Innamincka - Birdsville/Simpson Desert

Sorry we have been completely out of touch for so long, but as you all know, this is a BIG country with very little reception. We have had a wonderful time and i will do my best to fill you in with what has happened.
 
We left Innamincka and headed south down the Stezlecki Track, which was scarred with many massive wheel ruts and slippery sections after the rain. Spent a great night at the Montcollina Bore that is a hot artesian spring, which allowed us to indulge in hot water pursuits.....washing dishes, clothes, bodies etc...Had dingoes hanging around at night. Finally arrived in Lyndhurst at the end of the track, where we desperately needed to refill our water tanks (one still not in operation) repairs would have to wait till we reached a bigger town. 
 
We gladly left Lyndhurst after having to pay 10 bucks for 20 litres of water...cough, cough.....and made our way up towards Marree and the start of the Birdsville Track. Stopping to make camp at the beautiful Farina where we stayed for a good two days just chilling out. Gorgeous old ruins allowed me to get some nice pictures and all of us to relax under the massive sky. GORGEOUS
 
Topped up our fuel and water tanks at Marree, after Max was able to make some repairs.
 
Birdsville Track was rutted and rough after no doubt suffering the same rain we had run into a week ago. We stopped to camp at the Mirra Mitta Bore almost exactly half way up the track, after taking a punt that there would be a few trees (or bushes) to shelter us from the gibber stones and the wind. The site was great, with again a hot artesian bore spewing out near boiling water that trickled down alongside our camp, supplying us with hot water. We fended off a few curious travellers the next morning and stayed on in our little desert paradise for another night or two.
 
Pulling up stumps we pushed on into Birdsville.....mmmmmm which day? What day is it again? Can't remember. Camped two nights on the lovely Diamintina River just outside of town and got ourselves stocked up again with supplies and water. Birdsville has a town water supply care of their hot bore (1700m) that also supplies their power so we were revelling in the taps with fresh water, long showers and grassy green oval (bizarre I know).
 
The second day.....as we gritted our teeth against little voices whining mummy...daddy, we decided we could take no more and took ourselves off to have a beer and an orange juice at the Birdsville Hotel. If only for an hour.

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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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Broken Hiill to Broken Hill - 8th June 2008

Aaahhh....the rain goes on. We arrived in Broken Hill on Friday to find out that they had had 58mm of rain in the early hours (the highest rainfall on record!!!!). We curiously looked  at all the water lying on the roadside and hoped there was not more to come. The Silverton camp ground served as our home for two nights, where we were able to dry out our camper and check out a few of the sites. Got some photos of Max in front of the fake replica MAD MAX machine  at the Silverton Hotel.... (I hope he looks mad enough!) Saturday we educated ourselves in the mining processes of the Hill and viewed a huge collection of historic photos at a local exhibition. Really Interesting.
 
Last night Ella gave us a tolerance lesson after waking at 11pm, vomiting all over herself due to a water drinking attempt gone wrong. Aaaahh...quick dash to the dodgy shower block and at least Ella's pajamas were clean. I can not speak for anything else. Her hair had to stay unwashed due to the late (cold) hour and of course her blankey (code pet name) who received the full brunt of the assault could not be duplicated by a poor imitation. She would not hear of it! So Max and I had to tolerate not only a small baby with a spewy aroma but a slightly creepy, damp blanket that was cuddled and held close......ewwwwww.
 
So now we are holed up at Broken Hill due to road closures that prevent us from heading north to Camerons Corner. We packed up keenly this morning only to be stopped abruptly by the news that nearly all roads around Broken Hill are closed. We are determined to head north and get in close to the dog fence, so we will wait the rain out and see if they open tomorrow. Wish us luck......xx

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Mildura to Broken Hill - June 5th 2008

Reluctantly left the isolation of the very quiet riverside camps (due to the time of year I'm sure) to venture into the big smoke today....Mildura. To grab a few supplies and fuel before heading into the desert. City driving is considerably more stressful than the open road but we managed to score ourselves a couple of pies, a milkshake (for Jake) and some food stores to keep us and the car going for a few hundred more K's. Had already decided to call tonight a shower and wash stop, so all of us feel alot better after a long HOT shower and a set of clean clothes care of the Wentworth Caravan Park.
 
Looking forward to heading into more desert country tomorrow, as we go north towards Broken Hill. Will spend some time exploring the history and what not and plan to keep going north and follow the dog fence to Camerons Corner and some Burke and Wills country.......ahhhhh such a sad story. Anyway better luck for us..till next time, X

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Day 3 - Tuesday 3rd June 2008

Day 3
 
Can't belive I am only just getting an opportunity to write an update. We are again tonight on the banks of the mighty Murray River just outside of Swan Hill and the sun is just going down. Campfire going, beds set up and time now just to enjoy the peace and tranquility.....ahhhhh. We camped at Echuca for a couple of nights and today Jake and Ella became instant Steam boat captains as they guided the old paddlesteamer "Pride of the Murray" through the masses of docked house boats to cruise up and down the river for an hour or so. Good stuff!
 
The cruiser and the camper are holding up great. Max and I are learning very quickly new shortcuts and tricks of the trade. Anyway no fish yet, so must go and catch our selves a Cod. Luv to all x

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