Sunday 25/7/2010 Chambers Pillar to Mount Dare

(Chambers Pillar to Mount Dare)
It is supposed to rain again tomorow, but so far nothing but blue sky.They've had 700mls already out here this half of the year, when usually they only get 200mls for th whole year!
We were up at 0630hrs to get the sunrise shots. Packed up and left by 0800hrs to big waves from the other campers.

We now have a huge day, having to backtrack to the highway to get to (hopefully) at least Finke, and we'll just visit Mount Dare now.
A huge flock of galahs.
Much less coughing last night. I'm almost better.
1hr and 5mins from Chambers Pillar to Maryville where we had a toilet stop and Col bought some more flour for dampers.
It turned out to be a wonderful day. We met two couples from Dubbo. Roger and Di, and Peter and Glennys.
They were heading south, were also aiming for Finke but had passed the turn off (the one that was closed).
Together we all decided that the Finke would be down by now and they just hadn't removed the "closed" sign because it was the weekend (our ranger had actually hinted at this). They had also heard of someone else coming through yesterday.
So rather than driving the long way round we all teamed up to again take on the mighty Finke River, chatting the whole way on UHF. We were all on a bit of a high to be travelling with a group. It was fun to have friends for the day.
The route we took was along the old Ghan Railway, with old sleepers pins and sidings.

Had to watch out for half the track washed away in parts. It also follows a race track that runs from Alice to Finke.
There were a few cars heading north , telling us it was Ok to cross the Finke River. Yay!

Does anyone else see a breast?

Near the end there are 2 branches to the track. The main track veering to the right, and one to the left that follows the railway. Roger was desperate to try the one on the left to be more adventurous, so off we all went.

Following the embankment, the landscape began changing and we noticed we were going over small sandunes, ending suddenly at a huge gap... the Finke River. It was so wide and all sand!! with huge trees that had been washed down in the rains.

The hardest part was getting up the other bank which was a sheer wall of sand. We dug away to form a ramp. Didn't make it up first go but were OK once we let our tyres down a bit, plus a bit of a nudge over the top soft bit by Peter and his Nissan. We should have used diff lock??

Peter went straight up first go using high speed, at a very scary 45 degree angle. If he'd misjudged just slightly he would have rolled it.
Roger's Landcruiser was almost rolled sideways by his trailer.

We attempted the harder steeper route of straight up. but sank in the top little pile of silt.
After some fun snatchem strapping we all had lunch on the river bank.
There were hundreds of "fish out of water" down on the now dry river bed, and just a few ponds of water with fish (potty mullet size) swimming around.
Had to go and check out the other crossing, where the main track goes, and where the closed sign was.
It was a very solid, smooth dirt road most of the way across with one narrow flow of water. All of us drove across and back just to show the road closed sign should have been removed. The water was only wheel high. I had to take a photo of the "road closed" sign. Very funny! Such an easy crossing. I took a photo of the sign.
Don't worry, we do not advocate ignoring "road closed" or other warning signs. Many people have been drowned, washed away at causeways. It's just that we knew when the river had peaked, there'd been no rain since, and that the signs aren't brought in on weekends. Add to that the new ability to travel in a group, experience of knowing what we're capable of crossing and the fact that we would have turned around at anytime if we thought it looked too dangerous and hearing and seeing that other vehicles had come through we decided to do it.

I'm glad we didn't go all the way back around to the Stuart Highway!
After Charlotte's Water, the trees just suddenly disappear and it feels like the Nullabor.

Our NSW travelling companians camped the night at Mount Dare with us.

I put copies of the riverbank videos onto Roger's memory stick.
Thanks for a fun and adventurous day. We enjoyed your company.

Saturday 24/7/2010 Rainbow Valley to Chamber's Pillar

(Rainbow Valley to Chamber's Pillar)
I think our neighbours regreted their decision after I coughed all night.
Up at 0730hrs. After breakfast we went for a sightseeing walk along claypan and rock formations.

There were tracks of lizards, beetles, hopping mice and a ferral cat. Also a lot of bird life, especially zebra finch. Packed up by 0930hrs.
The kids are now naming birds since their Desert Park education (eg black kites).
Heading south on the Stuart Highway to Hugh River Stock Route.
Lots of gates along this easy dirt road (70km/hr). A good job for Jack.
Passed the current Central Rail Line and will soon hit the Old South Road, then the Old Ghan Railway.
Oh no! The road along the Old Ghan to Finke is closed! We asked about it at Maryville, apparently a car was washed away by the Finke last week.
Need to work out a revised plan today.
Budgies everywhere!
Collected firewood in the Hugh River bed, trees washed down everywhere, before heading into the National Park.
We drove over an amazingly steep hill to see a view of several mesas, insulbergs and buttes, and arrived at Chamber's Pillar at 1400hrs. There are 7 other cars here plus the ranger. We noticed you are meant to pay $7.70 (for a family) into a box, so I got Jordan to do this. She had a lot of trouble filling out the form.
After having tacos for lunch (last night's tea), we did the hike around Chamber's Pillar.

I need to go back for the sunset shots.
I downloaded my photos, had a play with my new shutter release cable, then started a fire while Col is making a mix for the camp oven damper.
It's now 1720hrs. I'll have to hike back up for the sunset shot soon.

Getting tips on photography again, from our camping neighbour. He was also at Rainbow Valley last night.

Col cooked tea tonight while Jordan and I played with photography. Chicken schnitzel, corn cobs in the coals, vegetables and pasta carbonara (dehydrated pack), followed by plain damper for the kids and fruit damper for us.
I did my first time-lapse photo, Castle Rock by moonlight!

The whole group of us had another talk by the ranger around a group fire where we also all sang happy birthday to one of the ladies.
I then had another play with a time lapse photo (only 1 minute due to the bright moon) of the starry sky over Chamber's Pillar.

Wow...this is fun!!
Our neighbours then joined us at our fire for a chat and a glass of wine. He gave lots of advice on photography. They are just starting a 6 month trip. Lucky ducks!