a clay pan

Salt pan

Getting ready for our swim st Dalhousie Springs.

We have seen a few dingoes so far and several today. One at Purni Bore and another trotting happily towards us on the Track

A dingo, looking pretty healthy.

The loos at Dalhousie were pretty good. There was an older couple with the job as campground hosts. They are here for 9 weeks and had the amenities spic and span. 

After a magnificent swim in the warm artesian fed waters of Dalhousie, we had lunch and hit the track again. 

Some sort of creek and washout 

Stopped to adjust tyre pressure and this guy going the other way stopped to chat.

Lined up for tyre pressure adjustments

Sarah found the wings of a dead beetle. Brilliant deep blue


We stopped to look at Purni Bore. 

Our vehicles all lined up at Purni Bore. Sand flags on and ready to go.

Purni Bore story.

Out at the Bore. The pipe running out was hot to the touch and the water leaking from some joins was really hot. 

The water and wetlands created by Purni Bore

This guy was out at the bore, we frightened him out of the grass, he is not looking quite so healthy.

Our aim was to get past Purni and beyond out of the National Park where campfires are allowed. After a false stop at a campsite we moved on a few dunes further to find some flatter ground, more suitable for Reve. 

As rhe sign says we really are getting away from it all

Safety precautions

This dingo looked at the car and kept right on walking past all of us

There are two oncoming vehicles behind that tree and the start of the Simpson

Here we go.

Our campsite tonight. Between two dunes.

Sun setting

Sun set

Red Simpson sand.

Our Campsite tonight.

Steve rocking his new hat purchased at Mt Dare.

Sitting around the fire.

Fireside drinks and nibbles



A photo of Sarah’s drone shot of our camp (taken by taking a photo of her phone)

Sarah’s drone shot - the track and our camp. Looking back over our track in today. The Simpson dunes and swales

The track.

Curried Snags and veg at Dundek’s

Cooking tea at Dundek’s.

Satay Chicken stir fry at Davey’s

Beef sausages with Bologna sauce, carrot chips and green pea starch mash at the Greg/Col camp

Mr and Mrs Jackson cooking their tea.

Sausage Hotpot, veg and mash from the Ultimate kitchen

That’s the Beef sausages with Bologna sauce, carrot chips and green pea starch mash

Curried snags and veg

Chicken satay stir fry.

Up close chicken satay stir fry

Col and Greg

Sausage hotpot veg and mash

My leftover savoury mince in a taco boat with baby spinach.

Phil was fired up on the St Anne’s White Port and was determined that we stay warm.

The flames were taller than Phil.

Goodnight Greg.

Certainly keeping me warm. Had to move back.

It was all too much for Phil. Snoozing…

Yep. Zonked out.

Until Steve whispered a little something in his ear. What was that in my ear?

A late night - we lasted till 11. An amazing sky - the Milky Way was visible almost directly overhead in an arc from horizon to horizon- amazing. Phil, Steve, Sarah and I stayed stargazing for a while after the flames died down. Our plan was to all look in one direction so as to enable confirmation of sighting of shooting/falling stars. Sarah and I saw a couple and Phil, Sarah and I another. Steve looked away at the wrong time. 
Another chilly night ahead.