18th June 2008 INNAMINCKA TO BIRDSVILLE

 

 

Man, what a trip so far. We have had just about every condition you would normally expect from a Wilsons Prom or Cape Otway. First we had record rainfall in Broken Hill, 58mm in 12 hours which was the largest single rainfall since records started in 1912. Then we had flooding around Innamincka and the Coongie Lakes so severe that about half a dozen vehicles were ordered (via rangers in helicopters) to stay put rather than attempt the three metre high waters that had surrounded, isolated and closed all roads in and out of Innamincka except the road south to the Strezleki Track. And finally 87mm fell in two days around the Birdsville, Simpson area.

It all started days earlier as we finally made our break from Broken Hill and headed north up the Tibooburra Rd, travelling past Milparinka and turning west, along a sodden track, towards Cameron Corner. We busted a mount on a trailer shocker that in turn ruptured a fitting on our water tanks.  Thankfully that was discovered before we lost all our water. (Two Tanks…yay!)   After minor repairs we were back on track, fighting the mud and flood ways in an area that usually sees nothing but bulldust and corrugations.

We arrived at Cameron Corner, had the obligatory beer at the store and recounted our plans to avoid the masses and see some good sights. The locals assured us that Innamincka and surrounds was worth a visit, so we decided against turning south when we hit the Strezleki Track, and thought we'd head north to spend a week or so visiting Innamincka, the Dig Tree and a stack of other 4WD sites before heading north towards Birdsville.

Out of Cameron Corner the track was atrocious…….mud so thick and deep our cruiser earnt its keep for the next year. After many close encounters we managed to avoid getting bogged long enough for us to struggle out at Merty Merty (love that name) onto the Strezleki Track. Max and his muddy Otway experience really did pay off. (MaxTION MAN!!!)

We arrived at Innamincka with big plans. Only to be thwarted, like the crew of sorry looking travellers we found camped, stranded at the Innamincka General Store. The roads had  already been closed for days (one guy had been there seven days), and showed little sign of opening soon. The river that usually provides such gorgeous camping, had burst its banks leaving people little option but to seek dry ground on the gibber rocks adjacent to the ranger station, general store and pub right in the centre of town.

It is here that we began our three day vigil waiting patiently for the roads to dry out and re-open. As the stories began to filter in about the rescue attempts at the Coongie Lakes and how people were still stuck up there, we began to realise our drive had been a waste of time. Staying longer would require a week at least for the roads we wanted to be open, and unfortunately there is only so much gibber plain a person can take. We packed up and bailed out, heading south the way we had come in search of open roads and eventually fresh water.

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