Monday 12/7/2010 Geraldton Bore to Len Beadell's Tree

(Geraldton Bore to Len Beadell's Tree)

Up at 0620hrs. Lovely warm night of 4C. Emptied the remainder of our water tank as it tasted funny (?plastic) and refilled with water from the bore. Graham filled up also and says it is good safe water that he always uses. It is pumped from 60m below ground.

This held us up and we left at 0900hrs Passing a termite city, it is like sitting in a massage chair with the corrugations, driving 30km/hr. 

I wrote in the visitor's book at Everard Junction and looked at Len Beadell's plaque. This is where our friends left us to head north.

I drove from Everard Junction to Mount Beadell. Cool! An average of 30km/hr through corrugations, sand, mud and water. After morning tea at Mount Everard we saw a pack of about 10 camels which Col and the kids jumped out to film. Chasing them all over the hill.

Arrived at Mount Beadell at 1250hrs. Had lunch, climbed the mountain and saw Len beadell's theodelite memorial.

Thryptomine Hill Bore (1500hrs) only had a couple of trees, with mud under them from the bore, so we continued to camp at Len Beadell's tree which was much nicer.

Arrived at 1600hrs and only passed 1 other car today. Lone campers tonight. Got to make our own fire. The kids seem to be having a bit of a melt down. I think they will need a break from the constant unpacking, packing and driving soon. Jordan had a cry when yelled at by her father.

Getting here at a decent time was good though. Jack was running around wildly exploring and playing games, while Jordan curled up in a chair with a milo. I finished downloading my photos and video clips. Col made a big fire and dug a hole for the dunny. We ate well as usual, had a glass of wine by the fire, took a family shot using Lisa's tripod and had an early night.

 

Sunday 11/7/2010 Bowanoo Rock Hole to Geraldton Bore

(Bowanoo Rock Hole to Geraldton Bore)
Up at 0630hrs, had brekkie, watched the sun rise over the rockpool, the kids played on the rope swing, and packed up and left by 0800hrs.

Originally only about 240km of graded dirt road planned for today but we will probably end up pushing on to get more time to do the rough stuff. It was such a mild night. It felt as if it would have been as high as 5C.
The dirt road was good, driving at 80km/hr. There were lots of kangaroos and galahs.
Jack is up to date with writing his diary and has read two books already. Jordan is re-reading her school novel. She is falling behind with her digital diary as her computer won't hold a charge and she gets car sick using it as we go. We'll have to T/F it to my computer so she doesn't fall behind.
She seems worn out. She slept for an hour in the car this morning.
We passed Wongawol station at 1045hrs and haven't seen another car yet today.
We arrived at Mingol Camp at 1120hrs. This was originally where we were going to camp, but we've decided to push on to the next site to get a spare day up our sleeves in case we need it with the upcoming rough 4WDing and corrugations.

Mingol Camp was set up at a deep water filled creek with large white gums and a couple of large grey parrots. It seems to be a well set up and well used drovers camp with permanent shelter, table, seats, shelves and an old metal woodfire camp oven. Even old camp beds of chainmesh. (You need permission from Wongowol to camp here).

Instead of morning tea we went straight to lunch (the usual of sandwiches, ham, avocado, corn relish, tomato, cheese and spreads etc).
A quick lunch, then we left at midday, seeing kangaroos, emus and cows on our way to Carnegie Station.

Arrived here at 1250hrs filling up with fuel at $2.50/L. (55L for $137.50). We didn't meet the station owners, just a young employee who seemed a bit grumpy. I think we woke her up. The kids played with the 2 dogs while I checked out the little orchard in their front yard.
The first car we passed was just east of Carnegie (they were heading west). Big waves to each other. Then a whole group of seven 4WDs heading west.
Jordan and Jack are trying to make up their own secret language at the moment (a code for secret written communication).
Now we've been overtaken by a Landcruiser Troopy. Eating their dust. No load though so they must work on the property.
It was only 1515hrs when we arrived at Mount Lambert.

We placed our rocks on the cairn and enjoyed the 360 degree views while eating afternoon tea.
The road is still easy. Lots of small knee high termite mounds and an old truck that didn't make it. Beautiful white gums surrounding Mungkili Claypan and four wild camels just east of the claypan and 3 more 4WDs heading west.

It becomes rough 20km west of Geraldton Bore with our speed dropping to around 40km/hr.

Jack spotted a dingo just before pulling in to camp at Geraldton Bore at 1640hrs.
There were 2 other 4WDs here. Three men that invited us to join their campfire. They went and had a wash at the bore while we set up camp. The bore water is quite warm.
They were lovely guys, real Crocodile Dundee types (or really Indiana Jones). They have ancient maps with far more tracks marked. They do their own off track exploring and refind old explorer's sites. They know all the Aboriginal Communities and a lot of them by name. It was great listening to their stories and advice.