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.