Travels in a Shoebox : sunrise

Monday, July 21, 2014

Strzelecki Desert Trip - Part 7. Dig Tree to Fort Grey.

I've now reached the turn-around point of the trip and now for the journey back home.

The plan is to return back to Innamincka then back down the Strzelecki and turning off about 60 km's south of Moomba where the 'track' splits and head for Cameron Corner. From there it will be Fort Grey, Tibooburra, Milparinka, White Cliffs, Wilcannia, Cobar, Nyngan, Dubbo and Mudgee.

Day 11, Wednesday 9th July. Dig Tree to Sandhills camp via Merty Merty.

257 km's (160 miles)

Sunrise on the Cooper Creek.

Sunrise .

All strapped in for the journey home.

One last look, trying to imagine.

Joining the convoy back to the main road.

A choice of three lines to take, left, middle or right.

Back into South Australia.............
'Welcome to
South Australia'
'NAPPAMERRIE CROSSING'

....... and back on the track.

Farewell Innamincka.

The wind whips up dust on the journey south.

The road now goes over the sand dunes....and on and on.

Have now left the main 'track' and heading for Merty Merty.

I was hoping to get to Fort Grey but I was running out of daylight, so I camped in behind a sandhill trying to get out of the wind..

The setting sun lit up the red sandhills.

It might look hot but the breeze was cold.

Just Red and Grey.

Who needs a fire when you have this.

Or this.

'Sunset With Flash'

LUNAtic DANCE
What happen when you have a party and no-one tuns up.
(one person did turn up for a while and I think they put something in my drink)

Watching the sun come up.

This is why they call it the 'red' centre.

Playing With Light.

The 'long legged' people of sandhill country.

Billy long-legs.

Day 12, Thursday 10th July. Merty Merty (Sandhill) Camp to Fort Grey.

127 kms (79 miles)

The conditions made driving and looking at the scenery interesting.

Only saw 8 cars over the 2 days driving on this road. Not much chance of getting pinged by a speed camera.

My plants at home are wilting and these haven't seen rain since they were seeds.

It pays to take notice of the red flags.

How can soft sand give such a harsh ride.

Sculpture in the desert.
I cam across a number of these 'upside-down growing' shrubs.

A road less traveled.

What do cattle do with their free time?

I came all this way for a swim and it isn't allowed.

I was dark driving through the barrel.

This mud-bath did nothing for her complexion.

Did it die before or after being dragged out?
I saw another cow/beast/bovine/head-of-cattle that was limping around,with a possible broken leg,
after apparently being hit by a car. Maybe this animal was involved in a similar incident.

The 'corner store' at Cameron Corner.

HAPPY "60TH"
YOU OLD BASTARD
Love, Fenn and Cheryl

Stuck on the door to the store. (I think I heard that his name was also Bill).

A Corner with No Colour.

Standing in NSW, or was Queensland, with my fingers in 3 states.

Can you spot the differences? That's right, my left arm has grown back and I'm carrying a rifle.
No, I wasn't that much taller in 1993, its just that the dirt has blown away and the 'corner post' is now more out of the ground. Different 'glasses' around my neck but could be the same hat.

A wind-blown Red-capped Robin on the corner dingo fence.

Not much chance of Woolworths coming to Cameron Corner.

Three time zones at once.

The dead tree was held up by a post. I can't remember if it was alive in 1993.

I don't recall seeing a dog there, maybe it was at the dentist.
'ATTENTION!!!!
If you are caught throwing or
kicking anything for the dog we
expect a $20 donation to the
RFDS!! (Royal Flying Doctor Service)..
This is in the interest of our customers trying
to play golf and the dog's teeth.'

Dingo fence at Cameron Corner.

Dingo fence gate on main road from Cameron Corner.
'This gate should be closed at all times
If found open, please close'

It would be nice to get to 60 km/h.
STURT NATIONAL PARK
THE DUNES SCENIC DRIVE.
Tourist drive developed by National Parks and Wildlife Service
Speed limit
60 km/h next 22 km

Roads open, so Tibooburra here we come.
ROAD CONDITIONS
Tibooburra Rd : Open

Shade not required in the winter sun. Female Red Kangaroo and youngster.

Something to cheer one up.

End of Part 7

Scroll to bottom of page, Click on 'Older Posts' to go to Part 8

Camera: Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

Strzelecki Desert Trip - Part 11 (The Finish). Pine Creek (White Cliffs) to Home.

The dirt road (Wilcannia Wanaaring Rd) from the camp to Wilcannia was one of the better roads of the trip, but I could see why it was closed for 12 months. If you look at it on Google Earth you will see that it crosses 2 floodways plus, it also goes through a lake, so with any decent rain it would be impassable.

After the Strzelecki, when you reach Wilcannia it almost seem coastal and Sydney is just the road.

After reaching Mudgee I was to come home the next day (Monday) , but Matt phoned to say he would be there on the Wednesday so I decided to stay until Thursday so we could compare trips. Also Irwyn and Rosemary, who's house I was staying in, would be coming home on Tuesday and that was also another reason to stay.

It rained at Mudgee while I was there so my timing for not being in the camper was perfect.

Day 15, Sunday 13th July. Pine Creek (White Cliffs) Camp to Cobar.

365kms (227 miles)

Beyond restoration, maybe?

The old car's fan club.

Brown Falcons.
They even waited there so I could reverse up and take their photo.

I have been asked if I got lonely driving around by myself. It would have been if it wasn't for people like that little fellow sitting on the on the rail to the right of the grid,...............

........he was one of the happiest blokes I have ever met. He offered to make me a cup of tea and then we sat and chatted for nearly 2 hours about how things were in the bush, state of origin footy and how we could create world peace.......no, I was never lonely.
Mirriappa Creek Man.