OUTBACK 2011

Early morning - Henry Lawson House in Gulgong

The experts getting the truck ready for the third day in Bourke when we are going to cross into Queensland

Entering Queensland with coffee

The drover with his swag, "The man from Cunnamulla"

The Warrego River at Cunnamulla, the first of many these holidays that were just about dry a few months ago

Nice feeling to be made welcome at our next overnight - Eulo

Eulo the town famous for its "Lizard races" they ceased to be held two years earlier due to lawyers having a field day. Maybe someone was run over by one of these "monsters"

Lake Bindegolly National Park

The roads have less traffic,

The distances are becoming more typical for the outback

and refuelling more an issue.

Now we are getting to the famous names of the outback

The Coopers Creek is a "dry" river bed. In a week's time we will cross it on an punt on the Birdsville Track

Across the Coopers Creek we enter Windorah, a town fully supplied by solar energy during daylight hours

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carla stretching her legs while we, above, deflate the tyre "to suit conditions" for the Diamantina Developmental Road to Bedourie, 250k without a car or human being in the four hours it took us.

We find some shade in a dry riverbed for lunch

We all take turns at driving, Anne at the wheel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After this long day on the road it is good for a laugh and a drink at the "Royal Hotel" in Bedourie

The Bedourie - Boulia road gives us a good impression what to expect

There is an easy way and there is a Dutch way to cross the Georgina River

 

 

 

From Boulia we commence on the way west

along the Donahou highway to

the Northern Territory and the Plenty Highway along this 4m high anthill just before arriving at our overnight stop at Jervois. Carla and Anne get some assistance form the local Brahma when lighting the fire. Meantime the boys are contemplating what to do with a flat tyre.

Then on Friday it is only some 350k to Alice Springs

Lunch in Mueller Creek before we get on to the Stuart Highway

Saturday is fun day. The 50th Henley on Todd Regatta in which we participated with our home-made boat

http://www.henleyontodd.com.au/

Aboriginal painting and plants trying to survive in the salty river bed in the N'Dhala Gorge

Trephina Gorge

What a fantastic week we had with the four of us.

21 August, last year we celebrated in Fremantle on the West coast, this year in the center of Oz, on Anzac Hill with a glass of water (no-alcohol zone!)

Back onto the unsealed roads. The Oodnadatta Track with its open skies and fascinating surroundings

Oodnadatta and its Pink Roadhouse

and "workshop"

People used to

live here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These colours are real along the track

Another flat tyre in Williams Creek

Sunset the same evening

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The edge of Lake Eyre where it is still dry. The salt is to the right of the photo.

Where is he heading?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artesian springs in the middle of "Nowhere"

Lake Eyre with water coming from creeks like the Cooper's Creek,

that we crossed a week earlier. Here it is 100m wide and 4m deep. We crossed it by this one car punt. In December it is expected to be sitting in the desert again for ??? years.

We need to wear a life jacket while on board

That evening in the oasis "Mungerannie" on the Birdsville Track

We have lunch at Moongarra Channel,

where the sun starts showing its effect

That evening in Birdsville - what a difference and then off to the world -famous Birdsville Race Track where the following Sunday the annual Birsdville horse races will be held, attracting some 5000 people to an outpost with 160 regular inhabitants.

There is water everywhere, here in the Diamantina River

This picture to get some idea of the wide open plains in the "Stony desert" And this is green after all the rain earlier in the year.

The Deon Brook look-out, some 200m above the "Birdsville Developmental Road" in the Stony Desert

We left the bitumen here on our way west, now back on it till home. First stop is overnight in Windorah.

Then via Quilpie, on the left,and Charleville, above, towards the East

We stayed in the "Motel Style" accommodation at the back of the General Store owned by Ralph and Barb Benz. What a lovely couple. When passing through Hebel, besides having a beer in the pub across the road, suggest you go in and say hello here.

Back in NSW and on to Lightning Ridge. A quirky township with a number of "castles" like these. Opal diggers actually live in these contraptions.

The last coffeestop before getting on to the Freeway on our way home that day

Telling Mark by SMS, his car made the 200,000k and going fine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canola field in the Hunter Valley. What a different colours when compared with a week ago out West.

It has been fantastic.