tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13196582590154213042024-03-07T21:54:58.737+08:00sharkcavers blogsharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-59290759632714365372019-05-30T18:32:00.002+08:002019-05-30T18:32:55.505+08:00Its still got knobs on it (the trip)22 - 29th May, 2019<br />
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under construction<br />
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<b><u>Trip Stats:</u></b><br />
<u><br /></u> 6 nights under canvas + one in a mine site donga<br />
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2615km travelled<br />
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303L fuel used<br />
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trip average of 11.6L/100<br />
(worst 13.3, best 10.3)<br />
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cost of fuel $478<br />
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camp fees total $0 👍<br />
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With 6 nights under canvas on this trip, the yearly tally stands at 27. Does not include the donga on the 27th.<br />
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<b><u>trip vids:</u></b>sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-46196391870466774502019-05-30T18:09:00.000+08:002019-08-09T11:20:18.006+08:00It's still got knobs on it (the little walk)24 - 25th May, 2019<br />
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The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. I must be barking mad. For you see, 12 months after the accomplishment of getting out to Nichol's Knob on foot, I am doing it again. Yep, that's batshit crazy alright.<br />
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Nichols Knob, named by explorer Frank Hann in 1908, after one of his camels that died at the spot, lies some 130Km's North East of Laverton as the crow flies, in the Great Victoria Desert. Just a small lump of rock in an otherwise large plain of spinifex. If you blink you would miss it.....That said, I wouldn't mind betting the number of white men that have been here could be counted on less than two hands. No roads or tracks lead to this place and a vehicle entry (if you are brave enough) will have you bashing through virgin desert, mulga and spinifex for a minimum of 15Km's one way. The closest habitation is 60Km to the South at an indigenous community (Cosmo Newbery) or (if occupied at the time), Lake wells Station some 30Km's to the North. Such is the remoteness of the place.<br />
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Having been one of only 3 people that have found the geocache at that location, I feel a custodianship towards the cache. When there last year, I noted that the logbook has been water damaged and the 3 finders all had to fill out a scrap of paper to prove they had physically got to ground zero. I had been looking for another adventure, so I conjured up the idea of going back. The plan would be to take a new log book out with me for future finders. The problem was my feet were telling me ...nooooo! They remembered the pain they were put through last time.<br />
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So a few months beforehand, I purchased an ex army ammo can and a dry box. The plan was to carry the ammo can out to site, with the drybox inside that with a fresh logbook. This should future proof the cache. Unless caught out by fire, an ammo can will survive for an extremely long period, especially in such an arid landscape.<br />
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This blog entry will describe my overnight walk. The road trip, I will write up separately.<br />
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Two days after leaving home, I arrived at base camp, early afternoon. I therefore proceeded to set up camp. I was planning on being here 3 days. So along with all my usual clobber, I had to set solar going too.<br />
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It was an easy afternoon really, however, the flies were terrible. It was so different to last year. Also different was taking on-board the lessons learnt from the last expedition. Where as I did it very rough, last year - no tent, no sleeping gear, minimal water, and even an evening meal, this year I geared up accordingly. A new pack, a bivvy for protection, a sleep mat, a sleeping bag, more water and a dehydrated meal. Something I struggled with last year big time was having no chair. I cant believe how hard this was without one. So seating in the form of a little stool came along too. All this comes with an additional weight penalty though. I was a spent force when I returned last year and now with more weight to carry, I reckoned I would fare worse. I did a 20Km overnight hike the weekend prior to both break in my new hike boots and my legs/back with the additional weight. I did no training whatsoever last year.<br />
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Prior to sunset, I pre packed all my gear ready for an early morning departure. A few bevvies after dinner by the fire and it was time to retire for the night. The pain was no doubt coming in the morning.<br />
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I had set my alarm for an 0530 wakeup. The sky presented an amazing but alarming sight - you know, red sky in the morning, sailors warning:<br />
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A quick bite to eat, now dressed to kill and I was ready to depart at 0630 with a +15Kg pack on my back and I was carrying a 3L water bladder and an ammo can in an additional bag. Not for the feint hearted hey!<br />
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The plan at this stage was just to get to the mid point: Approximately 8Km as the crow flies. Once there, I would drop the waterbag as a reserve supply for the trip home. I had run out at this point last year and had to do the last 8Km without water. Not a good option. I had also broken the journey into 8 waypoints to help minimise the cross track error and reduce the kilometres under foot.<br />
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The first couple of kilometres were pretty easy. I was fresh and the ground was open. Good walking country and I was averaging 4Km/h speed over ground. The weather was a bit on the overcast side and this made for nice cool walking conditions. But I had an issue: It hadn't rained out here for ages and today it looks threatening. I have not packed any wet weather gear.....<br />
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I knew from last year though, the ground would change and soon after waypoint 2, the open ground finished and the mulga and spinifex started with a vengance:<br />
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This spinifex and mulga country is a lot harder to walk and presents some dangers. The last thing I needed was to be greeted by a mulga snake, or worse, having a spinifex adder strike me from behind as I put my foot over a clump of spinny. Fate was in the hands of god now.<br />
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A couple of kilometres of spinny and I was greeted with some more open country to the midpoint. Another difference from last year was the amount of animal tracks in the sand. camel, roo, dingo and emu prints were everywhere. last year there was only a couple of isolated patches of camel print. I really wasn't keen on meeting any angry bull camel, so if I never saw one, I would be happy.<br />
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It had taken me about 2 hours to get to the midpoint, so I was keeping my 4km/h speed over ground average. Here I had a break for 1/2 an hour or so. I still had a long way to go, so looking after ones feet was a must. Carrying that extra bag was a bit of a pain too, but now I could drop the 3 litres of water and just contend with the ammo can. The feet and back were faring up pretty well at this stage - which was just as well with another 24 odd Km's to go.<br />
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A feed, a rest and a drink and I had to push on. I took a different route from last year at this point. A more direct one, but google earth imagery showed it may be a bit rougher due to mulga. Only one way to find out I guess.<br />
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I crossed the creek bed I discovered last year. I still marvel at such a wonder in an extremely arid environment.<br />
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As google earth had shown, pretty soon I was into thick mulga/spinifex. That stretch was the hardest slog of the trip. And the one place I saw more wildlife than the rest combined. A few roo's were spotted and again I was wary, a lesson learnt from last year when one of the buggers charged me. this time however, we were both happy in the fact that if we left each other alone, we could both go on happy. I do wonder how many people these roo's may have seen in the past, not many, if any at all I reckon.<br />
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And then it happened. Deep in thick mulga and spinifex, now miles from the car, I spot camel. A mob of 4 grazing about 150 meters away. So I stopped and observed. They carried on grazing, I suspect they never even saw me. So onto waypoint 5 I go. The spinifex cleared into isolated lumps with sandy patches in between so that I could navigate around the insidious stuff. The mulga cleared too. The going got a bit easier, which was a good thing because pushing your way through thick, waist high spinifex isn't exactly confidence inspiring. This new route I plotted also avoided the large breakaway I had to ascend/descend last year. Whilst I never got to admire the beauty of such a structure, I also didn't have to contend with trying to make my way down it.<br />
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I came across some old camel bones nearing waypoint 6. For a good 500 meters, I would see isolated bones that I reckon was from the same animal, spread no doubt by something having a feed. Dingo no doubt. Then a skull and finally the bulk of the animal. The dingo's had had a field day. Being a carnivore in this environment, you have to admire their tenacity to survive in this country.<br />
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After a good couple of k's of easier going and nearing waypoint 6, I knew I was up for a final challenge. The last couple of K's was just a plain of spinifex. barely a place to stick a pin between subsequent plants. That would be tough. Just as I was breaking the last of the mulga belt, I spied another mob of 4 camel about 100m on the plain. God damn it!<br />
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So I watched and waited, knowing I at least had a tree or two to run around if need be. This mob of camel spotted me. A short duration ensued which led them to bugger off....into the spinifex plain. I just hoped they didn't head towards the knob.<br />
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Breaking out onto the plain, I could see the Red Bluff as described by Carnegie in 1897. I would dearly love to spend a week out here exploring both features, but I cant ever see that happening unfortunately. Maybe one day I might hire a chopper to drop me off with a weeks supplies? I couldn't do it on foot. The knob itself not readily able to be seen, such is its size.<br />
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Halfway through the plain with about a kilometre to go, Nichol's Knob becomes apparent. Only to those who know (and very few would) as its not very conspicuous:<br />
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I was nearing my target. A bit sore, a bit tired, but elated to be here once again. The sun had come out in the last few kilometres and now the flies were getting a bit up close and personal. I knew on arrival at the knob the fly net had to come out.<br />
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And then I saw it.....that bloody tree on the North slope of the knob. That tree is going to haunt me for the rest of my life. I have seen a picture of it when the cache was first placed here 16 years ago, and I crap you not, it hasn't grown an inch since that day:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB0ea-q122kpCbKFzJRXWZOg2SJmRvt1IClO4FioS-AhYxFwVu0GnSsbOe3JJdxTjf6pr58sZ7Gx7yhUQroJKAgI6TRDnUbJsxIKKHuRE8c3jz7riLTek0Z2CLUZp46D_w3ZB1_1ga3c/s1600/DSCN0591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB0ea-q122kpCbKFzJRXWZOg2SJmRvt1IClO4FioS-AhYxFwVu0GnSsbOe3JJdxTjf6pr58sZ7Gx7yhUQroJKAgI6TRDnUbJsxIKKHuRE8c3jz7riLTek0Z2CLUZp46D_w3ZB1_1ga3c/s1600/DSCN0591.jpg" /></a></div>
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Actually, that tree is going to haunt me for the rest of my days because I reckon I may not ever see it again. Its a bitter sweet accomplishment having got out here a second time, having to acknowledge it will possibly be my last. But here's the rub: as I write this, I reckon I would be a happy man if my urn were ever placed under that tree, such is the desire of finally achieving something that's been on your bucket list for a decade.<br />
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The sun had poked out by now and the temperature was warming. But oh boy - those flies:<br />
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I find the cache is in good order, just as I left it 1 year and 4 days prior. I photograph the only 3 logs the cache has had in its 16 year lifespan including my own:<br />
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To get here I have had to walk 17 odd kilometres and the journey has taken me about 6 hours. I arrive some 2 hours earlier than last year and have walked about 2km less.<br />
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There was also a secondary mission for coming out here. Last year I left a bottle of topaque for the next finder....well that just happens to be me, so I exchange the bottle with a fresh one. I now have a 12 month desert matured bottle to consume, should I make it back. Whilst here, I am amazed as an A380 flies directly overhead, no doubt a Middle Eastern flight bound for either Sydney or Melbourne. To top that off, another one on the exact same route follows behind about 10 minutes later:<br />
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I have to admit, sitting here, all alone, miles from anyone, is a surreal experience and I take in as much of the view as I can whilst I am still here:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzBCymePCzAh18o-1uzyVQi6F0QDxctBSjsGPj6MCbny8qriMeVeaLHhb46cigyvuLeD4DFJmRacduwzutZmO_39j47hOlXfuZTihnQ7nOjGeg7F1WLue4PHsjrtZUno4LdwEMLJ7AHQ/s1600/DSCN0592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzBCymePCzAh18o-1uzyVQi6F0QDxctBSjsGPj6MCbny8qriMeVeaLHhb46cigyvuLeD4DFJmRacduwzutZmO_39j47hOlXfuZTihnQ7nOjGeg7F1WLue4PHsjrtZUno4LdwEMLJ7AHQ/s1600/DSCN0592.jpg" /></a></div>
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I place all the old logs in the dry box, then placed that into the ammo can and leave a couple of sets of my pathtags for fellow adventurers to come get them.<br />
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The cache now future proofed, my job here is done.<br />
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So I have been on site for about an hour now and then I turn West for home. If not for the sight of that bloody 2km long spinifex plain I have to traverse again, I sadly say a few solemn farewells to a place that holds a special place in my memory.<br />
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Trudging along on foot again, I am making mental calculations: Can I actually make it back to camp tonight? apart from the fact I am looking at a 35km day, the sun sets at 1700 here and its too dark to travel after 1730. 16 Km's at 4km/h would put me back at camp at 1730...Hmmm maybe.<br />
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Yeah, maybe not. Factor into the account I am now tired, sore and slower and need to rest for short periods more often, it was never going to happen. But it was a great plan. I retrace my route and about 4km's from the knob, I find my old foot prints from a few hours ago. Who needs a gps hey!<br />
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Back through the semi open ground I go, no sight of camels now. Then onto the hard slog of the heavily vegetated and spinifex field I go. One foot in front of the other. I consider if I can push on further past the mid point making an easier day tomorrow, but that doesn't happen either. I finally break out of the spinifex and spot my water bag in a tree. Visions of Ernest Giles and his waterbag in a tree come flooding back to me.<br />
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It is now 1630, I have walked some +26Km's of nasty country and I'm feeling spent. Yep, I'm just going to stick to my original plan and camp here the night. I only have an hour of daylight left anyhow. I left camp 10 hours ago.<br />
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I get the tent set up, gather some wood, and before I know it, the sun has set and darkness is creeping in very fast. I boil some water and enjoy a most magnificent roast lamb freeze dried meal. It sure beats the two apples I had for dinner last year. At 1930 I retire for some rest. not long in bed, trying to no avail to get comfortable, I'm sure I hear a camel snort....great. now I can spend the rest of the night worrying about being run over by a camel.<br />
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Way off in the distance I also hear a pack of Dingos howling. This goes on for some time. I did manage to get some sleep that night, but not a lot. The fact I was uncomfortable all night, slightly cold and the unknown of it all, stuck in the middle of nowhere all conspired to make it an unusual night.<br />
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Morning comes around and it's a bit cool. I am up before sunrise. The bivvy, full of condensation inside even though I left my door open all night. I long for a coffee, but decide I wont stuff around lighting a fire to boil some water, seeing I left my stove behind as a weight reduction measure. I'll just tough it out:<br />
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Before I can get underway, I need to take some remedial steps on my feet. You see, these new boots are giving me blisters, and I'm sporting a beauty on my left big toe from the 20K over nighter I did the weekend before. I need to take care of that or I will be in trouble. last year, the pads on the bottom of my feet suffered badly. From those lessons learnt, I strap my feet accordingly:<br />
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I pack my gear, wet bivvy and all, and hit the desert at 0640 for the 8km trip back to base camp. I should be back at camp in around 2 hours. Easy going for the first two K's, I reach waypoint 3 and then I'm back into the thick mulga belt and tall, thick spinifex. This again slows me down. Considering the big day I put in yesterday, I'm pulling up pretty well, but the feet are sore. However, this thick country is devastating to walk:<br />
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I soldier on, weaving around that spinifex clump, then the next, hop over some fallen mulga and repeat the process for kilometers. Up until now, my navigation has been pretty bang on course. Another lesson learnt from last year, set multiple waypoints, closer together. I manually created a series 2 km apart from base camp to the knob. last year I only had 2, the mid point and the knob, 8 km apart. I found my cross track error blew out considerably and I walked some extra unnecessary miles on that trip. this time around, the 2km legs were working a treat........until now.<br />
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I noticed I was some 750+ meters south of the straight line path to waypoint 2. Partly due to having to avoid vegetation, partly due to poor navigation technique. I always try to sight and go......take a bearing on a landmark in the distance, in this country that usually relates to a tree, and walk towards that. It had worked up till now. I have seen this issue before, so I perform a compass recalibration on the Oregon 700 and try again. I decide its a waste of time heading back to my prior target, waypoint 2, and make a direct course for waypoint 1. More roo's spotted as I punch my way through the heavy ground, but
again, they are happy, and so am I, except for punching ones way through
this stuff:<br />
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My track is back to being straight as a die. Problem solvered. 1500m of slugging it out in the trees and again I make some open ground. Here I come across some small granite outcrops I have to climb up. That tells me my feet and legs are both tired and sore. Its a slow amble in those places, but plug on I must. I note the sun is still hidden in cloud cover and I wonder how my battery is faring back at camp with minimal solar to replenish what the fridge is taking out. I could so go a beer.....<br />
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Did I mention the flies......I reckon I must have had 3 Kilograms of flying sultana's on my hat alone:<br />
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And soon enough, I make waypoint 1. The compass re-cal worked a treat. With only 2k's back to base camp, I decide to take a 1/2 hour rest, the job is almost done. A good time for some breakfast me thinks:<br />
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The sun, now out from behind the clouds, its warming up again. I drink from my bladder in the pack and empty it. Not bad going, I ran out at the midpoint last year but this time I am carrying the bladder I left in the tree, so water is no issue this trip. I eat a fruit press roll and this supplies a sugar hit and some extra energy for the last leg home.<br />
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Again, some more small granite outcrops to traverse, then make my way on the home stretch through the breakaway's close to camp, noting all the camel print in the sand that wasn't there last year:<br />
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And sure enough, at 0930, I make base camp. Ahhh magoo, you have done it again:<br />
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I cant believe I have done it again. Crazy as a coconut indeed I am. But a wonderful feeling all the same. I have arrived in remarkable condition compared to last year where I was locked up like a 90 year old man. This year however, whilst still very happy with my feat of endurance, I don't have that elated feeling I arrived with. Possibly because I know this time I can do it. But it's time to get those bloody boots off:<br />
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I took on board lessons learnt from last year and made adjustments accordingly. These adjustments worked well, even though I had extra gear to carry. I have arrived an hour earlier than last year and saved 4km of distance walked. I returned with 2L of water as well.<br />
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27 hours, 35 kilometers of virgin Great Victoria Desert and I can continue on with the rest of the trip. No doubt with a whole lot less walking involved. Now, where's that bottle of desert matured topaque again......<br />
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I would like to extend my gratitude to a few people that helped me achieve this remarkable task of visiting Nichol's Knob once again. In order of appearance:<br />
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<ul>
<li>David Carnegie, who passed the Red Bluff in 1897 on his way to Halls creek</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Frank Hann, who camped at this spot and Nichol, his dead camel who gave the site its name in 1908.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Allan McCall, who back in 2003 somehow drove his landcruiser out here and placed the cache. With his mum as passenger no less 👍</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>And last but not least, the boys and girls at Laverton police station who had my back should it all go tits up </li>
</ul>
And a special mention to Ayden89, who last year left me some Cognac, and this year provided me with some overnight accommodation and a slap up feed. More on that in the road trip write up.<br />
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Oh and returning back home to Perth, look at all the crap one has to deal with 😎<br />
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Love your work fangirl! Cheers for the laugh.<br />
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Nichols Knob. Site of arguably Australia's most remote cache, geocache <a href="https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCG3HJ" target="_blank">GCG3HJ</a>. With 2 visits now under my belt I can safely assure you "<b>it's still got knobs on it</b>"<br />
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<u><b>The vid:</b></u><br />
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-85521823463530402052019-05-30T18:07:00.000+08:002020-04-18T11:58:47.432+08:00Cruizin' on 100<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
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19 - 29th March, 2019<br />
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The following blog was written for and published in edition #114 of Western 4W Driver magazine:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpzUYmO2sDnyTW70_CeVINJYNG9MBb8qnxS4FRDYoIeQqg92J-VH7fPePXEVsKO67he7E2pxxVxRas5iCYabAx3bRk-b6-Uqt1awF3BnvmhCGJDlVIchR5xYu2U_KNBG1Vwaq9n_CSsU/s1600/Logo-with-blue-slogan-SMALL.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="709" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpzUYmO2sDnyTW70_CeVINJYNG9MBb8qnxS4FRDYoIeQqg92J-VH7fPePXEVsKO67he7E2pxxVxRas5iCYabAx3bRk-b6-Uqt1awF3BnvmhCGJDlVIchR5xYu2U_KNBG1Vwaq9n_CSsU/s200/Logo-with-blue-slogan-SMALL.png" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://western4wdriver.com.au/">western4wdriver.com.au/</a><br />
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With the sting of summer’s tail now behind us, now is the time for planning trips to the north and inland. This is a story of a geocaching adventure I took with my travel buddy, Warren, through the Mid-West and the Gascoyne. It was March, the wildflowers had gone, but so too had the tourists. I probably do not need to mention the flies. May to September is the best time for this region. Our primary goal was the Kennedy Ranges and Mt Augustus, with a personal milestone to complete on the way.<br />
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Our first camp was made inland of Geraldton at Ellendale pool. A picturesque place you must visit. I had left two caches behind the last time I was here, so upon arrival, I proceeded to get my name in the other logbooks. The first one could not to be found and I had little confidence in finding the second. A short walk from the camp and some ferreting around in the bush and I had found another, the second for the trip.<br />
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In the middle of the night I was woken by an animal of some sort running into my camp table. In the morning, a look of horror washed over my face …. there was only one shoe outside the swag! The noise I had heard earlier was a fox, making off with my sandal. This would be funny if I had brought a spare pair of shoes with me. Packing up with one foot in the gravel wasn’t much fun and we had to change our plans. Geraldton was now our first destination - for another pair of shoes. The Philosophy of “if it hasn’t got 2 uses, you don’t take it” doesn’t apply to shoes.<br />
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Missing a sandle: <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpf_XnDUTnWRvmd3zcPiik6mhdLKgCTVtUuQ8AnIVlMnMsx9mKNJX4Au7Z1sU-aFjr4dA4hOsj2eiHp43BdYD81GpFhm19AOalYTz5hDD4vzldbRPVMGBchtpViQDlVE6rPyvEpGWunUk/s1600/20190320_062014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpf_XnDUTnWRvmd3zcPiik6mhdLKgCTVtUuQ8AnIVlMnMsx9mKNJX4Au7Z1sU-aFjr4dA4hOsj2eiHp43BdYD81GpFhm19AOalYTz5hDD4vzldbRPVMGBchtpViQDlVE6rPyvEpGWunUk/s1600/20190320_062014.jpg" /></a></div>
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It must have been a hilarious sight, me walking through the main street of town, sandal on one foot, nothing on the other. Warren deliberately followed quite a few steps behind. Inside the shopping center, I spied Best and less and had a win better than lotto. A $2 pair of thongs. The girl behind the counter in throws of laughter as I recounted my story of a dirty little fox and a sandal that had gone AWOL. But like a comfortable pair of old boots, I couldn’t let my one sandal go, so it was sandal on my left and thong on my right….for a while anyhow. I may as well milk it for all its worth.</div>
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Now on the coast, we decided on heading to Carnarvon before turning east for the Kennedy’s. We dropped into the Gladstone campground, but decided to give the limestone dust bowl a miss for a much nicer place just up the road. Wooramel River retreat, a fantastic station stay, even without any water in the river. It was a hot day, so we spent the remainder of the afternoon sitting in the shade of the numerous river gums with a refreshing ale as we watched the sun go down and the full moon come up.<br />
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Wooramel River retreat:<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKusFYuAN-VlggQCcbKNoqY55tK0WvCLlo8NsgvsW9Co-2xLRZiNLVnmbDcuSWDi9L0-tlTJ2JJulnlcfdpmaDggwtkwbW4pMfUJK2zBDxcmiOCgDMTuCVxCgBdgl0MNRYzUGJfss0eew/s1600/DSC_0507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKusFYuAN-VlggQCcbKNoqY55tK0WvCLlo8NsgvsW9Co-2xLRZiNLVnmbDcuSWDi9L0-tlTJ2JJulnlcfdpmaDggwtkwbW4pMfUJK2zBDxcmiOCgDMTuCVxCgBdgl0MNRYzUGJfss0eew/s1600/DSC_0507.jpg" /></a></div>
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The next day we motor on up the coast and veer right at Carnarvon. With no Geocaches available for a while we go into tourer mode. We turn north for the West Kennedy’s. Crossing the now dry Gascoyne River proved no issue and we ascend the Khyber Pass. We stop for a look at a mine on the way up, famous for its “Mookaite”, a form of jasper only found in the Kennedy Ranges, and then we push on for Mooka Spring. A little oasis in a very dry land.<br />
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Arriving at the mookaite mine:</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-St4060LeabshZQIzfHcw1XrtMQntYn5JY2hwtd5PW4f5s0A5uY0Nt1_U9GWVpR3YWKm6wwVgENYYSLSYMk4Si_iWu88k356Q4bOy6yRoZO4yfxLWnOfV6B7jNWJrfQJrajqXtUlRvDU/s1600/20190321_131431.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-St4060LeabshZQIzfHcw1XrtMQntYn5JY2hwtd5PW4f5s0A5uY0Nt1_U9GWVpR3YWKm6wwVgENYYSLSYMk4Si_iWu88k356Q4bOy6yRoZO4yfxLWnOfV6B7jNWJrfQJrajqXtUlRvDU/s1600/20190321_131431.jpg" /></a><br />
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Mookaite mine: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKP4S95R5hUMXwaQEmqlg8AUCUBTyBgI1a7zJridearOLfyVdRfw7A9BVKEZVTHgtn4tn3V5dbBZ20o0WtYJ484dLy9OkIR0qUabAlFGRSwM08jABd4zYLmROMtsm-VEf7picpghi3ow/s1600/DSC_0519.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKP4S95R5hUMXwaQEmqlg8AUCUBTyBgI1a7zJridearOLfyVdRfw7A9BVKEZVTHgtn4tn3V5dbBZ20o0WtYJ484dLy9OkIR0qUabAlFGRSwM08jABd4zYLmROMtsm-VEf7picpghi3ow/s1600/DSC_0519.jpg" /></a><br />
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Mookaite:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxf4kTSlwYXisSQRKge4tndl3chNYCHqJ4xjovnrwfd7yRBZZkTjEJp3LfGmccHpmmcvRHYvrNFEpe2VBJpSApYUc7YE9cMdMxuDdhlk2ZyzRrLwM7N2n_k0Oqeog1QyRFcqwTs_7CPk/s1600/DSC_0516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxf4kTSlwYXisSQRKge4tndl3chNYCHqJ4xjovnrwfd7yRBZZkTjEJp3LfGmccHpmmcvRHYvrNFEpe2VBJpSApYUc7YE9cMdMxuDdhlk2ZyzRrLwM7N2n_k0Oqeog1QyRFcqwTs_7CPk/s1600/DSC_0516.jpg" /></a></div>
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Mooka Spring:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHRm_3-iXX405WY0oybodHMjoMHxj5_lI4MLBZwwU9gagakl9JNb1XA-3gae3MA_LCkOnp3ZV9XcwRqIoui6xPawX5hXu-mBbrAinwEzogS5ixSrjTqHwig00sh4azWDJ6xa6zgXrGdU/s1600/DSC_0524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHRm_3-iXX405WY0oybodHMjoMHxj5_lI4MLBZwwU9gagakl9JNb1XA-3gae3MA_LCkOnp3ZV9XcwRqIoui6xPawX5hXu-mBbrAinwEzogS5ixSrjTqHwig00sh4azWDJ6xa6zgXrGdU/s1600/DSC_0524.jpg" /></a></div>
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There is a shack nearby, along with some heavy machinery. Obviously, it’s too hot to mine here at present, so the machinery and hut are in care and maintenance mode until the weather cools down a little.</div>
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If we would have found some shade by the water, we would have camped here the night, however, today is very hot, in excess of 40 degrees and its only lunchtime. We decide to push further north for Yenny Spring. It is slow going up the coarse stony track, with its numerous washouts that cut the track in numerous places. We arrive at most remarkable place, Yenny Spring. It’s too early to set up camp and too hot to stop, so after a quick explore on foot we drive further north, past Venny Peak and onwards a bit longer. The track gets a lot rougher past here and the washouts are getting deeper and more numerous. We decide not to continue into the unknown and double back for Yenny Spring.<br />
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Venny Peak:</div>
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Parking in the shade of a patch of river gums, we do something a bit different and spend the rest of the afternoon cooling off with a relaxing ale. There is a trickle of water in the creek here, but it’s got nothing on Mookah Spring. A place where stock was once staged, we find some old troughs and a small spring, fenced off with old wooden posts and wire. The spring is a very small hole, full of vegetation. We are surprised when we test it for depth. A tree branch, 3 meters long doesn’t touch the bottom. If the vegetation was removed, it would be a splendid water source and more than likely, permanent.<br />
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Yenny Spring:</div>
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We watch as the full moon crests the southern side of the range whilst we cook dinner, the temperature now rather pleasant and the annoying flies have gone to bed for another day. Lying in the swag, I hear old mate dingo, off in the distance, howling from different parts of the range, obviously on the prowl in the light of the full moon. I now worry about my newly acquired $2 thong and my old comfortable sandal. I’m still milking the situation for all it’s worth:<br />
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Around 5am, I am woken by the blood curdling howl of old mate, still on the prowl. He is very close by. I note my shoes are still where I left them. With the dawning of the sun, comes the heat and the flies. We find the spring has overflowed during the night and the runoff is now making its way down to the creek. Breakfast done, we hit the track south for the highway to go explore the eastern side of the range.</div>
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From Gascoyne junction, we make the 50 odd kilometres to the eastern side and whilst cloud is forming in the sky, it’s still hot as hell. We hear on the radio, tropical cyclone Veronica, a category 4 low, is going to cross the coast to the north in a day or so. We start worry about the remainder of our trip out here as its no place to be when it’s wet. <br />
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Arriving at the East Kennedy's</div>
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We try to find some shelter in the minimal shade to be found at the campground. There is only one other camper here and he drops by for a chat. I ask if he knew what geocaching was about and he didn’t have a clue. I said I would show him what it was all about around 6pm, when it would be a bit cooler. We start off down the escarpment trail, on the understanding that daylight will be my issue departing this late in the day. Part way up the trail, the GPS points due north to the cache, only some 250 meters away. But the route is a very steep scree slope. I ponder the shortcut. If I can climb this slope, I will cut a couple of kilometres off my journey. It’s very steep, loose and somewhat dangerous. If there is a hard way to a cache, you can be sure I will find it. I make the decision to climb whilst our new found friend stays behind on the trail. The further I climb, the more I know I have made a bad decision. I am struggling to ascend this slope and my $2 thong is giving me grief: the sole of my foot is sweating profusely, and the thong and foot are constantly parting company. I should have put on 2 sandals at least.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A hard, silly climb:</span></div>
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Going up is the easy bit. The further up I go, the more difficult and dangerous it will be to come down. The GPS is egging me on. Down to 180 meters, then 150. Eventually after a lot of climbing, down to 100. I get to the top of the range, and there is a large prominent knob on top. The cache is still some 60 odd meters away, at the top of this knob, and I have no way to climb the vertical face I am presented with. All that work for nothing. The disappointment of having to log a did not find was a heavy load to bear after all the effort I had just put in. Mind you, the scenery was stunning. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yep, its on top of that
un-climbable knob:</span></div>
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What’s worse, the more adventurous challenge of getting back down without breaking my neck was yet to come. The single plugger gave me more grief on the way down, constantly pulling the plug through the base, and the slip sliding of a sweaty foot on slippery rubber just compounded the problem. The terrain was intense to descend, but slowly and surely, I caught back up with my new friend, to make the short trek back to camp just before dark. Unfortunately I had no cache to show him. But I had gained knowledge on the stupidity of taking such a route in a two dollar thong.<br />
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The next morning, TC Veronica had made her presence felt. Although it was still warm, it was very dark and threatening and the wind ever increasing. It was due to hit Karratha, some 470Km’s away sometime today. With this in mind we headed for Mt Augustus, stopping to check potential camp spots by the Lyon’s river. Coming at the end of summer, the Lyon’s river disappointed with its lack of water. The scenery made up for it though, mounts such as Mt Phillips, providing small, isolated bumps in an otherwise flat landscape. From Cobra Station It is a short trip to the mountain where you drive parallel to the inselberg providing spectacular views. Cattle pool prior to the caravan park is a must see, though it was nothing like I had seen 6 months prior. Summer hadn’t been kind to the water sources out here.<br />
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Arriving at the mountain, we almost had the place to ourselves, with only one other here. We elected to set the swags up under the camp kitchen roof due to the wind and the risk of overnight rain – which didn’t eventuate. There are 3 geocaches located here, one I had found previously on the Kotka Gorge track. An earth cache and a traditional at the summit would have to wait for better weather conditions.<br />
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The next morning with the wind howling, we left Mt Augustus without seeing anything so we could put as much distance between us and TC Veronica as we could. The Landor-Mt Augustus road is a part of the Kingsford Smith mail run – one of several tourist pathway’s in the region. A Gnamma hole with petroglyph’s can be found not too far south of the mountain.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gnamma hole: </span></div>
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Heading further south we find on our maps a marked location for an old homestead well. We stopped to investigate. A derelict bore and signs of old cattle workings were to be found. Here I noticed a Mt James homestead to the west. Not knowing if it was a working station or abandoned, we went in for a look and were rewarded handsomely. The Homestead was abandoned and in quite reasonable shape. Evidence of prior occupation littered the landscape. Nestled on a plain surrounded by ranges, a large quartz blow rose out of plain a few hundred meters west of the homestead. It was a great little find and we spent a good while taking photographs and imagining the harsh existence one would have had trying to make a living off the land.</div>
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Mt James Homestead:</div>
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We continued south before arriving at the Mt Gould lockup for the night. Still windy and quite warm we had dodged a bullet. Veronica didn’t cross the coast and blew herself out. There was a remarkable sunset tonight with the cloud starting to break up. Lucky for me, there just so happens to be a geocache here and I had its log signed in no time.</div>
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Mt Gould and lockup:<br />
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The next morning, the wind had dropped off. Heading south, we crossed the 26th parallel and arrived in Meekatharra for some fuel. Warren had to replace his butane stove which had partially failed, and of course, another cache at the town lookout had to be found before we left. With the weather once again warming up and no evidence of a cyclone anymore the plan was to head West at Cue for Big Bell and Walga Rock, both places a must visit if in the area. On the way we stopped in at lake Nallan to pick up a cache at an old railway overpass and another detour to check out the graves at Milly Soak. </div>
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Milly Soak: </div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lake Nallan:</span></div>
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I suggested we set up camp early today at Afghan Rock and we can do Big Bell the following morning. An early afternoon camp, with a cold beverage in the shade at the rock was hard to pass up. Climbing the rock to watch the sun go down was very worthwhile too.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Afghan Rock:</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Big Bell Hotel:</div>
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We moved on down to Walga Rock. If you want to see some serious indigenous art, you have to come and check this place out. There is so much here to see, but please respect the indigenous heritage and stay behind the barrier. Treat it with respect so we get continued permission to visit. After Walga, we had to visit one other place that is essential to see – the Dalaranga meteorite crater. I jest. Wolfe Creek it is not.<br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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Onto Mt. Magnet, we set up a quiet camp in the breakaways around lennonville. That night, planning our last few of days I suggested we camp at Warriedar and nearby by the old Rothsay mine for our last night.</div>
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Mt Magnet camp: </div>
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In the morning I knocked off another cache at the granites just to the north of Mt. Magnet and we headed to Yalgoo for another couple. Checking out all Yalgoo had to offer, we stopped at Jokers Tunnel, where I again had to scale another tricky rocky face, only to have to search for some time to get my name in another logbook.</div>
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Yalgoo: </div>
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The view above Jokers Tunnel:</div>
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We made our way to Warriedar and was mighty impressed with the restoration work Trackcare WA had done so far on the homestead. Again, it was blistering hot and with the volume of flying sultana’s in the air, all we could do was to relax with a cold bevvie (and a fly net) in the shade of the veranda until the sun went down. Something different I guess. </div>
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Warriedar:</div>
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The following morning, as we shot off towards Paynes Find for some fuel, we found a most remarkable old shack a couple of kilometres to the North of the homestead. We contemplated what stories this structure may hold:</div>
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Old shack on Warriedar station: </div>
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The road to Paynes Find was in great condition. A picturesque drive around and across Mongers lake and through Auiferous bearing ranges. The road lined with many Kurrajong trees. Hoping to visit the battery ay Paynes Find, we were disappointed to discover on arrival it is open only in the wildflower season (August to October). But all was not lost, because within a few minutes, I struck gold of my own. Another geocache. A little tricky to find, but I had the log signed without too much effort. </div>
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Fuelled up again, we hit the highway South before turning west once again towards Perenjori. On arrival at Camel Soak, I had added another 6 geocaching smilies to my tally for the day. We made our way into the Karara rangelands and took the 4wd track out to Rothsay. Unfortunately, as it now stands, mining has restarted operations here with the inappropriate “keep out - active mining area” signs in place. That means I will have to revisit Rothsay another time. Which is a little disappointing, but I need to explore the Karara rangelands in greater detail sometime in the future. </div>
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With a planned camp at Rothsay now out of the question, we needed an alternative. Visiting the Sir John Forrest lookout in the Damperwah Hills, we had found what we were looking for. One being a place to camp for the night, the second being a special place to celebrate my personal milestone I will achieve before I return home - Exceeding 100,000Km’s of gps logged trips away. I couldn’t think of a more fitting place than one that bears Forrest’s name. WA owes a great deal to this man, for his services to exploration, surveying and politics - being the first Premier of this great state from 1890 to 1901. </div>
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Ascending the lookout on foot, tools and booty in hand, I laid an unofficial, geocache type hide atop the summit to celebrate my 100K milestone. I had a special coin, known as a pathtag minted. Unfortunately, it hadn’t arrived from the US In time for this trip, but in this hide I have left one of my signature pathtags and details on how to obtain my special 100K one that was especially made for the occasion. This was placed in March 2019 and to the best of my knowledge, has not been found by year end. So, as readers of this fine magazine, I share the coordinates with you. First to find wins the prize:</div>
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John Forrest Lookout:</div>
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The Location of the prize:</div>
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You will need to navigate your way to S29 18.552 E116 43.832 for this celebratory pathtag, and there is only the one set on offer. The great mate Warren is, he brought up cold beer to the summit. When the job was done, He congratulated me on my milestone and I thanked him for his companionship over many thousands of those kilometres over a nice cool one. I had a swig for Forrest too.</div>
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In the morning, we headed for home. 3300Km’s traversed over 11 days and a personal milestone accomplished. The Midwest and the Gascoyne has so much to offer. Now is the time to get your map books out to plan for that winter getaway to the region. I guarantee you will find treasure out there. Cache on.<br />
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Trip Stats:<br />
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10 nights under canvas<br />
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3339km travelled<br />
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390L fuel used<br />
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trip average of 11.7L/100 <br />
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(worst 12.7, best 9.7)<br />
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cost of fuel $598<br />
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Camp fees total $31<br />
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Wooramel $13 <br />
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Kennedy Range $8 <br />
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Mt Augustus $10<br />
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With an over nighter to Collie and a 4 night prospecting trip (both not blogged), the yearly tally stands at 21 nights under canvas.</div>
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-55544942253375411102019-05-30T17:28:00.003+08:002019-05-30T17:28:47.443+08:00Tag along cache tour11-17th January<br />
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(published but under construction. a more pressing article needs to be published first) <br />
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<u><br /></u> 6 nights under canvas<br />
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1238km travelled<br />
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156L fuel used<br />
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trip average of 12.6L/100<br />
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cost of fuel $217<br />
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camp fees total $103:<br />
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alexandra $15<br />
black point $11<br />
lake jasper $11<br />
pemby CVP $35<br />
Windy harbour $20<br />
Snotty Gobble$11<br />
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The yearly tally stands at 6 nights under canvas<br />
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-42906141753622966472019-03-17T20:08:00.002+08:002019-03-17T20:08:14.222+08:00Bagging 300November 23-27<br />
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So I had 4 1/2 days off, with nothing planned and great weather forecast....What to do then???<br />
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With a 4am start at work completed by 1000, on a last minute spur of the moment decision, I decided to pack the car and head out into the wheatbelt. It had been a while and whilst at it, I could knock off a cache or two. By the time I had done some food shopping and had the car packed, it was 1425 Hrs. That should give me a head start on some wheatbelt stuff in the morning. The rough cut plan in my head was to head to Billiburning Rock, somewhere I had visited but not stayed at previously. Making my way North from the Highway at Kellerberrin, a lowering sun on the horizon meant I wasn't going to make Billiburning before dark. So I put plan B into action....Marshall Rock. This was a lot closer. nearing Marshall, A huge full moon was arising, but with time of the essence, I didn't have time for a picture. As it was, it was dark when I arrived there too.<br />
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Having had an early start due to work, the night was a pretty quiet, early affair. But I was in the wheatbelt, just South of Bencubbin, ready for the next 4 days of unknown adventure.<br />
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Coffee and breakfast done, I decided to have a bit of a walk around the summit of Marshall Rock. The only other person here, some back packers in their bongo van, whom I never laid sight on by the way. I was camped around the back, on the Northern side, they were on the South East side, so all in all, I may as well have been there on my own anyway.<br />
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With no real plans except maybe pick off a cache or two, it was a late start. I never got underway until midday. It was pretty warm, so I decided to go into Benny for a cool drink and a cache on the way into town. I was having an experimental trip this time around. No fridge. I just packed an icebox. This would be interesting, as I hadn't used an icebox in years. Could I get 5 days usage on ice alone??</div>
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Well it was going to be tough. Trying to fit 2 bags of ice into a 50L icebox full of food/drink was tough. In fact, it couldn't be done unless I broke one bag of ice into pieces. Not ideal, cause it melts faster that way, but it had to be done.</div>
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I dropped into lake Mcdermott for a look, a large open area is here that one could push into a quick overnighter if needed. I decided Muckinbudin was the plan for today, trying to make Baropin Rocks for the night. A quick stop at Welbungin tennis club was called for....a cache lying in waiting GC5DP35.</div>
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From there it was a short hop to Welbungin Hill. A rather unloved cache (GC5DP4H) needed another signature. I dropped a TB that I had picked up in Dongara and also placed my first pathtag into a cache as an incentive for others to visit. Some 4 months later, and no one has been there since. The view from the top over the surrounding agricultural district was pretty special:</div>
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Seeing I was passing "dead men tell no tales" - GC5DP42, I had to go pay homage to poor old Richard. A grave site out in the middle of nowhere.<br />
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Making Muckinbudin around 1430, I dropped into the café for some lunch, then headed off to the botanical gardens for another find. I had knocked off another hour of sunlight making these detours, so time was now of the essence to get to camp at a reasonable hour, whilst knocking another couple of caches off.<br />
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Making De-Eraning Rock at 1600, I knew things would be tight. I had a fair hike to get to GZ from where the car was parked. The Cache here was a pretty special one, some pretty good aboriginal art is to be found nearby (GC57CTN).<br />
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Making my way up the large rock face, I had to find a path through scrub and granite to get to ground Zero. Eventually I got there. It was mid afternoon with temps in the mid 30's when I arrived at GZ. try as I might, I just couldn't find this bloody cache. Approaching from every angle, looking in every crevice and turning over every rock, I must have spent a good 1/2 hour looking for it. Then I read the prior logs. I suspect the co-ords are out a little, and the cache is on top of a large granite sloping rock, some 5M or so above ground. The issue for me being, I reckon I could get up there, but would probably break my neck getting back down. I was solo and a long way from help. It's no place to break a leg, so I had to let it go to the keeper. Next time I might bring some "tools" to help me find it.<br />
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The cave at the site was pretty impressive with all it's artwork. So I took some pics and started making my way back to the car.<br />
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I had now wasted 1 1/2 hours on this DNF and time was getting on. The original plan was to knock of the sister cache to De-Eranning, but both time and the prior logs told me this wasn't going to happen today. It was time to head for camp. I knocked Baropin on the head and decided to hit Beringbooding rock instead, arriving at 1800.<br />
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I quickly got some gear out and got up top of the rock for both the sunset and moonrise. unfortunately, there was an hour and a half between both events, so I just sat up top and waited. I wish I had my DSLR this trip as I may have got a decent moonrise shot with that.<br />
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A short 123Km day was done. Arriving back to camp in the dark at 2000, it was time to get some dinner on the go.</div>
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Come the morning, after breakfast, I decided to go around the back of the rock to try to find this aboriginal had print I've looked for a few times prior - without success...</div>
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A short stroll and I was in familiar country - balancing boulders:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZ90rmMsgYu8F6BXgZpLdvOI8l7BTSyHZbhLSRE2z6s_5qYJz4THuZDuYZ-wek9dWghl3PLJEckjP0pCsQmAPw8KoelKJYagkeM2uwa9SR6pejZ1GIpUfBcTjkmoIPY7Ercy_p-T7PHg/s1600/DSCN0135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZ90rmMsgYu8F6BXgZpLdvOI8l7BTSyHZbhLSRE2z6s_5qYJz4THuZDuYZ-wek9dWghl3PLJEckjP0pCsQmAPw8KoelKJYagkeM2uwa9SR6pejZ1GIpUfBcTjkmoIPY7Ercy_p-T7PHg/s1600/DSCN0135.jpg" /></a></div>
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And making my way through the vegetation, I arrived at the site, ready for another investigation for this hand print:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6OBmDNbRwNQ_t1kLTdVHrI9kQwzSPk47bjxerlxZRDOGgAYJr3nwBSwj2VCSXsc1IIgHy6TgM8Rif8-ugN9rezDGxL71jZq2VZ15bp6_CxtXn-fqwHB_pIDek1CRZQVKv7HoxzOBhnY/s1600/DSCN0132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6OBmDNbRwNQ_t1kLTdVHrI9kQwzSPk47bjxerlxZRDOGgAYJr3nwBSwj2VCSXsc1IIgHy6TgM8Rif8-ugN9rezDGxL71jZq2VZ15bp6_CxtXn-fqwHB_pIDek1CRZQVKv7HoxzOBhnY/s1600/DSCN0132.jpg" /></a></div>
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Looking up, looking down, all around the site, again I just couldn't find it. I walked the periphery and just happen to look into a gap in the rocks at a time when the lighting was right - bloody hell, there it was, on the cave wall - the cave I had been in and out of numerous times without seeing it.</div>
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Well I'll be buggered. Inside the cave, if you look hard enough, there she was in all its glory 😏. I cant believe I had never found it prior.</div>
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So walking back to the car, I now had a bit of a spring in my step. That made up in some way for the drama at De-Eranning yesterday.<br />
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Another late start, I got on the road around 1130. With no idea where I was going, I decided to head down to Westonia and maybe check out South of the Highway.....A place I keep meaning to investigate, but never have.<br />
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I picked up a cache at Sandleford Rocks (GC2E48A) where I has some lunch in the shade of a tree. Again, it's another hot one today.<br />
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Then onto Westonia. What a magic little town this is. <br />
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<a href="https://www.westonia.wa.gov.au/explore/what-to-do-(attractions)/explore-westonia.aspx" target="_blank">Explore Westonia</a><br />
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I will have to come back one day and spend some time walking around here, but for now, its just enough time to find a niggly nano.....on mechanical equipment. You always know this will be a challenge.....<br />
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But I had it in hand pretty quickly:<br />
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Mind you, the guardian of the cache was keeping his eye on me:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagSUDXz_kNR26jUJyW4q7xiW7xyLScjGllXg3aLd7F_2fLLljTnhH2nuP_0Sa7XP_HUQDWZOlGRBp-juUn-SE_xbVwgAqP7MRcKHR4BJXZA7kGHcfUVu5hyphenhyphenTgSajMSKuKGDant-CqxKw/s1600/DSCN0140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagSUDXz_kNR26jUJyW4q7xiW7xyLScjGllXg3aLd7F_2fLLljTnhH2nuP_0Sa7XP_HUQDWZOlGRBp-juUn-SE_xbVwgAqP7MRcKHR4BJXZA7kGHcfUVu5hyphenhyphenTgSajMSKuKGDant-CqxKw/s1600/DSCN0140.jpg" /></a></div>
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Another find at the town entrance and it was time for the highway to continue the journey on the South side:<br />
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Making a DNF on a cache at Bodallin, I headed East and turned South at Yellowdine. There are a couple of caches down here and I veered off track for one near a salt lake. You have to cross the lake to get to the hide. Unfortunately, I had a bit of water on this track - obviously a storm had rolled through at some stage - and this had me a bit worried about driving across a wet salt lake, solo and unassisted. When the vegetation closed in, that sealed my fate. I turned around. I will leave that one for another day. No point being a hero.</div>
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Soon after, I made Mt Palmer and knocked off the cache here (GC6K8XW) then made my way back to the old Mt palmer Hotel for tonight's camp.</div>
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What an amazing place. The ruins of the Old hotel is the most significant feature of the area, but with a beer in hand, I went for a short stroll and found the remnants of a now defunct gold mining township.</div>
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A more respectable 260Km's for the day done.<br />
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Morning dawns and the weather is looking a little sus. I suspect it will burn off during the day. With coffee duties done and a nice omelette to boot, it's time to hit the tracks for Marvel loch at 0900. After 3 days of pretty warm temps, I am needing some ice. I am right for the time being, but I reckon tomorrow I will be out, so best to resupply whilst I can, in Marvel Loch.<br />
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All these tracks South of the highway from yellowdine are an unknown entity to me. Knowing the region in general, I fully expect to tracks to either be locked up in a mining lease with no entry allowed, or they will close in with vegetation. but I am pleasantly surprised......for a while anyway.<br />
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I turn off a bush track onto a well formed dirt road. It is too well formed for my thinking, I wonder if its a private haul road?<br />
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Some 10Km's later, I find the answer....yep, it sure is. No signage whatsoever where I joined this road. It really grates me this mining industry. They can just get access to roads/tracks, put a bit of work in, then claim them as private. Well screw you. Whilst I wont deliberately enter a signed "keep out"place, I have no grudge using a road that I just happen to stumble on in the bush. If the miners take offence to that - well, get over it.<br />
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And so I make Marvel Loch. It just appears to be nothing short of a donga village for the local miners. I find the general store - the general store with no ice....Grrrr but the bowser out front is worthy a pic:<br />
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Seeing as its only 1000, the pub isn't open either. So on the ice front, I am screwed. At camp last night, I looked at some maps and decided to make my way down to the Holland Track, to exit at Hyden. Always good to have a plan hey! But this means another day without ice. At least the slurry is still ice cold and my food containers aren't leaking.<br />
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So Another pesky nano is picked off on the way out of town (GC3HZGH)<br />
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From there I had to make my way to Mt Holland. Stopping at cockatoo tanks (GC3HZGN) cause it was on the way and there was a log that had to be signed :</div>
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However, my main aim was to get down to the site of the Vultee Vengeance (a27-295) aircraft crash site. Not just for the cache, but for the history too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-O7NM6Mac3YqQuZqL8_Qwp6mh24YTB_ZJ6LABIMUD_l4zL9o-ADfGOkw852QEEqpmNrbaCRfqiRt-aDBzsj69inKKv-NrKScK68b-oWw48MDbBMVokQoAUJ0BXShyphenhyphen4CDPVgIC0tHFnxQ/s1600/DSCN0164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-O7NM6Mac3YqQuZqL8_Qwp6mh24YTB_ZJ6LABIMUD_l4zL9o-ADfGOkw852QEEqpmNrbaCRfqiRt-aDBzsj69inKKv-NrKScK68b-oWw48MDbBMVokQoAUJ0BXShyphenhyphen4CDPVgIC0tHFnxQ/s1600/DSCN0164.jpg" /></a></div>
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It makes a riveting read:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookantiqua"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "bookantiqua"; font-size: small;"> reference: <a href="https://www.yilgarn.wa.gov.au/documents/134/vultee-vengeance-plane-crash" target="_blank">yilgarn.wa.gov.au</a></span></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #999999;">On Sunday the 27th August 1944 one of the most dramatic events to involve members of<br />the 15th battalion took place in the far eastern part of the unit’s area.<br />An RAAF Vultee Vengeance dive bomber went missing on a training flight from Pearce<br />near Perth. The plane had apparently become lost and run out of fuel. The RAAF<br />started searching between New Norcia and then Moora without luck. A few days later<br />a chance conversation between a commercial pilot and Sqd/Ldr Haber, the commanding<br />officer of No.7 Communications Unit at Pearce, revealed that the former had sighted<br />what he thought was a tent in the bush east of Narembeen. Next morning a Beaufort bomber<br />identified a parachute but no sign of life and a large number of soldiers from Northam<br />were sent for a ground search.</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;">The pilot Warrant Officer J Ingram was located at a remote farmhouse some four days<br />after the crash and told his story. On realizing that he was nearly out of fuel he had<br />warned the navigator Flt/Sgt CL King to bale out and went through the necessary roll to<br />allow him to do so. He then climbed for height and baled out himself. There being no sign<br />of King he headed west and found the farmhouse after four days during which he had only a<br />goanna to eat. </span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #999999;">A huge effort was now mounted to try and locate King and the aircraft. The wreckage was<br />finally found by a Tigermoth on the2nd of September in extremely thick and inhospitable<br />scrub, however this did not deter a search party which included 15th Battalion men,<br />Cpl M Holtfreter and Pte D Wilkins from setting out to find it. They drove a truck as far<br />as possible then continued on foot. After they reached a spot five miles beyond the truck<br />it was arranged that a plane would fly over and drop a smoke bomb on the crash site to mark<br />it. Holtfreter fired his rifle into a tree well ahead in line with the smoke then went<br />forward and marked it so that one of the others could take a compass bearing. A further<br />thirteen miles into the scrub they found the crash site. A large area had been burnt and the<br />plane’s engine was buried ten feet in the earth and the wreckage strewn over ten acres.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999;">There was no trace of King or his parachute, it was believed that he had been hit by the large</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">tailplane of the Vengeance as he bailed out. After the war, his father travelled from the</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">eastern states and enlisted the help of Holtfreter to make another search for his lost son,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">but to no avail.</span></div>
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Just getting to the cache 50m in the scrub was bad enough. the site is total devastation. Just small fragments of aircraft alli scattered throughout the bush.<br />
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So that was a pretty cool detour.<br />
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By 1300, I had made Mt Holland and decided to drive the steep, rocky track to the top for another log signing:<br />
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And then I was to make my way down the Holland for Hyden:<br />
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The next 2 hours was hell. I only travelled a mere 23km, it was all stop/start/think and pick a route through very deep puddles and ruts without causing vehicle damage. Very early on I copped a bit hit to the front intercooler bashplate (thank goodness for bash plates). Soon afterwards, I reduced the capacity of my auxiliary fuel tank and broke one of its mounting brackets as my arse end slid into a hole. then to top it off, I dented the left side fender on a tree about 1 1/2" in diameter that I misjudged.</div>
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All in all, it left a sour taste for me regarding the Holland track, one that means I wont be back. To me it wasn't fun, it was a chore. It wasn't even technically challenging. It was just a pain in the arse. The worst part was that the track wasn't naturally rough - all this has been caused by vehicle erosion from mud warriors, that feel they have to travel these tracks when wet, and then do what they can do to transfer dirt from the track over their panels. I guess rule 5 means nothing.</div>
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It's now 1530 and its looking like I may not even make Hyden tonight - if this crap keeps up. However I made a coms tower and a quick find of another cache (GC2E47Y)</div>
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From here the track opened up pretty much and I started to make some progress. Apart from a large rut I had to traverse crosswise. I got some pretty big air time from the front left hand wheel, more than I expected and I near crapped myself when it lifted. but all was good, down she came, and onwards I went to cross the barrier fence:</div>
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With the last cache on the Holland crossed off (GCVRR1), I finally made Hyden at 1745. Here I managed to grab a bag of ice. Opening the ice box, the carnage was revealed. The rough bouncing along the Holland had tossed my shit everywhere. The slurry now a mix of punctured dip containers, meat juice and all other delightful things. Great. Consulting wikicamps, I found a place I reckon would be suitable for the night, and made haste to get there before dark. There I had to perform ice box maintenance and try to clean up the juicy concoction that now lined the walls of my box. it was only 316 Km's for the day, but it sure was taxing. I was pretty well stuffed.<br />
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Whilst every day had been hot - mid 30's, and the nights had been pretty good, last nights camp certainly wasn't. A cold wind was blowing and I just couldn't escape it. In the end, I said screw it, so at 2000, I just went to bed. Something quite bizarre happened though. I spotted a satellite, heading roughly North East. Nothing bizarre in that, but wait, there's more. It eventually flared out and I immediately spied another roughly at 90 degrees to the first, travelling South West. And when that one flared out, another following the trajectory of the first. As if that wasn't weird enough, a 4th, same as the first also appeared. 4 in a row. I doubt I'll ever see an event like that ever again....<br />
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I woke early on the last day and decided I wouldn't bother with breakfast or a coffee, but head into Bruce Rock for a bought breakfast. I also noted my geo tally was now 288. Could get 12 more before home to crack the 300? I wsas now back in civilisation, deep into the middle of the wheatbelt.<br />
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So I put a plan in place. I picked up 5 in Bruce rock and one DNF.So it's only 0900 with 7 to go.<br />
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Stopping in the old township of Kwolyin, I thought I could grab a couple more. But reading the logs, some walking was involved and I just didn't have the time to pick them off. I needed quicker ones. So a detour to Mt Stirling and I had another one bagged. Mind you, that one wasn't quick either, it had taken me 45 Minutes for the one find (GC11XA0)<br />
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Now with 5 to go, I picked off 2 at the pink lake (which wasn't pink) , one being an earth cache and then another 2 in town. I was now at 299.<br />
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Merredin was looking good to bag 300. I drove up an appropriate named street, to the top of Cunderdin Hill. A bit of looking around and I had hit my target. 300 Finds. You lil ripper. It wasn't planned before I left, but I made it happen once I realised I was so close.<br />
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Time now being 1415, meant I was going to have to fight peak hour traffic across town when I got there. I arrived home at 1730, exhausted but exhilarated at the same time. The largest day of my 5 days on the road with 440Km's driven.<br />
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I love trips like this....no plans, just go and see what happens. This is living!<br />
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Then, I noted that I finish 2018 with a rather tantalising milestone to achieve in 2019.<br />
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I will chalk up 100,000 Km's of trips away since 2011. I've been every where man.....<br />
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And fuel usage for 2018 was substantial too:<br />
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I have a pathtag in production to mark the milestone. They will be starting to be placed in caches once I hit the target.<br />
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Bring on a mighty big 2019.<br />
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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</u> 4 nights under canvas<o:p></o:p><br />
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1502km travelled<o:p></o:p><br />
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168L fuel used<o:p></o:p><br />
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trip average of 11.2L/100<o:p></o:p><br />
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cost of fuel $263<br />
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camp fees $0 - No camp fee's out here <span style="font-family: "segoe ui symbol" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Symbol";">👍</span>.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Finishing the year off with 42 nights under canvas<br />
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-70605953277240070412019-03-16T08:50:00.001+08:002019-03-16T08:50:23.792+08:00Wooramel WoesOctober 23-31<br />
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With 10 days up my sleeve and my partner in crime, Warren all lined up to come, we had to formulate a plan to visit some more of this spectacular state. Having done 3 trips this year already out into the Great Victoria Desert, it was time for a change. I had two thoughts of localities and put them to Warren. We could do a Wheatbelt/Goldfields tour (something well overdue on my schedule) or try something different: maybe up into the Murchison region. We decided on the latter. Time would tell if going a bit later in the year would be a good thing or not.<br />
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So Tuesday morning, I arranged to meet Warren on the freeway. Best laid plans go astray. He rang me when he was getting close to my abode, so I got on the road and made contact via radio. I turned up the freeway, expecting to pull up in an emergency lane for him to join me. Radio coms started to get scratchy (which was concerning), and soon after, non existent. Oh crap, here we go again, visions of new years eve coming back to haunt me. This time though, I had phone coverage and made a call. Somewhere, somehow, our coms had got mixed up and Warren didn't turn onto the freeway, but decided on a parallel running road a few Km's east of me. Ok, I said, I will meet you on that road, just past an intersection we both knew. I arrived first, and soon enough, I had Warren waiting at the traffic lights behind me, so I slowly made progress northwards until we were joined. Disaster averted!<br />
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The plan for today was to head into some unknown country, camp up at a site I had never visited, Coal Seam Conservation park. On the way, I would knock off a cache or two, too.<br />
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First port of call was Mingenew, where a drive up to the lookout produced the first cache for the trip. The weather warming and the sky sultana's getting friendly, we continued North.<br />
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It was only a short hop from here onto Coalseam, and we had arrived pretty early, so a drive around was called for. A month earlier and it would have been nothing short of spectacular. Blankets of now dead wildflowers were covering the ground in blankets. It would have been so colourful here back then, with the wildflower season this year a pretty good one. So I knocked off another cache and we went to set up camp early. It was great being camp and able to just sit back and casually set up for the night with a beer in hand.</div>
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Pre dinner and before dark, Warren and myself walked across the river to check out an old shaft that had been dug chasing one of those seams of coal. The dark patches that can be seen in the river bed on the left are some of those seams meeting the river.</div>
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A leisurely 400Km day and we got down to business of making dinner. Unfortunately for Warren, he cut his finger and we had a bit of first aid training to put to use. Little did we know what the next 9 days had in store for us. We spent the night listening to a recording of Len Beadell recounting his exploits of work in the interior, opening up country and cutting tracks through virgin desert. Whilst it is known he was a hard man to work for, he is the most humorous and interesting fellow to listen to. I sat there spell bound, picturing in my mind his stories to the tracks of his I have travelled. A take your hat off to kind of guy.</div>
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Day 2 and we hit the road North. A cache or two on the way breaking up the journey. A stop at Butterabby graves was an unexpected find. A tale of woe of indigenous resistance nd the subsequent reprisal of the justice system of the time. Further reading can be had here:<br />
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<a href="http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/PrintSingleRecord/8f49c495-8250-457e-aead-c3dcd12c6eff" target="_blank">Butterabby Graves history</a><br />
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And so it was in short time we made Mullewa. The town has a reputation I don't need to go into here, but our expectations were blown away. A couple of hours in the town, with a cache knocked off as well, we both left town in awe. To spend a couple of days here would be easy to do. Something we must do at some stage in the future.</div>
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Heading North now, the country becoming more hostile, we dropped into Stockmans pool for a look. Whilst the weather was still quite warm, the clouds had Moved in.<br />
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A couple of hundred K's up the well formed gravel road we hit Murchison Roadhouse. A great place for fuel and an oasis in very dry, parched country. Green grass everywhere and a magnificent looking campground. With fuel and an ice cream down, we continued on. The plan to be at Bilung pool later that afternoon.<br />
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Passing the turn off to Errabiddy Bluff, we ventured in for a quick look. Whilst we didn't really have the time to spare, and the fact it was pretty warm, it would be great to climb the bluff and explore the surrounding hills at another time.</div>
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I love all this country out here. I have read A.C Gregory's journals from the mid 1800's exploring the area and I have always wanted to explore out here. This trip however, I can only touch base. maybe another time I can put in some research and find further places to explore in the region?<br />
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<a href="http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gregory-sir-augustus-charles-3663" target="_blank">A C Gregory</a><br />
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With time getting on, we reached the Wooramel River around 1730 in the afternoon. my mate Trev, told me of a little known place here, the Wooramel River Gorges. Not finding a lot on the net, I had found a track on Google Earth that looked like what Trev had described. So Warren and myself shot up the said track. <br />
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A little rough, but nothing extravagant, I had an over voltage alarm pop up on the ultra gauge. That was weird. And a kilometre further on, a second instance. I said to Warren I would check under bonnet to make sure all was ok, but first, we need to grab some pictures, so we can get to Bilung before dark.<br />
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With pictures done, it was time for the last 20 odd K's to camp. Jump in the car, turn the key and click...click...click....<br />
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Crap.<br />
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Popping the bonnet revealed nothing to the eye, so out with a multimeter. When trying to crank, my battery voltage was dropping below 10V. That's not good. So I figured we would just jump start it, get to camp and look at the problem in the morning.<br />
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Best laid plans gone astray, this battery want having anything of jump starting. We were stuck here. With a fair wind howling and the sun going down fast, it was time to make camp: where I had stopped. Which was rather inopportune, because I wasn't exactly positioned for camping where I stood. Anyway, we just had to make do with what we had, hoping I didn't need to go for a wee walk in the middle of the night, cause only meters away was a fair drop.....<br />
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Come the morning, I decided the only course of resolution was to remove my aux battery and place it under the bonnet for starting duties. A major inconvenience because all my accessories power is fed by that battery - fridge and all.<br />
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Having to pull all the rear end of the car apart just to get to the battery was a pain too:<br />
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But it beats walking.<br />
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With the starter battery out, I delved a little deeper to investigate a front end squeak that had also developed that day. My fears were realised when I found the strut shaft wasn't in center - again....the upper strut mount has failed after being replaced only 6 months ago, with very little rough work in between. Not happy Jan.<br />
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There is nothing I could do about the strut for now. I just had to limp it through the trip. Fitting the aux batter under the bonnet was a struggle too. It was a bit high and I couldn't stretch the negative lead to fit. Ferreting around in my kit, I find a piece of bar, part of an exhaust bracket bent in an L shape with a hole each end.In the best bush mechanics style, I put a shifter on each end, bent it sort of straight, and now I had a busbar I could bolt to the battery and bolt to the negative cable. Electrical connection sorted, would the battery start the car?<br />
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No drama's at all. Thank goodness for carrying a redundant supply. Getting a tow out here would be expensive. So with just enough clearance (and a little persuasion of terminals), we got the bonnet shut and started loading all the gear back in. The starter battery will not fit the hole of the aux battery, so I cant use it for anything. I will have to find room for that somewhere in the car. just for the record - after my original oem battery failed at lake rason on mowing the Spackman, I lashed out and bought an expensive optima, thinking I don't want starter issues again. Well that didn't quite work out either, 6 months and its either dropped a cell or has short circuited. Not happy again, Jan.<br />
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The next drama, how to power the fridge. Again bush mechanics 101 - turn the power on to my rear Anderson plug, and plug an Anderson extention cable I have, through the back door and to the fridge. So I now have my fridge running, but I am down to a single battery for both starting and fridge duties. Not a good prospect in warm weather, but I suppose, we are moving every day.<br />
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So now back on the road, we have decisions to make. I decided to give Mt Augustus a miss for the time being and head straight into Gascoyne Junction to see if I could get another battery. failing that, I would have phone coverage and could see what either Carnarvon or Geraldton had available.<br />
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Arriving in Gassy, first thing I had to do was eat. Cheap as here at the roadhouse, but the $20 burger would allow me to skip a week of meals:<br />
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Finding a battery in Gassy proved futile and a phone call to Geraldton to have the optima replaced under warranty wasn't much better. So I decided I would just complete the trip on the one battery as I had Warren to jump me if required. So another couple of hundred K's later, and Mt Augustus comes into view. The scenery out her is nothing short of spectacular, long plains of flat ground broken by intermittent hills and mounts.<br />
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We arrived to Mt Augustus pretty weary after a day of hardship, but we had lots of green grass. Another oasis in extremely dry country.<br />
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With the dawning of a new day comes new challenges. Warren has found good reason not to park under trees with masses of Major Mitchell's flying around - Guano. His car was covered in it. So even though it was bore water, warren decided that was less damaging to his paint work than the uric acid in the poop. A quick clean and wipe down and he was sorted. The bird life here is amazing .....and extremely noisy too.</div>
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Proving the car still starts, we head off for a day exploring the mountain -</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>Mt. Augustus is more than twice the size of Uluru. Unlike Uluru, which is a monolith and, in general, devoid of plant growth, Mt. Augustus is a monocline (an asymmetrical anticline).</b></span> </blockquote>
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First port of call, Kotka trail. There I pick up the cache 1/2 way up the gorge. Then its onto Cattle Pool:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3nwqN0_GjQXkqdhZOJASdjo3ZXGt8AxHOk4iRDi-IJK7NeCA6hZejOYib9KC14TvVCPsiJPCkWPGHbZX6rEmKggSg6852Z0bHfnyPTM44yV7X-kGgjoNlvUoPyxKStkyVPHQ1IkuaJ0/s1600/DSC_0408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3nwqN0_GjQXkqdhZOJASdjo3ZXGt8AxHOk4iRDi-IJK7NeCA6hZejOYib9KC14TvVCPsiJPCkWPGHbZX6rEmKggSg6852Z0bHfnyPTM44yV7X-kGgjoNlvUoPyxKStkyVPHQ1IkuaJ0/s1600/DSC_0408.jpg" /></a></div>
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What an amazing place. I cant believe how many little oasis's exist in such dry country.<br />
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We walk downstream for a bit and I spy an old piece of machinery in the scrub to go and investigate:<br />
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Lunch now done in the shade of the river gums, we venture on to the Southern side of the rock for the Flinstone rock walk to check out the petroglyphs:. </div>
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It's becoming quite warm today, peaking at around 42 degree's according to the car. So major trail walks aren't going to happen.</div>
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Onto Edney's trail for a couple more petroglyphs:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TZH-ihBbwOtmCx-exJbFe69shZSddyhMVRB0P5SMYolSAKH8VUqQWwZ5h-ievtIOjomcA6FOOCaOEnRy2rQayi4RR5oVxRbD04TqzIwUA2CRAGZ7yQNjNrWaOyX_4bZLfNwFqwjwKPE/s1600/DSC_0428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TZH-ihBbwOtmCx-exJbFe69shZSddyhMVRB0P5SMYolSAKH8VUqQWwZ5h-ievtIOjomcA6FOOCaOEnRy2rQayi4RR5oVxRbD04TqzIwUA2CRAGZ7yQNjNrWaOyX_4bZLfNwFqwjwKPE/s1600/DSC_0428.jpg" /></a></div>
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The southern slope of the mount creating a picturesque view.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH65sb2Flw4C0YUC1KAWtuHiJ_3Yeu5gLYANvD-yc-kHnbIlJSywlgOGEGuHSVMNH22qSLsJvu19NYSqoilOj2D-VKVdJ_hFHS5_z5HTFn3mjE53pOLsL_pRQ_ozPfgF_Uy4ngiwy-uM4/s1600/DSC_0429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH65sb2Flw4C0YUC1KAWtuHiJ_3Yeu5gLYANvD-yc-kHnbIlJSywlgOGEGuHSVMNH22qSLsJvu19NYSqoilOj2D-VKVdJ_hFHS5_z5HTFn3mjE53pOLsL_pRQ_ozPfgF_Uy4ngiwy-uM4/s1600/DSC_0429.jpg" /></a></div>
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I would love to know of the significance of the following figure, scribed into the cave wall. I'm sure its a common indigenous image;</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZwqMmtD6apBaV6sCraHM_S46A1EUMvVKeatz19xDi3xq-heSPs05Vxsb0ZiL8OWc2mTw59H1zvzG64zyBdLaW47dCs6_InQey_lj0CRDMr9D69bnXvSc6TEWaAiBv5kHkW9ithf0p14/s1600/DSC_0431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZwqMmtD6apBaV6sCraHM_S46A1EUMvVKeatz19xDi3xq-heSPs05Vxsb0ZiL8OWc2mTw59H1zvzG64zyBdLaW47dCs6_InQey_lj0CRDMr9D69bnXvSc6TEWaAiBv5kHkW9ithf0p14/s1600/DSC_0431.jpg" /></a></div>
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Before we know it, it's late afternoon, and being so hot, it's time for camp and a refreshing ale. Our job here at the mountain is done. You can only do so much being so hot. the sun going down over the mount makes a wonderful backdrop:</div>
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The following morning we departed Mt Augustus for what we hoped would be the Kennedy ranges. The plan was to come in from the North, but there was an issue. Before we left home, the roads were closed and so too was the Kennedy Ranges. We could get no reliable intelligence at the Mt as to when the road was going to open. It was supposed to be open once we got there 2 days ago, but wasn't. So the only way to find out was to drive down.</div>
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Unfortunately, the road still wasn't open so we had to go back to Gassy Jct. Once there, we find the access road to the Kennedy's from the South wasn't open either, so out plans for the Kennedy's was shot. What to do now......Well I drove around a bit and found a nice little camp just off the banks of the Gascoyne River, well shaded and open. Seeing it was pretty bloody hot, we decided to pull up for camp early here and cool off with a couple of beers.</div>
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And that evening, Warren cooked some apple pie in the camp oven for a birthday desert. Nice one. A short 300Km day was done.<br />
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We now needed a plan B. With the Kennedy's out of the equation, we decided to head to the coast for some cool relief. However on the way, we passed the track to the Eastern side of the Kennedy's and decided to go part way up for a look.<br />
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Until that is, warren got himself bogged trying to cross the Gascoyne river. Well, he was stuck, not bogged in all reality, a tyre pressure adjustment and he ambled out. I tried to con Warren into going across again so we could see some of the Kennedy's, but it was hot and he wasn't keen so we stuck to plan....Carnarvon.</div>
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We dropped in at a most remarkable place on the way: Rocky Pool. We scouted around to find a suitable camp, however, it was again very hot and the only shade to be found were in spots just a bit small to camp at. Otherwise it would have been perfect.</div>
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Arriving in Carnarvon, we grabbed some lunch, did a quick tour of the town then headed out to Quobba for the night. The temperature was certainly cooler and we had to seek some shelter behind an old fishing shack to escape the onshore breeze.</div>
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In the middle of the night, I heard what I thought was rats rooting around. So I waited patiently until I could hear they were near, sprung to attention from the swag to spot the little bugger only to find........crabs, haha. All these crabs, about 3" across had come out to play. With breakfast done, it was time to head up to the HMAS Sydney memorial to knock off a few caches.</div>
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Spotting some limestone on the side of the track from a recent grading, I was surprised to see all this limestone impregnated with fossils:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8onXD9t5LVd4zltZj_aSlVDfLdjFFfGCQzONRSia6eJaslyJ-pQGYVrLjVMNOhDwAiF7IoM7Klo4jI9vt-j3ik9omPll6SVu0T3sqvhm_XN-HsctYuVbXnAlXt7Bz6bJMeuAg714WzF8/s1600/DSC_0478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8onXD9t5LVd4zltZj_aSlVDfLdjFFfGCQzONRSia6eJaslyJ-pQGYVrLjVMNOhDwAiF7IoM7Klo4jI9vt-j3ik9omPll6SVu0T3sqvhm_XN-HsctYuVbXnAlXt7Bz6bJMeuAg714WzF8/s1600/DSC_0478.jpg" /></a></div>
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Back into Carnarvon, we decided we would make Wooramel River retreat for the night. A paid campsite on a station, but I had heard good things about it. And the things I had heard were correct. $13 bucks a night, they have their own artesian spa, a fantastic shaded campground on the banks of the Wooramel River - dry as a bone at this point - showers, flushing dunnies....It was well worth the $13. </div>
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A relatively relaxed short day: </div>
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Passing the overlander roadhouse, Another cache was calling:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtEloQMuokyga5kOv7jxdc9923LrrncceBuCkx06F3UcGQs9f0fQsrvUR5btY9VWOATBDI6WBFd-V7GCFyE3IAumi4unvXMSz6kpr5lI1zrPFbOKFvYdAHj1AHd23Nhs0vJx7z3DWLMQ/s1600/20181030_105111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtEloQMuokyga5kOv7jxdc9923LrrncceBuCkx06F3UcGQs9f0fQsrvUR5btY9VWOATBDI6WBFd-V7GCFyE3IAumi4unvXMSz6kpr5lI1zrPFbOKFvYdAHj1AHd23Nhs0vJx7z3DWLMQ/s1600/20181030_105111.jpg" /></a></div>
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Then we decided to have lunch at Northhampton. The Ploughman's lunch was delicious. A bit different from my usual hamburger.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZImt8gjCQQBAYh4NgeoAYY9hs-F3IY2wJpYHJlql4vvvtP2efZLzoF_c1QirT1UhhqtBXbVEFMJIGYT40CdVIzltYffMgi_F7SaGnBXCzcwFv4ibqxq5S4TN7VXOVKWKBpv7nh8w80U/s1600/20181030_135814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZImt8gjCQQBAYh4NgeoAYY9hs-F3IY2wJpYHJlql4vvvtP2efZLzoF_c1QirT1UhhqtBXbVEFMJIGYT40CdVIzltYffMgi_F7SaGnBXCzcwFv4ibqxq5S4TN7VXOVKWKBpv7nh8w80U/s1600/20181030_135814.jpg" /></a></div>
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But I had higher duties to attend to. My new trackable: All Aboard <a href="https://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=6926665" target="_blank">TB7Y9HQ</a> needed to be released in a rail oriented spot. Whilst I was a bit worried about this spot, being somewhat open and prone to being found by non cachers, I took the risk. It paid off, it was collected by another cacher, who is now looking for a suitable spot to drop it off. </div>
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We ended up at Ellendale Pool, another spot I had heard about, but had never been to. It was a good choice:</div>
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There was a gentleman who had home built his mobile home on a man truck base. It was pretty spectacular and didn't want for anything, right down to its own desal plant and all. It was on a shakedown trip. Funny enough, some 6 months have elapsed from this trip to when I write this blog entry, I have seen it quite a few times South of Perth.</div>
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In the morning, day 9 was home time. A relatively leisurely drive home, saw us complete out trip. Lots of woes, but lots of high's too. We have left room to go see some more of the region, the Kennedy's in particular.</div>
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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</u> 8 nights under canvas<o:p></o:p><br />
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3067 km travelled<o:p></o:p><br />
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362 L fuel used<o:p></o:p><br />
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Best consumption: 10.9L/100, Worst 12.7L/100<o:p></o:p><br />
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for a trip average of 11.8L/100<o:p></o:p><br />
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cost of fuel $617<o:p></o:p><br />
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camp fees $24 - $11 at Mt Augustus, $13 Wooramel River retreat.<br />
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With a 4 dayer prior to Peaceful Bay and 2 at WAGB 2018, the running tally of nights under canvas now stands at 38<br />
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Trip Vids:<br />
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-67346443095458374022018-12-05T17:46:00.002+08:002018-12-06T11:43:39.600+08:00Nippley on the NipponAugust 17 - 23rd<br />
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Although I had been out in the Great Victoria Desert twice on my last trips, the weather was perfect for yet another one. Finishing work at 1100 on the Friday, I rushed home to complete the final packing and hit the road early Friday afternoon. The plan was to meet my work mate, Len out at Mundaring around 1400, then head East for a few hours and pull up somewhere unplanned before dark. That would at least get us a few hundred Km's closer to the desert.<br />
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We got as far as Burracoppin before the sun was going down. Spying a nature reserve on my maps, we headed South and had a scout around. Unfortunately, there was nothing suitable there, however we did find a large gravel pit and pulled up stumps for the night. I love gravel pits (when it's dry, anyway), they make a great place for a quick overnight stop.<br />
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So it had been a long day for me, having started work at 0500. With a nice little fire going, dinner done and a glass or two of red, it was time for bed. Tomorrow would be a big day, traversing unknown routes and not even sure if we could get through my planned, unknown tracks. Time will tell I guess.</div>
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Waking before sun up, it was a cold morning. The awning had a nice coating of ice on the underside. With breakfast and coffee done, we hit the road for Kalgoorlie, the start of our trek into the GVD.</div>
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Even by the time we had hit kal, I was behind schedule to what I had planned to achieve. We pushed on, up unknown roads for my planned camp. However some 50Km's short of where I had planned to camp, I found an abandoned homestead on my maps. I suggested to Len that we should go in for a look. If it had a suitable clearing and timber, we should try to utilise it, because where I had planned to camp was an unknown venture. A short trek down the station track and I was delighted. Old homestead ruins, timber everywhere and lots of cleared ground. We had found the perfect camp for the night. <br />
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Interestingly, what I saw in the distance that I thought was a raised pad for a building of some description, was actually once a swimming pool. What a stunning find that was:</div>
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We managed a reasonable distance for the day and had an enjoyable night by the bush telly. </div>
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The next morning the fun would begin. Trying to see if we could navigate this country and it's unknown tracks into the desert. It didn't take long, some 30Km's up the road we were thwarted by what now is a large mining operation. All my tracks led into the minesite all with 'authorised entry" signs. I was about to go into the site office to ask for alternative routes, when I decided to back track a little to see if we could find a track heading East. And that I did, a feint track that we followed led us around the Southern boundary of the mine site and got us onto the Nippon Highway, a highway by name, not stature.<br />
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Whilst it was a slow track, we were making progress. From this point on, I was concerned our passage through to Laverton may just give us some drama's. The Donkey track we were on turned into a super highway. Now whilst there was no signage at all, this had to be a "private" haul road. How dare they: Consume crown land and pastoral lease roads into private entities. So with no other option, or signage telling us to keep out, we hit the super highway. </div>
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20 odd Kilometres down, with no sign of haul trucks or other mining traffic, the superhighway veered North East of the Nippon highway. We were now on unplotted ground according to the map. I noted a track a bit further on that looked like we would cross. This would then take us down to the Nippon again. So we turned South at the track junction and found mulga and spinifex. We had hit the desert.</div>
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A short journey down this track and we re-joined the Nippon, unsure of what the track conditions would be like. Well it turns out, it was bloody fantastic. Typical for most tracks you see making their way through desert country. Some large swathes of burnt out country gave a different perspective of the landscape. Interestingly though, the highway seemed to end at a T junction not marked on my map. So we turned East and still appeared to be on the Nippon. It would be easy to lose ones way if coming from the other direction. Making the turn off for Queen Victoria Springs (A life saver for Ernest Giles after crossing the desert in 1875, after 17 days without water), we decided to have lunch.</div>
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And what a place to have chicko rolls and chips for lunch!</div>
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Queen Victoria Springs has always been on my bucket list. Not this trip however, we have too much other ground to cover. From here I was worried, haul roads, baseline roads and other unknown entities marked on our maps were in our path. Falling behind time, and worried about the scale of vegetation over the tracks, I decided to give lake Minigwal a miss this time around and make direct line for Plumridge Lakes.<br />
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A good decision this turned out to be too. Apart form some slight navigation decisions to make, it was pretty uneventful. The surrounding country side very reminiscent of the Anne Beadell Highway, East of Neales junction.<br />
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Hitting the Plumridge lakes Nature Reserve boundary, the vegetation immediately started to close in. Nothing drastic, but nothing like we had seen so far either. About 20Km's from Salt Creek Junction, I whizzed past what I thought to be a nice little clearing. Turning back, we were again rewarded with an ideal desert camp site for the night.<br />
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The mornings were getting warmer now and we were getting into the swing of life on the road in the desert.</div>
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Unfortunately for Len, he discovered he had a flat tyre. At least it wasn't me this time. It took us a bit to actually find the hole, such was the minuscule sidewall stake, but find it we did, and now being plugged up we hit the track again but not until 1000. So a late start today:</div>
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It didn't take long to be stuck behind a ship of the desert. After about 3km, we just pulled up for a bit to let him go. Unfortunately, after we took off again,we caught up with him, still running down the same bloody track. With no room to veer past and force him into the country where he belongs, we were stuck behind the juggernaut for about 6km's before he turned left. Stupid bloody animals...... </div>
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Approaching Salt Creek Junction, an unmarked track appeared on our left, looking in great condition. We continued Right and made the junction. The Cable haul road going South from here looked a bit vegetated. It certainly wasn't a haul road as I expected. Further reading once home tells me it was the haul road used by Charlie Cable, in the 1930's, to get his sandlewood from Plumridge down to the railway for transport to Fremantle.<br />
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Having come all this way, it was silly not to venture the 60 odd Km round trip from the Junction out to the lakes. A rather easy drive, however, the track not used as much had vegetation encroaching in parts. Some Stuart desert peas were seen reasonably frequently. The best example occurring at the Junction for Plumridge Lakes itself:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMolEpzHmiAFe-iKXgNiq2swatkySfmCO0YytDLVbarnxjmBIMJvlJTltx2HgBh4zFSIVeV2-UN_0ne5Op0u5DLGqTuiFgh72AnkbRskNjMEJXzg_bNJrpblzbVIw5zCcf2VNRlFDYKEQ/s1600/part+ii+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMolEpzHmiAFe-iKXgNiq2swatkySfmCO0YytDLVbarnxjmBIMJvlJTltx2HgBh4zFSIVeV2-UN_0ne5Op0u5DLGqTuiFgh72AnkbRskNjMEJXzg_bNJrpblzbVIw5zCcf2VNRlFDYKEQ/s1600/part+ii+pic+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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After short drive through some interesting breakaway country, we get to the Southern most point of the group of lakes collectively known as Plumridge. </div>
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Whilst the track kept going North for a few Kilometres, we were happy enough with just taking some pics at this Southern edge. So we turned around and headed back to Salt creek Junction.</div>
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We spotted some piles of sandlewood spoils on the way and stopped for a look. All we could think of was how hard this must have been to harvest by hand, in some pretty inhospitable country. They bred them tough in the old days, for sure. </div>
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Back at the Junction, our navigation issues took a turn for the worst. Thinking we were now heading North up the Lake Rason Rd, the track petered out to nothing. Bugger.....what to do now....well, it seems there is a track 20Km's back towards Plumridge (which we remembered passing), which also joins the lake Rason Rd. So with a quick spot of lunch, we ventured back 20Km's and turned North.</div>
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What a saga this turned out to be. It started off fine, but gradually deteriorated. Once again mowing spinifex, scraping vegetation down the sides of the vehicles and slow going. It took us an hour to complete this 18Km stretch of track.</div>
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Once at the Lake Rason Rd intersection however, the track looked like I had expected. We would make good progress now. We also found the junction of the track we initially tried to use (the abandoned airstrip). It looked great......</div>
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In hindsight, and not before reviewing my video (at home) on our initial approach to Salt Creek Junction....we passed a well formed track heading North (left) just before the junction. This will be the track we should have taken. It seems the track we took that ran out, was the old airstrip. That explains the few white 44gal drums we saw. Our maps show both an airstrip just to the North of the Junction and a track to the North. It appears the track may have been re-aligned at some stage and is now a few hundred meters to the West. Either that or my mapping is not 100% correct.</div>
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Oh well, next time I will remember that and avoid that 18Km shitty track out.</div>
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So with time getting away from us after the detour to Plumridge, the return from the Junction and the slow track North, we pushed on to find a suitable camp for the night. The sun soon to be setting for the day.</div>
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I mentioned to Len that there would probably be an area at the start of the nature reserve, just as there was on the other side. That comment turned out to be correct, as we found out the following morning, however, we found a suitable clearing a few Km's before we got to this point and made camp for the night. It had been a long, arduous day (even taking the late start into account) and we had only travelled 140Km's for the day. Ironically, as the crow flies, we were only 30Km's from last nights camp. Go figure!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTSgllo5GPWKmI8w6IPRfsEsHtsO0mq_iwf3IKm1h7LpOMHZcgWXHZwfgbu6JNAtZoNiyxqSa3NJI0zFXTHS6x4Mp6VMi0yiJpTRZN9g90ojqPDFUNid4LKDaW_VcuU1QjfyZBOXqMSs/s1600/20180820_170209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTSgllo5GPWKmI8w6IPRfsEsHtsO0mq_iwf3IKm1h7LpOMHZcgWXHZwfgbu6JNAtZoNiyxqSa3NJI0zFXTHS6x4Mp6VMi0yiJpTRZN9g90ojqPDFUNid4LKDaW_VcuU1QjfyZBOXqMSs/s1600/20180820_170209.jpg" /></a></div>
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As morning rises on another day, it's time for coffee:</div>
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Len chills with a cuppa by the fire:</div>
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We have lots of things to do today, so it's back on the road we go. By this stage, I have canned the idea of getting out to the Dr Hicks Range, we just wont have the time - I had planned to be there last night. Best laid plans and all.. </div>
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The lake Rason Rd up from Plumridge turned out to be a pretty decent track as I thought it would be. So we made good time. The only vehicle we passed on the whole trip was on this stretch. A few fella's in a 79 series, one with a 7 Mil Remmington sitting on the rear tray, hunting camels. We mentioned we had seen a couple on the shitty track down to Plumridge, and some the day before, outside the Nature Reserve boundary. After a short chat, we wished them well and continued on, eventually, getting out of the active mining area - The Tropicanna mine is out here somewhere, but we didn't have the time to look around for its evidence. There was a road junction to the West a few km's back - with some safety signage - I suspect that is the mining operation: </div>
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And pretty soon after, we made the Spackman/lake Rason intersection. Here we headed East (the opposite direction of 7 millers shack - our intended camp for the night) for a knob with Frank Hann's inscription emblazoned on its peak. The knob itself quite prominent, we had no trouble finding it:</div>
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With lunch now done, a quick walk to the summit provided me with the goods. Frank Hann's inscription: some +110 years old:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNsrAIzSeuDauDOlB-74CDetISgfhs0e5IGnYclFPWq7CNlUegE1_7Tv3ETmDUYwALmjinVPrvbNhzh5CXim2tm3Qh04NYwuQSQKXxxB-QYnYdrCL63alr1dUoZhNKX6u9r-23pqoEPY/s1600/DSC_0281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNsrAIzSeuDauDOlB-74CDetISgfhs0e5IGnYclFPWq7CNlUegE1_7Tv3ETmDUYwALmjinVPrvbNhzh5CXim2tm3Qh04NYwuQSQKXxxB-QYnYdrCL63alr1dUoZhNKX6u9r-23pqoEPY/s1600/DSC_0281.jpg" /></a></div>
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Whilst it was pretty warm today, the wind was certainly blowing. I was unsure how this would affect us at our intended camp at the shack tonight - would we be able to have a fire?? Best we get underway to get there before dark I reckon:</div>
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There sure is some spectacular scenery out this way. I would love to come back and have a week at least, just checking out all the terrain:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtWyYUVvdGO0PBAyK5MCr9hc-1tabWeMLhY1QAE5bU9UQarCy_O34KaPp1FNET9ni0g5VEhEsXdP5tjFPsFzAeHNIQeWlLvyhRQNGcuEBPJJSqd7baDZKnqcpn0cZK6Rt35wueonjj_A/s1600/DSC_0289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtWyYUVvdGO0PBAyK5MCr9hc-1tabWeMLhY1QAE5bU9UQarCy_O34KaPp1FNET9ni0g5VEhEsXdP5tjFPsFzAeHNIQeWlLvyhRQNGcuEBPJJSqd7baDZKnqcpn0cZK6Rt35wueonjj_A/s1600/DSC_0289.jpg" /></a></div>
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We made the shack late afternoon, just in time for a magnificent sunset:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIO-9_Yo8-wW8i4ztYpQf0jPrOig0SechKkurYOgT01VmAFvnoszs_dXRkPzcp7X8I5QJrF2_368Hq6eT9ZFkl61piggLWXddc_X-itoXj725ekTz0xo6bC97HQY3YLAKaRWlt36BUN8/s1600/DSC_0300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIO-9_Yo8-wW8i4ztYpQf0jPrOig0SechKkurYOgT01VmAFvnoszs_dXRkPzcp7X8I5QJrF2_368Hq6eT9ZFkl61piggLWXddc_X-itoXj725ekTz0xo6bC97HQY3YLAKaRWlt36BUN8/s1600/DSC_0300.jpg" /></a></div>
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And guess what: the wind dropped off as the sun went down, so our firewood collecting when we arrived to the shack wasn't wasted. Dino guarding the 7 Millers Shack:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyFmlKq0_QZ959tvNVeV_Dsmrqd_j3V-E6r8W3mE4TpDDfMlYdmVUQqtJ40gQ6cS01hgLs6xCVKMfD_o4E1M-1uStvHdQaBMqQ6Fk73_Cw_DNFWtbIEm-l5dkVtU2XFI9MoT68GZIyus/s1600/part+iii+pic+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyFmlKq0_QZ959tvNVeV_Dsmrqd_j3V-E6r8W3mE4TpDDfMlYdmVUQqtJ40gQ6cS01hgLs6xCVKMfD_o4E1M-1uStvHdQaBMqQ6Fk73_Cw_DNFWtbIEm-l5dkVtU2XFI9MoT68GZIyus/s1600/part+iii+pic+5.jpg" /></a></div>
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A more productive 355Km's done for the day:</div>
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After a pleasant night by the fire, morning comes around and the sad reality that it's time for 2 days of travel for home. More spectacular scenery is traversed on the way out to Laverton, that I just don't have time to explore. best I leave something for another day anyway, that way I have more excuses to come back.</div>
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len had found that his years old steel jerry can had sprung a leak and used some bush ingenuity to get it out for disposal in a proper rubbish bin. I must say, one thing I relish in these remote areas is the distinct lack of rubbish left about.</div>
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Making Laverton for a pie and a refuel, we decided to get some Km's down in the afternoon to make the last day less arduous. Unfortunately, len decided he still had more time to play, whilst I had to return to work, so we parted company in Menzies. len planning on lake Ballard for the night, myself, pushing Westwards from Kalgoorlie for as much ground as I could cover before nightfall.</div>
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I ended up making Boondie Rock just on dark. Light rain was starting to fall after Kal, so I found some appropriate shelter, should it get worse throughout the night (it didn't).</div>
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A more respectable 670Km's for the day, no doubt helped by the fact 2/3's of that was now highway black top:</div>
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Come morning, I was left with a 500 odd Km stretch for home. The canola in the wheatbelt was looking it's spectacular best:</div>
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After 7 days, I made home. Happy in the fact I got my dose of "black fella" feet.</div>
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Another successful trip, travelling tracks unknown, just squiggly lines on a map beforehand. Apart from the exit from Plumridge, all tracks were pretty good to traverse. And I have left a desire to explore some more in the area. I could spend a lifetime out here and never see it all I reckon. </div>
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
<u><br /></u>6 nights under canvas<br />
2704 km travelled<br />
326 L fuel used<br />
Best consumption: 9.8L/100, Worst 13.3L/100<br />
for a trip average of 12.0L/100<br />
cost of fuel $603<br />
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camp fees $0 - No camp fee's out here 👍.<br />
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The running tally of nights under canvas now stands at 24<br />
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-54104791182725536122018-05-29T16:59:00.001+08:002018-11-20T14:38:51.369+08:00It's got knobs on itMay 20-21, 2018<br />
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let me tell you a story. A story 10 years in the making. Back in 2009 when I took possession of my first handheld GPS, I looked into and dabbled into the dark art known as Geocaching - for the uninitiated, its the use of expensive technology to find hidden tupperware (more likely systema or eclipse mint tins these days) in the bush.<br />
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I was hooked - sort of. 10 years later with a tally of only just over 200, I couldn't be considered to be a full core advocate of the activity. However, when time and travel permits, I like to dabble. I like to dabble when I do some of my trips away. Geocaching has found me some absolutely fantastic places I would never have known about if I hadn't gone looking for the tupperware.<br />
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As I travel and explore the local scene, my travels are now taking me further from my local area and into more remote areas. Some of these remote area's will probably not be travelled by myself again, so to leave a remote cache behind isn't going to happen if I have opportunity. And it was in the planning stages of a trip that I stumbled across geocache GCG3HJ - Nichol's Knob.<br />
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First placed in 2003, when I came across it, it had never been found. Such is the remote and nasty location of this cache. With it being un found for so long, To speed things up, the owner revisited the cache and placed $100 in it as an incentive. This is where I first found its existence. I have been watching it on and off for a while and noted in 2010, A Dutch backpacker finally got out there in his disco and claimed first to find. No tracks, just raw desert bush bashing. I would have hated to see the condition of the vehicle when he returned.<br />
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Over the years, I watched this cache on and off, and as the years rolled by, I lost contact with the cache. Until recently......I put a post up on the WA Geocaching page on facebook and asked if anyone knew of an archived cache in a particular area, because I couldn't find it. Whilst my memory had faded, and the location I recalled was out a fair way, Sue put me onto the goods. I had found it again.<br />
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So since the first find in 2010, no one else had been there. And I was shortly venturing out into the vicinity (well, some hundred's of kilometres away) and my interest got spurned. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted the second to find. However, I had no intention of doing this by vehicle.<br />
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Over the years I have read quite a few of the journals of our early day explorers who defined and opened up inland Australia, with a particular interest in WA explorations. I am in awe of the skills and endurance of these folk and they hold a special place in my heart. Giles in particular, a most unacknowledged gentleman for the feats he performed. Carnegie, Forest and Gregory follow. When I travel, I like to visit the places these chaps record in their journals and think back on the hardships of doing this on foot, with a team of camel or horses and no support. It's spellbinding what they achieved. With this in mind, the assault on this cache would be on foot. That would give me another perspective of their challenges and tie in the hardships they describe in their journals in a personal way that couldn't be experienced by any other method. Do it like they did!<br />
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The attempted assault of this cache wasn't guaranteed. I had pre arranged the permit to traverse the Cosmo land just in case. The week prior, I was 300Km's away in Leonora, prospecting (see lucked out in Leo). From that location, I needed 4 days if I was to hit the cache and return home in time, and that all depended upon if we were finding yellow or not. As usual, the yellow wasn't forth coming, My prospecting buddy, John, decided to leave a day early and that paved the way for me to venture out to the area. Once on the ground at my pre determined entry point, I could decide to tackle this cache or return home.<br />
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To put the geography of the location into perspective, I include the following maps below for the reader to gain some appreciation of its remoteness.<br />
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This is deep in the Great Victoria Desert. Australia's largest desert of some 350,000 square kilometers. A desert of mulga, spinifex and devastation should anyone be out here. My entry point was to be some 60Km from the small indigenous community of Cosmo Newberry. The chances of seeing someone out here is so small to be incalculable. So I was well and truly on my own.<br />
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However, devastation was to hit me hard the week before I departed for Leonora. Just before I left, I checked the cache page. I shit you not, some guy on a dirt bike had just become the second to find, days before I planned the assault (congratulations Ayden - a feat well worthy of commendation). No one had been there in 8 years. What's the chances of that then? This just spurred me on more. I could be the first to do this cache on foot - something I think will not be repeated too often, especially after they read of my account. However, every cloud has a silver lining, Ayden had left the next finder a bottle of Hennessy VSOP Cognac. A prize for the victor.<br />
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So off I shoot on Saturday morning for my pre determined start point to make base camp. However, the ground is all spinifex. There are no clearings to make a camp, nor any tracks off the road. I should mention, a road out here is not in the liberal sense most people would be accustomed with. So I explored further to the North. A large breakaway system runs close by the road, and I spot a track going in. Still venturing Northwards, the breakaway fades out and you are back on spinifex plain. So I turn back and investigate the side track. This leads into an nice open area of mulga, with the breakaway as a backdrop. Perfect for a base camp.<br />
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The Breakaway base camp camp, 292Km's from Leonora:<br />
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Whilst this puts me a few Km's further North of my intended entry point, It doesn't affect the distance to the cache. 14.8Km as the crow flies. My god, I must be mad contemplating such a feat.</div>
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Arriving early afternoon allowed me the time to set up camp and prepare for the assault in the morning. By this stage, my decision was made. I was going. At least, going to penetrate the desert for a bit and see what I'm up against. If I don't like what I see, I can turn back. From aerial imagery, I picked a path and set up way points. 8km from camp, I made a mid point that looked to provide the best access to what I gathered to be a plain below high ground. This point was to be my decision point, my point of no return (PNR). To go forward from there meant I was committed to get to the cache and return. There is no other way out. Over the whole trek, this would represent 1/4 of the distance of the journey.</div>
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The week in Leonora gave me a feel for the weather. Mid 20's throughout the day with a cooling breeze, but a bit on the chilly side at night, down to 4/5 degrees. The same cooling wind during the day remained at night and made the temperature feel a bit cooler. With a 30Km straight line distance to traverse, I knew this would be an overnight mission. My plan was to sleep rough. Find a clearing, roll out a thin hike mat, put on some warm clothes and wrap myself up in a thermal blanket. No tent, no sleeping bags, blankets or pillows here, this was extreme roughing it, under the stars, in the guts of the desert. Everything I needed, I had to carry. There would be no support, just myself and my wits against the desert. </div>
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So after I got all my gear ready for the morning, It was time to get a good feed and relax by the fire before hoping to wake at first light to test the waters: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUYWSqMRRDK4larrw2aNSxE8ZfvvD1nAelWwVgsuHMV_s5IfnzKJknEm6EZOIG46B1Pdbv4CPvxk5LbjrmIMiUqRHhvUwVjGEFv35qtLxoHqdhJQFAS7NquE6o5VmwHbyRKXdyKTn0F4/s1600/DSC_0190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUYWSqMRRDK4larrw2aNSxE8ZfvvD1nAelWwVgsuHMV_s5IfnzKJknEm6EZOIG46B1Pdbv4CPvxk5LbjrmIMiUqRHhvUwVjGEFv35qtLxoHqdhJQFAS7NquE6o5VmwHbyRKXdyKTn0F4/s1600/DSC_0190.jpg" /> </a></div>
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With geocaching, if you take something out, you put something in. So for me it will be Topaque in, Cognac out. Well that's the plan anyway:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVszN2rMbjiDqpF_MumXmYMXWwbq3D4mTFsSs1-50Od8XK85SlAS43k8mOf1LyrudWiqARwlw86QkzPVNrdR4aICO-vioMnYNe0TNAcjYwfd_90dTE6-OGDONcsmsfhrIe7f9IKvNm70/s1600/20180522_095320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVszN2rMbjiDqpF_MumXmYMXWwbq3D4mTFsSs1-50Od8XK85SlAS43k8mOf1LyrudWiqARwlw86QkzPVNrdR4aICO-vioMnYNe0TNAcjYwfd_90dTE6-OGDONcsmsfhrIe7f9IKvNm70/s1600/20180522_095320.jpg" /> </a></div>
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Base camp was too good to leave, but this cache was gnawing away at me....for a decade:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqn39OumdmMKFwP2g7dT8OxTWIMI4IIq_iS2JY9GmZsQN8JADiBBhC5ppycUJ5D7xwMTzCyk_caglZWcwpsozFTbpFNY1XvvMnY5_pr9JEd_BpxbSeYLTDNYk-QWAEQAwNqKb3WNaCqs/s1600/DSC_0194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqn39OumdmMKFwP2g7dT8OxTWIMI4IIq_iS2JY9GmZsQN8JADiBBhC5ppycUJ5D7xwMTzCyk_caglZWcwpsozFTbpFNY1XvvMnY5_pr9JEd_BpxbSeYLTDNYk-QWAEQAwNqKb3WNaCqs/s1600/DSC_0194.jpg" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDr4-0eRB3Bb04l1iH-KSzZ9RnHxb3zgfbFjLVxGg9PLdLCrQpIxQHYYK0csR3j_UrEzQ4uXF_S7ouOAJPEZ1zxs7tZ_S-Z50B7oeHvSIWylnyRZQ6OrpuKe_inGi9g1qDzrA5-Av_6A/s1600/DSC_0197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDr4-0eRB3Bb04l1iH-KSzZ9RnHxb3zgfbFjLVxGg9PLdLCrQpIxQHYYK0csR3j_UrEzQ4uXF_S7ouOAJPEZ1zxs7tZ_S-Z50B7oeHvSIWylnyRZQ6OrpuKe_inGi9g1qDzrA5-Av_6A/s1600/DSC_0197.jpg" /></a></div>
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Below is my aerial imagery I used. The start point was a non event due to spinifex, so my real entry point was a few Km's to the North. As I got out into country, I could then relate ground conditions to the imagery. The mid point was selected as possibly the best access. However until I arrived on the ground, the imagery was just guess work, such is the resolution of the mapping out here:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBVEoGhA-ZcSEk-7gjx2dqKT_dM7OBL1yC55GlDfgAjumRuWGF6zsG9pIIHM2Xp6Ev5c64-nKIH_XEhEZxXjFSEGtpuE8oCVmFODdKV81Mjmtp9nbzpA8LxfZESo9jTmvl4mzxzA9QxA/s1600/nichols+knob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBVEoGhA-ZcSEk-7gjx2dqKT_dM7OBL1yC55GlDfgAjumRuWGF6zsG9pIIHM2Xp6Ev5c64-nKIH_XEhEZxXjFSEGtpuE8oCVmFODdKV81Mjmtp9nbzpA8LxfZESo9jTmvl4mzxzA9QxA/s1600/nichols+knob.jpg" /></a></div>
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So, somehow I did wake at first light. It must have been the anticipation of the events to come. A final warming of the hands by the fire and I was off:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImD48_rQHAk9svJdiWlC8bfza19k3YUJvnoCwMrAgNqyXk3-kE9eHmaA2AzdqNssRYghMwPIw7yszMixlokgsfZZ6jx4iObDT-ZWA-QOFW5rTjg_psXaXMXlW-Y8YOc7PvZviKAMUDjI/s1600/Clipboard01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImD48_rQHAk9svJdiWlC8bfza19k3YUJvnoCwMrAgNqyXk3-kE9eHmaA2AzdqNssRYghMwPIw7yszMixlokgsfZZ6jx4iObDT-ZWA-QOFW5rTjg_psXaXMXlW-Y8YOc7PvZviKAMUDjI/s1600/Clipboard01.jpg" /></a></div>
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0650 in the morning, geared up and time to depart. A refreshed, dapper looking young gentleman, about to hit the desert in the spirit of our early day explorers (or maybe that spirit was cognac). A dingo howling in the distance as I leave.....an omen maybe?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYUPcbOOp72OlifVDhmOfUJrbKa2eKsMZy9Af3iD_ectTcVjcsLXk5-ObcwhZFwWKNz2HF44h5jpqr1qExLkEcwyK3hwlnimhDjGf-onipP8ibd6b360NgAz03Q6yzSoHVACl8p0TkUg/s1600/Clipboard02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYUPcbOOp72OlifVDhmOfUJrbKa2eKsMZy9Af3iD_ectTcVjcsLXk5-ObcwhZFwWKNz2HF44h5jpqr1qExLkEcwyK3hwlnimhDjGf-onipP8ibd6b360NgAz03Q6yzSoHVACl8p0TkUg/s1600/Clipboard02.jpg" /></a></div>
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Not far in and the going was pretty easy. However, high ground left a daunting prospect. It reminds me of Giles journals. Days spent trying to negotiate thick mulga. Climb some high ground to the greeted by the devastating sight of more mulga. As far as the eye can see:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Zk0FXJYeK4r1JmfhmJH6Bmz_Lbwsihn83GkQGH5bz44Gm_SKJ76yIWtkXMGxwqo8vXTABqjRm-nIanRKX950QjDWm28jfDJi1AHmoNr5sNPkEtQRrCrF3a82kmlke3qXN_kEZIrh-NU/s1600/Clipboard03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Zk0FXJYeK4r1JmfhmJH6Bmz_Lbwsihn83GkQGH5bz44Gm_SKJ76yIWtkXMGxwqo8vXTABqjRm-nIanRKX950QjDWm28jfDJi1AHmoNr5sNPkEtQRrCrF3a82kmlke3qXN_kEZIrh-NU/s1600/Clipboard03.jpg" /></a></div>
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Mulga belts slowly get taken over by spinifex on the path to the mid point (PNR). Only a few Km's in, my shoulders start to ache from the weight of the pack. I'm not sure what's tougher yet, trying to get through the vegetation and avoid all the crucifix spiders, or plodding along blindly into tufts of spinifex, any one of which could be hiding a death adder or mulga snake. It's certainly not for the feint hearted - only the brave - or stupid!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gBvPAolsfqpY4u43RhBPslLbad1Pji2oXIbbMi8wV7ao3jrTWC6Np-EKMoQZb5RWMMJiCvz_OviSg-nbFX9GHa8a5VZcUf92UlHB43QMCFf7Xvhzbf1BcDkQf-VNiGuUwyMsbHjIE7M/s1600/Clipboard04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gBvPAolsfqpY4u43RhBPslLbad1Pji2oXIbbMi8wV7ao3jrTWC6Np-EKMoQZb5RWMMJiCvz_OviSg-nbFX9GHa8a5VZcUf92UlHB43QMCFf7Xvhzbf1BcDkQf-VNiGuUwyMsbHjIE7M/s1600/Clipboard04.jpg" /></a></div>
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Close to the PNR, I startle some roo's. Two run off and one hops about 30m away and stops. We both observe each other. I reach for the GoPro for a shot, and when my eyes return to the roo, he is charging me....What the hell. Not wanting to miss a good shot, (or was it just to record the evidence of my demise), I point the camera at the roo and click record. The roo didn't like this and quickly turned an hopped away. Unfortunately, the camera didn't fire up quick enough, so I miss the encounter on film.<br />
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At 1000, I reach the PNR, 8km as the crow flies from camp, I have walked 10km. I am making about 3 hours speed over ground. I sit, have a short break and contemplate what to do next. The view to Nichols from the PNR isn't great. Now I have to also contemplate my feet, slowly buy surely getting a little sore. And to top things off, now wildlife. With dingo's howling, snake potential at any footstep, charging kangaroo's and I suspect I may see a shitty camel or two, it's certainly something to ponder. I can return to camp, be safe and have beer by the campfire tonight, or push on, be attacked by both country and wildlife, end up sore all over and be cold and uncomfortable overnight. Its a conundrum. However the lure of Cognac and the spirit of adventure of being the first on foot to the cache is too great. I will push on. <u><b><span class="st"><i>C'est la vie </i></span></b></u><br />
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From the PNR........ Nichols Knob: 8 Km's dead ahead. Promising?.....not at all:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_ILWnS0Y5y4s2hb8lSNc09WhZeOfggFxr_lOmoyct0fXrVhvXZHPau_Z2x0szCQEV1h-EVQ287Tf1TeABd9Nxqy_MBdEVcf39eSgnj-4N178onVfDonfcSt9MSaj9i88sV0M_3a4ZR0/s1600/Clipboard05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_ILWnS0Y5y4s2hb8lSNc09WhZeOfggFxr_lOmoyct0fXrVhvXZHPau_Z2x0szCQEV1h-EVQ287Tf1TeABd9Nxqy_MBdEVcf39eSgnj-4N178onVfDonfcSt9MSaj9i88sV0M_3a4ZR0/s1600/Clipboard05.jpg" /></a></div>
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50 meters forward of the PNR, I cross a rather large creek bed. Surprisingly large for this desolate, waterless country:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-L1g8yLfkEGJYXttyhqIKITCIsieaqVl7E8k5crYMFCDN5xeXEq2WbbLKrarkpBEebalxXtvOW47zhc4Rp_0m5TldxQgsRgrf7ecb-YBAuqNsUdtf3po4uZyzVGlLb5fmNYj0IhOX88/s1600/Clipboard06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-L1g8yLfkEGJYXttyhqIKITCIsieaqVl7E8k5crYMFCDN5xeXEq2WbbLKrarkpBEebalxXtvOW47zhc4Rp_0m5TldxQgsRgrf7ecb-YBAuqNsUdtf3po4uZyzVGlLb5fmNYj0IhOX88/s1600/Clipboard06.jpg" /></a></div>
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The other side of this creek, open ground, sand and granite country provided for more friendlier walking. The camel prints here are astounding. There are thousands of them. Ruts in the ground where they have been rolling in the dirt. If I am to come across a narky bull, I could well be in trouble.<br />
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This ground continues and around 2Km forward of the PNR, I spot I am on high ground. Large breakaway sections can be seen to the North and South. To the East, my direction of travel, I can see a large plain, well below the level I am on. The Sat imagery is coming to fruition. I am on high ground and will need to descend to the plain below. Climbing down breakaways doesn't excite me as I am becoming tired and my feet sore. It feels like blisters are starting to form. This high ground seems to also be marked by a 500m contour line on my GPS. its a massive contour line, no way of walking your way around that:<br />
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I reach the top of the breakaway. A fantastic, if somewhat troubled view presents itself. Nichol's knob about 6.5Km's away. But I am in luck. the point in the breakaway I arrive at has a nice, well laid staircase to the plain below. To the North and the South, the breakaway is nasty. You wouldn't want to be descending there. I note two small outcrops on the plain below. So I make a plan to navigate between those outcrops to avoid climbing and/or harder ground.<br />
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Near the more northern outcrop, again more open ground to rest up for the night if needed. I way point the passage between the outcrops for my return journey. here, about 4.5km from ground zero, I stop for another rest and disaster strikes. My bite valve breaks and my bladder siphons water freely. To be here without water is a disaster in the making. I find that by holding the now broken bite valve high, it prevents leakage. I will have to be very observant on that from now on. Ironically, I had a spare valve in my pack and left it in the car when I packed last night. I wont need that!<br />
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The country once again returns to mulga scrub. Exiting the vegetation about 4 Km's from Nichols' - a devastating view is presented. A long undulating plain about 2km in length, ascending to another belt of mulga high on the hill in the background. Between me and that vegetation, nothing but spinifex. The thought of pushing on in so much spinifex is spirit breaking. But push on I must, ever wary of one nasty death adder waiting for my boot to present itself. Whilst I have stuff to cope with such a scenario, a snake bite out here could well mean certain death. By the time I applied first aid, set of the PLB and a chopper could retrieve me, a considerable amount of time will have passed. This is why I say this cache is not to be taken lightly. You need to be extremely well prepared for these potential scenario's.<br />
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Breaking the vegetation presents another plain of spinifex at about the 2km distant mark.A prominent red rock outcrop is visible and the GPS sort of points to the North Western edge of that. This must be Nichol's Knob. So I put the GPS away and slowly plug on, between the clumps of spinifex by visual navigation. About a1km distant, I check the GPS again. I am wrong. ground zero is more to the North East of this outcrop. I am now led to believe this outcrop is named Red Bluff. A place Carnegie camped at on his way up to halls creek. Nichol's Knob is a smaller rocky knob, not even visible from this point. So out with the GPS again and I navigate for the Cognac, 1200 meters to go: <br />
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Through some mulga, a smaller rocky knob starts to become visible. I am Arriving at Nichol's Knob:<br />
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I am pretty well beat now. I have walked 20Km's over ground through the most inhospitable of country. My feet well and truly hurt, my hips ache, I am thirsty and just generally flogged out. To make matters worse, I cant find the cache in the near vicinity. Imagine going through what I have just endured for a DNF. So I start to scout around. My fears are allayed when I find the cache about 10 meters distant. That tree hasn't grown much in 15 years. There is a picture of it on the GC site when the cache was first placed.<br />
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Ground zero:<br />
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After 10 years of pondering, I am finally bagging the cache. It is a monumental achievement: <br />
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And therefore I am taking the prize. Pity I am so sore and tired to appreciate what I have just achieved:<br />
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In the bag with the cache, I laugh at the machete that's been left with it. A bit late for a machete now me thinks. Not to mention, no machete could even touch the bark of the extremely dry and hard mulga in this country.<br />
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Australia's most remote cache? Well its definitely the most un found cache in the country. But I am now the proud third to find in the 15 years since its placement. The first on foot. You could count on two hands how many white fella have ever been out here. Yep, it's remote alright!<br />
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Nichol's Knob. Named by explorer Frank Hann, after his camel, Nichol, died at this very spot in the early 1900's on one of his expeditions. 20K's walked in 7.5 hours to get here:<br />
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So, this is only half the story. To log the find and be successful, I have to return. Becoming mummified in the desert or dingo food doesn't cut the mustard and wont give me the smilie of the find. Well tired and stuffed I have to push on back towards base camp as there is no where to camp in the vicinity of the Knob, it's all spinifex. I perform a water audit and I have 1.5L left.<br />
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The car is dat a way; Only 15Km's as the crow flies. The problem being, I have at least another 4Km's in front of me before I will find some open ground.....And that bloody spinifex plain to traverse again:<br />
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Pushing on into the afternoon sun was a real struggle. Now, heading West, I face the sun, in the hottest part of the day and I note my water consumption is the highest it's been to date. The cool breeze doesn't seem to abate how hot I feel. The dapper young gentleman that left base camp this morning has exited - stage left, even! You can see the strain in my face. It really is a struggle against blistered feet, sore hips and mind games. All I can do is put one foot in front of the other. I have now traversed about 4Km's from the Knob and this spinifex field doesn't exist. I check the plot on the GPS. I have come well North of that field and have had to battle thick mulga. I'm really not sure what is the better of the two. They both have knobs on it! <br />
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So, I need to turn South to make my outcrop passage waypoint and some open ground to camp rough for the night. Only another 2.5Km's to go to find some open ground.....thru all this crap:<br />
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After departing 9 hours 45 mins earlier and 26.5Km walked for the day, I finally find some open ground to camp at. I am So worn out its not funny. So much so, with only an hour of sun left, I roll out my mat and lay down for 1/2 an hour. I cant get comfortable, everything hurts. So does my face by the look of things:<br />
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At 1700, just before sun down, I force myself to get up and get some timber together for the cold evening about to come. I try a celebratory drink of cognac, but I am too dehydrated now. To drink alcohol would be silly. I still have a long way to go tomorrow.<br />
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I have some cold meat and cheese wraps in my kitty I made for the journey out and didn't eat. Wrapped in alfoil, I could toast these on the coals. I tried the first, but it just made me more dehydrated. then raiding the kitty, I find I had apples. You have no idea how good that apple was. I ended up eating two for dinner.<br />
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Stoking the fire to keep the dingos and camels at bay, I retired to bed at 1830. No matter how I laid, something hurt. I was sure I wasn't going to sleep tonight. Somehow I got 3 hours in before I woke at 2200. More wood on the fire and back to the mat, the pain in my hips and feet wouldn't let me sleep. The cold didn't help either. I got up again at midnight as I was hungry. A couple of protein bars took that edge off.<br />
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Somehow, I must have managed to get another couple of hours sleep in between midnight and first light, but it was a hell of a night. Something not unexpected or unplanned for mind you, but it was extreme. <br />
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Day 1 tracklog:<br />
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Cold, sore and tired, day 2 gets under way at sun up. I have 1L water left with 11km's to go to base camp:<br />
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The feet, extremely sore now, it really is a case of just one foot in front of the other. Keep them legs swinging and base camp gets closer. 10km's from base camp, it's time to ascend the breakaway:<br />
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Up and over we go. Back through the easier going, cleared, camel country and within a couple of kilometres I am back at the PNR (mid point) with about 8km's to go. lifting the feet over the small granite rocks becomes a chore. It's just easier to kick them out the way.<br />
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My water has now been depleted and I have to make the journey back to base camp without any. (If desperate, I'm sure there was more in the bottom to be squeezed out). My fellow explorer mate in the US, George, suggests I should have carried water to the PNR on my way out. And in hindsight I kick myself. I am only too familiar with Giles leaving a water bag in a tree, moving on about 50 miles towards the Warburton Range and having to come back to the bag. It saved his life. And I didn't learn from history. But you can learn from my story. Lucky for me it was early morning, around 0700, so it was cool. If I had been in the same situation yesterday afternoon, then I could well have been in trouble.<br />
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It was time to remove the warm clothing, they wouldn't be needed now. I note that on the way out, I had veered well South East before heading almost due West for the PNR. This made my trek longer than it needed to be. 8km between way points in tough country is too much because it takes you too long to reach the target.<br />
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So I decided to split this route into 4 roughly equal sections of about 2Km each. This had 2 benefits. It would reduce my track over ground due to cross track error (my feet would love me) and it was a mind game to keep pushing on.<br />
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What this meant was I could watch the miles count down and the target always appeared to be getting closer. A motivational mind game - the end result being the exact same. This equates to aprox 40 minutes per target. Once there, I could push on for another. With an 8km target, a 3+ hour walk in front of me and a target never seeming to be within reach, that played on ones mind. So I set the smaller targets and departed for the first one:<br />
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The first target was met in what felt like no time. This target splitting was working wonders. But we are back into the spinifex and vegetation. Then I set sail for the next. Slowly watching the target distance diminish gave me hope. And again, in what seemed like no time I was at point 2. Only 4 Km's to go now. We are almost home. However, I was in pain. you can see that on my face below. This country saps all your energy and spirit:<br />
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And point 3 is eventually made. The country now back to easier going, lighter vegetation and granite.<br />
With 1.5Km's to go, I spot my foot prints I left on the way out yesterday. This spurs me on and gives some confidence my GPS is not leading me astray. If I don't find the car now......I am in the do-do. I am spent. Its a shuffle sprint to the finish line. I cant fail now:<br />
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And finally, the car at base camp is sighted. I cant even lift my feet over the quartz marbles on the ground, but hey what a sight, seeing base camp again:<br />
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I have done it. The first foot assault on GCG3HJ. 27.5 hours after I left, walking 39 km which took me 13 hours, I finally arrive at camp. Knackered but thoroughly elated I am the 3rd to find Nichol's knob. The first on foot and only the 3rd in the 15 years since it was placed. <br />
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An hour later for recovery and I packed up camp and hit the road for home. Sitting in the car was easy, getting out was like I was 95 years old. Hobbled like an old mare. First stop was to log off with Laverton police. I must have looked a sight walking from the car to the station. Next stop was a celebratory beer at the Kookynie Grand Hotel. I made camp at Niagra dam for the evening and had a celebratory Cognac. A most amazing comfortable sleep came in the swag that night. Which ever way I laid, I didn't hurt. A far cry from the previous night for sure.<br />
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It's surely one hell of a milestone. I had to push myself the whole way in country one really wouldn't want to be walking in. Knowing ones limits helps, however unplanned things can happen. In this instance, for me, they didn't.<br />
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It seems every 25 years or so I embark on some novel milestone some may consider fool hardy. At 26 I abseiled the Great Australian Bight, all 80m to the water line. At 51 I hiked through the desert for 39Km's. What the hell will I do at 75? I know one thing, it wont be drinking my Nichol's Knob Cognac. That will be long gone . I guess I have a few years yet to think about that next one.<br />
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Thanks be to Allan, the cache owner for getting me off my arse and finding this cache. I am sorry it took me 10 years to do so, but in all reality, I don't feel I was ready until now.<br />
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Anyone planning a ground assault on the cache, make sure you read this blog entry and understand the implications. This is not to be taken lightly.<br />
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Message me and I will provide you with waypoints, tracklogs and intelligence. Damn, if I can get time off I may even come and be support for you at base camp.<br />
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How cool would it be, swinging a detector, looking for evidence of Hann's and Carnegie's camp at Nichol's and Red Bluff.. I'm afraid though, unless you drive or chopper me out, that isn't going to happen.<br />
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Till next time, I'm going to sit with my feet up, waiting for the blisters to heal, with a glass of cognac.<br />
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Shit yeah - I done it! - stoked to the max I am.<br />
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The ground assault vid can be viewed here:<br />
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<br />sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-60608679291884752842018-05-28T09:08:00.002+08:002018-08-12T19:22:47.330+08:00Lucked out at Leo<br />
May 14-19 (with a side journey until May 22 - see <a href="http://sharkcaver.blogspot.com/2018/05/its-got-knobs-on-it.html" target="_blank">its-got-knobs-on-it</a>)<br />
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With a week off and perfect cool weather predicted, it was time for another prospecting adventure. Problem being, I couldn't leave on the Sunday due to work commitments, so that meant potentially fighting the Monday morning traffic to get out of the city for the big drive to leonora.<br />
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With a new battery installed after "Mowing the Spackman", I felt confident this trip should be a little less eventful. However, packing the car on Sunday, I noticed my tyre I plugged on the Spackman a month beforehand, had decided it was now not going to hold pressure. Great. It had been fine for a month, and now late afternoon just before I depart it decides to let go. So I had another go at it and I will monitor its performance on the trip.<br />
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Meeting John on the road on Monday at 0600, we navigated our way to the hills without too much traffic drama to contend with. John was flagged by a passing motorist so we pulled over. Unfortunately, his jockey wheel on the camper didn't like road speed and it was now not rolling very well. So we pulled it up and continued eastwards, there wasn't much we could do about it now.<br />
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Stopping in Cunderdin for a coffee, I confirmed more pressure loss on the dodgy tyre, but although a little low, we pushed on without re-airing. We then made Bodallin where John stopped for fuel and I put more air in the tyre. Another stop for fuel in Kalgoorlie, and more air, we hit the road North for Leonora.<br />
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I had a spot marked for a camp, however on arrival, around 1630, I couldn't see the track on the ground. It may not exist any more? So we find a track on the opposite side and go searching. We see a ute with his camper parked nearby as we venture down a side track, obviously hunting the yellow too, so we move some distance away and find some relatively flat, open ground to make camp for the night, just inside the boundary of a tenement. We can walk the few meters into open ground in the morning. Perfect.<br />
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John sets up his camper, and I elect a basic setup - just the swag - in case we don't like the ground in the morning. With 876km's driven, we are a little fatigued and get dinner and a fire underway.<br />
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The next morning after breakfast, I thought I best have a look at this tyre of mine. losing pressure again overnight, I removed it from the vehicle for a better look. It seems to be, any plug I put in the hole, gets pushed out. Ginning around for a while, inserting multiple plugs, and testing with soapy water, I finally manage to get the thing to seal. So back on the wheel goes and its time to put the detector on the ground.<br />
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So it's now 11am, half the day is done and I finally get to do what we came for....detect for yella. With such a late start to the day, we don't venture far but I get a call on the radio about 1500. We have a visitor: Alexandre, a French prospecting back packer. I am about a kilometre away and slowly make my way back to camp. We spend the rest of the afternoon talking bullshit with Alex and listening to his stories of the few nuggets he just found up at Meekatharra;<br />
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A couple of beers to wash the dust down and with time up our sleeve, John decides to do a roast for dinner. Alex stays to be fed and watered. he has no fridge, so fresh food and beer is a luxury to him. Each beer I give him, I mention that's another nugget he owes us:<br />
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Then it's another splendid night with a few bevvies by a warm fire. This is livin:<br />
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The next morning, Alex says my front left is looking a bit low. Christ almighty, what have I done to piss the tyre gods off:<br />
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Upon investigation, I check the pressure and yep it's low. I find I have staked yet another sidewall on the MT51's. Not a good look for them, 2 trips, 2 stakes. Sure, I ventured cross country to get to our campsite, but not very far and I was very careful. Not careful enough obviously. The pissant sized twig that penetrated the tyre was disappointing too:<br />
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Checking the right rear I repaired yesterday and I'm stunned. The vehicle hasn't moved at all and the plugs I put in are now sitting 2" proud of the tyre. How the hell does that happen? self extracting plugs......<br />
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With 2 tyres down, there is only one choice for me now: I have to go to town for a tyre repair. John and Alex go off to prospect and I get things ready to go into town. Eventually I find someone who can help me out. A cantankerous old bugger, not very friendly and not all that willing to help. he tells me, remove the wheel and when he finishes his cuppa, he will have a look.<br />
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So, on the street verge, I pull out all my equipment, jack the vehicle up, remove the plugged wheel and roll it in. His cup of tea now finished, doesn't change his demeanour, and trying to make small talk whilst he is removing the tyre is like pulling hair. This should be fun.<br />
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With the tyre off, he tells me the carcass is stuffed internally and it requires a new tyre. How lucky is that, he just got 2 new AT's during the week in my size. So I agree to the $300 replacement. Once fitted, I'm about to wheel it out when a delivery arrives. Now he has a conundrum to deal with. Look at my next tyre or have me wait for an hour whilst he unloads the truck.<br />
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I say, hey, why don't I unload the truck for you whilst you repair my 2nd tyre. This triggers a new reaction: I am now his best mate. So with the 2nd wheel off, I leave him to repair it, whilst I unload cages of empty gas cylinders with his forklift. This is fun, I haven't driven a forklift in 15 years.<br />
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With the 2nd tyre now repaired, Russell, my new 74 year old mate, finishes the load of the truck whilst I pay my dues. He doesn't charge me for the second repair as I helped him out. How cool is that. So if you have tyre issues in Leonora, go see me mate Russ at LDC.<br />
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I am gone for hours and return to camp late afternoon. perfect time for a nice shower. Totally over it all by now, i'm not prospecting today so I wait for John and Alex to return. Another great sunset and another great campfire:<br />
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It's now Thursday, and although we planned to leave on the Sunday, I suspect John will leave on Saturday if we luck out. Waking to another cool, brisk morning, its time for coffee:<br />
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We have our breakfast and all go our separate ways. I decide to ascend up the slope as the flats hadn't done anything for me yet. Every now and then I get a glimpse of Alex, but John is nowhere to be seen. A few hours in and i'm at the crest. Just then I get a call from john: Alex has found a piece on the flats - go figure...I went high! But instead of coming back down, I decide to carry the detector and make my way to the old Jasper mine a few Km's away.<br />
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Through some pretty interesting country, I find the old pit and marvel at all the work that had gone into it, only to eventually abandon it when the gold run out. Its the story of the Goldfields - no environmental protections in those days and no rehab required. the Goldfields is literally just big holes in the ground - irreparable damage to the landscape forever:<br />
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But I do wonder how rich this mine once was.<br />
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So I decide to return the 1.6Km's as the crow flies back to camp. There will be no yellow for me today. 500m or so from camp, I see the fella who is camped close by us. So I go over to introduce myself and scare the bejesus out of him. We chat for a bit. he has been here for a month now, and all he has found is very small stuff. So it is present - he and Alex has found it, but John and myself, with our particular detector, is going to struggle with this fine stuff.<br />
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I make camp around 1500 and call it a day. We are 4 days in after leaving Perth and really only have a day left if John decides to leave Saturday. It's going all too fast. When Alex and John arrive back at camp, we check out Alex's find from today and some of the better specimens he owes us for eating all our food and drinking all our beer:<br />
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And guess what: another perfect Goldfields sunset and campfire to boot:<br />
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I wake up at 0300 cause the vegetation needs some watering. So I decide to get a star trail pic on the go. The results are pretty good if you ask me:<br />
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Then I am up at 0600 and John is quite surprised to see I have beat him up. Normally, he is up hours before me and gets an hour or two in swinging the stick before I even think about getting out the warm swag.<br />
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John has decided: He is going home tomorrow. I am in two minds about this, I dont want to go home early, but this will allow me to conquer part II of this trip. I need to find a bottle of cognac in the Great Victoria Desert. Although the 4-5 degrees overnight are leaving me a bit concerned about sleeping rough in the desert.<br />
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Being the last day on the ground, best we make it count then.<br />
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A semi reasonable effort was put in. I decided on staying on the downward side of the slope today, as that's where Alex found his piece a couple of days back. Today though wasn't my day. Bloody hot rock...Tune my detector as much as I can and I cant tune out all this hot rock. Every few feet, a new rock, kick it out the way, sweep where it once sat, then re sweep where the rock ended up. Frustrating as all get out it was.<br />
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To cut the tale short, in the end I gave up. I was just wasting my time. And what's worse, when I returned to camp we find out Alex, the Frenchman (that ate all our food and drunk all my beer), found another piece. Grrrrrr. Another very small specimen, but.......<br />
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So with a fading sun, it was time for the fire again:<br />
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This time. Alex was in for a treat. A camp oven roast on our last night:<br />
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Whilst we watered ourselves by the fire waiting for the roast to cook, one cant but help think how lucky we are:<br />
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And soon enough it was dinner time:<br />
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So how does this work then? The French, renowned for their culinary prowess, and Alex has never seen anything like it. A one pot meal on the fire. And his thoughts on the taste.....Bloody good! I have to admit, it was too, so too the crackling. No left overs tonight to be had.<br />
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However all good things come to an end. John is up early and on the road at 0800. I have lots of crap to pack and it takes me till 1000 before I'm ready to leave. Alex leaves (no doubt to find another food source) at the same time. Hoping like hell a small nugget will find my way, it doesn't. But at least the car starts this time.<br />
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It's been a pleasure to meet you Alex. Anytime you want to go out with us, let us know. I'm sure John and myself would welcome you back again. And to John, thanks for the great company, as always.<br />
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So here, we take a little side diversion. I wasn't ready to go home and decided to drive another 350Km's cause I had a French theme going. I was after cognac. You will have to read <a href="http://sharkcaver.blogspot.com/2018/05/its-got-knobs-on-it.html" target="_blank">its-got-knobs-on-it</a>, a tale all of its own.<br />
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3 days later, and I'm back on the road for home. I phone John and he is home safe. He cant believe I did what I did - he really wasn't keen on me doing this, and I certainly understand why.<br />
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A lame old man decides it's time for a beer at Kookynie Pub. So lame and sore after my desert trek, the thought is to have dinner here too. However, it's only 3pm and the kitchen doesn't open till 6. By that time, I wont be able to drive, so I have my pint and head for Niagra Dam for the night. As I leave, I find out how Willie, the resident horse, got his name. It cant have been my smell, it must be my good looks that brought him to attention.<br />
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So with camp set up at the dam, I cooked my dinner and celebrated with some cognac, something I couldn't bear to touch the night before in the desert.<br />
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I had the best nights sleep. Anything has to be better than a thin mat on the ground, with no blanket or bag to keep warm in the middle of the desert in sub 5 degree temps. Just the thing I needed for the 10 hour drive home.<br />
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And by 4pm, I was home. Certainly not richer in mineral content, but hell was I on a high. The first priority was to log the cache. Then brag about my efforts to the geocaching community. I guess only they would truly understand the effort required. So much so, the week spent prospecting takes a back seat to my endeavour of collecting the cognac. After all, that's all I will remember in time. What a beauty: 3rd to find in 15 years, the first on foot. I'm still on a high and now I want more.<br />
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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8 nights under canvas<br />
2411km travelled<br />
276L fuel used<br />
Best consumption: 10.8L/100, Worst 11.9L/100<br />
for a trip average of 11.44L/100<br />
cost of fuel $419<br />
new tyre in Leonora $300, repaired tyre $0<br />
camp fees $0 - No camp fee's out here 👍.<br />
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The running tally of nights under canvas now stands at 18<br />
(this includes the side journey to Nichol's Knob - see <a href="http://sharkcaver.blogspot.com/2018/05/its-got-knobs-on-it.html" target="_blank">its-got-knobs-on-it</a>)<br />
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Trip vids:<br />
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<br />sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-1393767138696038582018-05-28T09:07:00.002+08:002018-08-06T16:46:59.694+08:00Mowing the Spackman<br />
April 8 - 14<br />
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Well it had been 12 months since my last desert trip and I was longing for a dose of blackfella feet. So, with some time off, I arranged with Warren to get out there and get my desert fix. A mix of some places I had been prior intermixed with some new country I hadn't explored.<br />
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The plan was to knock over about 3000 Km's in 7 days with major transport stages on the first and last days getting to and from country.<br />
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Some hours later we hit Kalgoorlie for fuel and continued on North, stopping at Menzies for a short break:<br />
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It was quite hot, around 39degree's, something I wasn't expecting in early April. But push on we did and we made our first camp just outside of Leonora at a place called Malcolm Dam. A place I have meant to visit a few times prior, but time constraints had stopped me in the past.<br />
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What a magnificent place this was, and best of all we had it to our self. Although still very warm at 1730 in the afternoon, after an 850km day it was an amazing sight sitting down with a beer watching the sun go over the horizon on the far side of the lake:<br />
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After cooking dinner in the dark, we hung around for a bit and retired to bed. We noted there were a few feral cats around and wondered how that would go through the night. In the end, they posed no issue, but the temperature sure did - we didn't get a lot of sleep that night. Too hot and no breeze.<br />
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Up reasonably early, we scored a pretty good sunrise:<br />
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We were on the road on day two by 0830. First stop on the agenda was a cache just outside of Malcolm Dam. With a quick find under the belt, we motored onto Laverton for fuel. I have to recommend the pies here at the servo, they are mint. I am told they are made by Miss Maud in Perth, shipped to Laverton in raw form and they are then cooked on site. The pepper steak was to die for. Now on the edge of the Great Victoria Desert, I was hanging to get on out there.<br />
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Onto the Great Central Road, we headed East, the plan to knock off a few caches on the way. The first one, just outside of town, an easy find. The next one was at a site known as Giles Breakaway and the scenery here was simply stunning to say the least. Photo's just don't do it justice. To add to that, it would also be a remarkable campsite, even with it's close proximity to Laverton.<br />
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Unfortunately, I couldn't find the cache here. I should have taken my paperwork, because once we gave up and returned to the car, the clues on the paper would have led me to the right spot. But With a long way to travel, I had to can it in favour of getting to camp at a reasonable hour.<br />
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About to leave Giles Breakaway, we hear a truck thundering down the road and this was to be a major inconvenience. Unfortunately a major gold project is now underway out here - The Gruyere Gold project<br />
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- And they are using the GCR as their supply route. Let me assure you, being stuck behind a truck travelling around 85Km/h in extremely dusty conditions, with no chance to overtake for over 100Km's has knobs on it. We were almost at the point of just pulling up for a bit when he turned off on their new private haul road. Thank goodness for that.<br />
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What concerns me most is the potential safety issue of a major operation supply route on a well used public piece of gravel road. That can not end well and after being stuck behind this truck for over 100Km's I wont be the only grizzler I'm sure.<br />
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Time was now getting away from us. A quick stop at White Cross to show Warren and we hit the GCR again for the David Carnegie Rd. The car was showing it was 43 degrees outside. At the Carnegie Rd junction, we headed North for the 40 odd Km's to the Breaden Bluff turn off.<br />
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Now well into spinifex country, the occasional small dune appearing, I was in my element. Blackfella feet country! The track up was how I remember it when last here back in 2013. Good sandy track, some small sections of corrugation, a washout or two, but overall, very good for an unmaintained desert track.<br />
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Turning in for the Bluff, the track at times just lines in the spinifex, rocky and with a fair bit of vegetation. We arrived at the campsite about an hour before sundown, and it was hot. We got to work setting up camp and a well deserved beer. It had been another long day:<br />
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Another very hot night ensued, trying to sleep in a swag with no breeze wasn't much fun at all.<br />
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Morning came around. A couple of coffee's and I spilled the beans to Warren. Today was my birthday. I couldn't have picked a better place to spend it I reckon. Breaden Bluff, named by Carnegie on his journey up to Halls Creek, after his second in command, Joe Breaden.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv9NvOXVz8i_ILZys80fXG4x99m4CvBARNo9xTGgMrm-QqhxVNvOQlG-4fSdNCNZl1bEEyejcXI9jID_ZAfyWwS_lrWXh5uaAZv7JQjkUTFkPm0nZJFH9GXQ8EW1s9CN4yzB_ZrU1Zik/s1600/DSC_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv9NvOXVz8i_ILZys80fXG4x99m4CvBARNo9xTGgMrm-QqhxVNvOQlG-4fSdNCNZl1bEEyejcXI9jID_ZAfyWwS_lrWXh5uaAZv7JQjkUTFkPm0nZJFH9GXQ8EW1s9CN4yzB_ZrU1Zik/s1600/DSC_0034.jpg" /></a></div>
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After breakfast we ventured over to the breakaways we could see, some 300 odd meters away. Navigating your way over the rocks, and through the vegetation, full of golden orb spiders posed a challenge. Down the incline and down into the valley, we couldn't see the caves we had expected to see. Warren suggested it was over the next rise. I said surely not. Warren climbed the rise to tell me, yep, its over 'ere.<br />
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So up and over we went, through the spinny in the valley in my best desert boots, having to stop occasionally to pull the spinifex spines from the webbing between my toes.<br />
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Climbing the bluff, we investigated the labyrinth of holes in the breakaway. Impressive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEAdwbXIdCnHjL9oUyk11KkgcD_Zjoo-UjV7NUNtXWJBrI95lIWCkH4nN7qj0OfGVdpkPWal19ltBYT0PDv7zCvqYnyPMu1JVcAQLkMInrR4-MDBzCoab9qYhA5WQHwF64dFVVGE6ERE/s1600/DSC_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEAdwbXIdCnHjL9oUyk11KkgcD_Zjoo-UjV7NUNtXWJBrI95lIWCkH4nN7qj0OfGVdpkPWal19ltBYT0PDv7zCvqYnyPMu1JVcAQLkMInrR4-MDBzCoab9qYhA5WQHwF64dFVVGE6ERE/s1600/DSC_0031.jpg" /></a></div>
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Filming in one of the lower, deeper holes, I disturbed two bats from their hide. No doubt they were impressed!<br />
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But time was of the essence. We had a bit to achieve today and I was worried about the time verses distance of today's leg. So we only spent about 1/2 hour checking out the holes before I needed some more spines in my toe webbing on the journey back to the vehicles.<br />
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Back at camp, we did our final pack and hit the scrubby track back to the Carnegie Rd. There we headed North for a very special place, on my own very special day.<br />
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Empress Springs, about 20Km's up the Carnegie Rd. Why, I do not know, but both Carnegie and Empress hold a very special place in my heart. Carnegie didn't really do anything more special than a lot of other explorers (not to say that his journey from Coolgardie to Halls Creek and return wasn't an epic worthy of an entry into the history books), but others have done arguably greater and faded into history without the accolades so well deserved afforded to them.<br />
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We arrived about 1000 and it was only about 32 degrees by now 😓. However, I suggest you read "Spinifex and Sand", Carnegie's account of this venture into the unknown. Empress Spring was his life saver. I fear, without finding this place that his journey, his camels and his men would have met an unsavoury demise.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORukKFngd6m4FlHEcpkQ2YvKl6tVozDdDlB72bJrgAQ7qy6pUbZBDV6B5V3whI8YeDeK6B-5ILXg1BfIouXkXJkueJp8nmwoBOI2KWLJAq0EMk6H3iBerrHQMbszAuB-I4IeMnbltMp0/s1600/DSC_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORukKFngd6m4FlHEcpkQ2YvKl6tVozDdDlB72bJrgAQ7qy6pUbZBDV6B5V3whI8YeDeK6B-5ILXg1BfIouXkXJkueJp8nmwoBOI2KWLJAq0EMk6H3iBerrHQMbszAuB-I4IeMnbltMp0/s1600/DSC_0035.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArw9l5LkBWbunuJHTlLatAiFcuk5BSS19dsHi2rrij4Cl1_L3cfoRcRHDr09wZugZlhZEOUY4jswCi2CTEBvP18a3R3MoDKu-RP2groJk_mAEvaXVuzkAa6Asu9vIHznSxxtwja07AbA/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArw9l5LkBWbunuJHTlLatAiFcuk5BSS19dsHi2rrij4Cl1_L3cfoRcRHDr09wZugZlhZEOUY4jswCi2CTEBvP18a3R3MoDKu-RP2groJk_mAEvaXVuzkAa6Asu9vIHznSxxtwja07AbA/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg" /></a></div>
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These days, with a nice steel and chain ladder to descend the 30Ft to the bottom of the main chamber, I can not help but think of those men being lowered down by rope, seeking the life saving water they desperately needed. One of these days, with more time on hands, I will have to crawl on my guts to reach the spring and gain an even deeper appreciation of their efforts.<br />
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Carnegie writes:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #999999;">Hugging the ridge on our left, we
followed along this belt for another one and a half miles; when, close to
the foot of a sandhill, our guide, secured to my belt by a rope round his
waist, stopped and excitedly pointed out what seemed on first sight to be
three rock-holes, in a small, bare patch of limestone not more than
thirty feet across. Twenty yards to the right or left and we would never
have seen it; and to this spot King Billy had brought us full speed, only
stopping once to examine some rocks at the foot of one ridge, as if to
make sure that we were in the right valley.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #999999;">On further investigation the
three holes turned out to be entrances, of which two were large enough
for a man to pass through, leading perpendicularly to a cave beneath.
With the help of a rope Charlie and I descended twenty-five feet to the
floor of the chamber, which we found to be covered with sand to a depth
of two feet. In the sand we dug holes but did not succeed in getting even
moisture. Plunged as we were so suddenly into darkness, our eyes could
distinguish no passage leading from the chamber, and it seemed as if we
had been tricked again. Further exploration by the light of candles
revealed two passages, one leading west and upwards, the other east and
downwards. Charlie chose the latter; before long I came to the end of
mine, having failed to find anything but bats, bones of birds and
dingoes, and old native camp-fires. Following Charlie, I found him
crawling on hands and knees down a steep slope—progress was slow,
as the floor was rough and the ceiling jagged; presently the passage
dropped again, and at the end, below us, we could see our candles
reflected, and knew that at last we had water! Who, except those who have
had similar experiences, can picture one's feelings of relief!
“Thank God! thank God!” is all one can reiterate in one's
mind over and over again.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #999999;">The visible supply of water was small, and we
had grave doubts as to any soakage existing! Not wasting valuable time in
discussion, we crawled back with all speed to the cave, shouted up the
joyful news, and called for buckets and billies to bale with. The King
was now allowed to descend, but not unguarded, as we must first ascertain
the value of our supply. We could understand now why he had insisted on
carrying with him from our last camp a burning branch (a
“fire-stick”); for he proceeded to make a fire on the floor
of the cave from some dead leaves and branches, and others along the
passage, to light him; after some hesitation he took a candle instead,
and bolted down the passage like a rat. He must have been very dry,
judging from the time he stayed below and from his distended appearance
on re-ascending. He drank a great deal more than any of us and yet had
been a comparatively short time without water, whilst we had been walking
and working on starvation rations for a good number of days. </span></span></blockquote>
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So, a quick exploration of the main cave, Warren and myself ascended the "ladder" and by 1100 were heading South once again, 60Km's to the intersection of Carnegie and Great Central Roads.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEvGE5zrRqr9QUl9KAwZmi4cbhkCiVZfNeTlHgSD1Yed-wrEmW2MFfKD7fGtrfjhAOvPxffAHcIIsSJYsVwnHkhu4t1ye4nq1KQ8ltpWRT0AN9lr9hF3RIiHVNm0fk47JD435v5xXYgE/s1600/DSC_0037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEvGE5zrRqr9QUl9KAwZmi4cbhkCiVZfNeTlHgSD1Yed-wrEmW2MFfKD7fGtrfjhAOvPxffAHcIIsSJYsVwnHkhu4t1ye4nq1KQ8ltpWRT0AN9lr9hF3RIiHVNm0fk47JD435v5xXYgE/s1600/DSC_0037.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfoHkd6cUSN1iKmtxFoNA0Gdiq0zZU1aAoqb75zxTt0Z0sm8Std-HhN-g9lVKtN-BjpMyUzm5rL9xs2jZpwgFZ1Z4bFoJxcTx7klVHsaCWXScrwJlhF1z5KtObndm0YnVa7QkWO3gu1g/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfoHkd6cUSN1iKmtxFoNA0Gdiq0zZU1aAoqb75zxTt0Z0sm8Std-HhN-g9lVKtN-BjpMyUzm5rL9xs2jZpwgFZ1Z4bFoJxcTx7klVHsaCWXScrwJlhF1z5KtObndm0YnVa7QkWO3gu1g/s1600/DSC_0039.jpg" /></a></div>
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On arrival to the intersection, we headed east for Tjukayirla (pronounced chook a yer la) roadhouse. - Chooka for short - Gotta love an indigenous language hey! A 30Km round trip detour for much needed diesel for our remaining journey. Warren having some 50L less fuel capacity than myself, meant I had planned the trip around his fuel usage. Mind you, he constantly achieves 1-2L/100 better economy than me.....<br />
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So there is a few things I can recommend at Tjuka. 1 - dont expect service any time soon when a tourist bus arrives 10 minutes before you do and the line for service is out the door. 2 - the burgers here are legendary, particularly the chooka burger. I first heard of this was over a decade ago, and the legend, even with the passing of roadhouse owners over the years, still remains.<br />
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But at $18 for a burger, I settled on just a standard one with cheese @ $14 for my special treat - my birthday lunch. And let me say, this was bloody awesome too. Warren, being the self funded retiree he was, stuck with his pre made wraps but had an icecream to help the local economy along.<br />
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Fuelled up, both vehicle and stomach, we headed West once again. Travelling the same route as yesterday for 115 Km's, we eventually turned South off the Great Central for the short journey to meet the Anne Beadell Highway:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGLh7lou4MnY_mq8mm3okUhdzm_W1mv6M41IZMlQ4IlMviGS30MRbiwMO61BdVzxPSPkrh8siv-NQX_l-SyVxIOVbRh7uLOHshaj2lj7lPoy4lRE92Ud43uc_xGeg9gVRnkWvj6StYbU/s1600/DSC_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGLh7lou4MnY_mq8mm3okUhdzm_W1mv6M41IZMlQ4IlMviGS30MRbiwMO61BdVzxPSPkrh8siv-NQX_l-SyVxIOVbRh7uLOHshaj2lj7lPoy4lRE92Ud43uc_xGeg9gVRnkWvj6StYbU/s1600/DSC_0042.jpg" /></a></div>
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A leisurely 40 odd km's of desert track ensued with no real issues with road surface encountered. The weather however was changing. A wind was starting to blow, clouds were building and the temperature dropping. We might just get some sleep tonight. Interestingly, we passed vast swathes of previously burnt out country which gave unusual long distance visibility into the surrounding landscape. The red sands contrasting remarkably with the black sticks of what was once mulga trees, and the vivid green of new vegetation springing up, which in time will blot out the surrounding landscape once again, once the leaves and grasses take hold.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP1sfh12CnQCVHSZccB7rks95VW9XrgQSVr_pzLQS9X_sKG0aZb2CEH5-7uFaBbtb0n-HJMKJV1MpGRnUldn2Q8HM-J31uENvlHVvdrlqVMo6qt5bvCyULSWxpEDqvaLSaTQesIcuZyY/s1600/DSC_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP1sfh12CnQCVHSZccB7rks95VW9XrgQSVr_pzLQS9X_sKG0aZb2CEH5-7uFaBbtb0n-HJMKJV1MpGRnUldn2Q8HM-J31uENvlHVvdrlqVMo6qt5bvCyULSWxpEDqvaLSaTQesIcuZyY/s1600/DSC_0044.jpg" /></a></div>
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A quick stop at the ABH intersection at Point Sunday, and we veered East for Yeo Homestead. It was almost 12 months to the day I was here last and I couldn't believe the change. There had been a couple of massive rainfall events out here a few months before hand. This water impacted the track quite a bit. Now, large, soft sand drifts had to be driven through, and the areas where the sand had come from, were now hard and rutted sections of track.<br />
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Ex tropical cyclone Kelvin had the largest impact on the area. To give you some idea of the water dumped by this one tropical low, below is a picture of the Great Central Road, just East of Tjuka:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeuvg2-ikBUmO_xImnusRLXfiBNZ8Cr6n8RQOS9LhE7qKISz-brYWa9OCV2haO4grE7Hdn3EHRUsHdc7p8oyrA0-1rXO0LN1AWYVNq9P1ecjClVfU1EnzJxQYHsVxJSDa1DQMTXus2rM/s1600/flooding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeuvg2-ikBUmO_xImnusRLXfiBNZ8Cr6n8RQOS9LhE7qKISz-brYWa9OCV2haO4grE7Hdn3EHRUsHdc7p8oyrA0-1rXO0LN1AWYVNq9P1ecjClVfU1EnzJxQYHsVxJSDa1DQMTXus2rM/s640/flooding.jpg" width="481" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiocBRWa7VBe1cBOAZvoibwadQQfdKACcapfrIGYntnUQcAMl7QCSD9yM7I9nPzJMfNyPAQzOEN5jTcKCwDPRPC-byK9gOAX6QMlsQ3rFz5KYuO-eUjrQlwdScso1pLKEIXou8A2XKHjw/s1600/flooding+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiocBRWa7VBe1cBOAZvoibwadQQfdKACcapfrIGYntnUQcAMl7QCSD9yM7I9nPzJMfNyPAQzOEN5jTcKCwDPRPC-byK9gOAX6QMlsQ3rFz5KYuO-eUjrQlwdScso1pLKEIXou8A2XKHjw/s1600/flooding+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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This had a reasonable impact on the ABH as well, but all was well. Some 80 odd Km's from the Great Central, we actually arrived early to Yeo homestead, about 1400. Time for a shower, a couple of beers and a relaxing birthday dinner.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc-4Z1ywkleKfAx3N05zMUaQHQsByInlkxwmsfCkaF6B-6VC_VnM4PRnA5cCmZfBKnIyqQEfqZQp4jETiJhE9W2PEvouMJ-EnkJLHD7UHYG7LmaRwQXLN04lKs4_RiX_pn1bQGGcVmsE/s1600/Yeo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc-4Z1ywkleKfAx3N05zMUaQHQsByInlkxwmsfCkaF6B-6VC_VnM4PRnA5cCmZfBKnIyqQEfqZQp4jETiJhE9W2PEvouMJ-EnkJLHD7UHYG7LmaRwQXLN04lKs4_RiX_pn1bQGGcVmsE/s1600/Yeo+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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I also found my last visit in the visitors book:<br />
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By now, the wind had whipped up a fair bit and it was just too dangerous for a fire in this country tonight. As the sun went down, we watched the lightning and heard the distant thunder in the far South East, hoping it wouldn't come our way. I spotted a huge bolt hit the ground. The thickness of said bolt, unlike anything I had ever seen, it was massive. That got me thinking, something I had never though of before:<br />
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With the evidence of large swathes of desert already burnt, if you were out here and a fire took hold, you could well be in strife. With only a West or East exit, I wouldn't like to see smoke out here.<br />
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So with the risk of rain ever present, we set the swags under the awning of Yeo Homestead. In hindsight, it wasn't needed as only a few drops were heard throughout the night.<br />
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With a surprise desert I sprung on Warren last night for my birthday (he supplied apple pie on his), we woke in the morning to some very cool and overcast conditions. Today was going to be an adventure: lots of desert track I had not travelled before and some parts I could find scant information on.<br />
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We headed east along the ABH for our first port of call: Bishop Riley's Pulpit:<br />
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As you can see, the weather looking dodgy as. However, further on and the clouds started to part, the water damage disappeared, and we were back into the ABH territory I remember:<br />
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Some 100 odd Km's East from Yeo, we veered South down the Spackman track. I have no idea where its name originates from, nor why its here. It passes an old airfield (Neales) and we suspect both are the remnants of early war years:<br />
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I had warned Warren, this track may prove difficult but there was only one way to find out: we had to drive it. If we weren't remote before, I reckon the chance of seeing people here would be non existent. The start of the track was fine, just some cabbage weed and good going. Further in, we ploughed a spinifex tuft or too. Nothing too extravagant. A few dunes were sighted, but the track always turns at the last minute and you cross where the end of the sand drift has formed, so no dunes to ascend.<br />
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Making the airfield, we planned to have a bit of a look around. However, no obvious track was noticeable in the plains of spinifex and mulga, so we pushed on. then we came into some substantial burnt out areas. The same vivid green met the red sand and it was a sight to behold. Unfortunately, the burnt areas also had an effect on the old vegetation, which in quite a few places had now fallen over the track. Lots of stops to clear these trees slowed us down considerably. I noted our average speed over ground was now down to about 30Km/h. It was going to be a long day.<br />
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The wildlife presented itself on occasion:<br />
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Ever vigilant of the distance to traverse before dark, Murphy slapped my tyre god on the back of the head once again. Something didn't feel right and I relayed this to Warren. One big tree we didn't move out the way, led me to go cross country. And a burnt stump of mulga, some 10mm in diameter decided to make its home on the inner wall of my tyre. With time getting away from us, I decided an emergency plug with the wheel on the car was called for. We can sort the proper repair in the morning. I had mentioned to Warren before we left that a spinifex blind may be required out here. Whilst at times I had spinifex rain bear down on my windscreen, I didn't think it was too bad. the unscheduled tyre stop told a different story. We were well choked. Whilst with me in the lead I mainly collected seed head, Warren had some nasty straw collect underneath his. So whilst I tried in vain to repair a tyre, Warren de-strawed his paj. If we were to make the 7 miller's hut by dark, the spinifex would have to wait, so on went the blinds (too late to be of any use). We could sort our maintenance issues in the morning.<br />
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Some 5 hours after we turned onto the Spackman, we made Naries Pt, a distance of only 130Km's. The weather once again had warmed up, but the choked radiator made the car run a lot hotter than normal and the choked A/C condensor also had a marked effect on the in cab cooling efficiency. getting out the car for a small break, I noticed the smell of diesel. I asked Warren if his jerry on the roof was leaking, but no, it was me.<br />
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Horror thoughts of well 5 on the CSR came back to haunt me. I walked behind the vehicle and noted my aux tank wasn't square once again. The mounting bracket had failed again. Another hour of ratchet strapping the tank insitu to get home, and pumping its fuel across to reduce weight and we were away again. I stated, we wouldn't be getting to camp in daylight tonight. I also mentioned if the camp is good, maybe we need a maintenance day tomorrow.<br />
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Once the track joined the lake Rason rd, we again made good speed. 60-80Km/h in some stretches, with the occasional slowdown point in water damaged sections. With a setting sun, and then into darkness, we finally made the shack about 2030. It was cold now but too late and dark to go searching for timber. Dinner and setting swags under the shack awning with a drink to finish off with ended our day. We were spent. tomorrow is another day.<br />
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A good night's sleep and we checked out the hut over breakfast. Called 7 miller's, in honour of the 7mm Remmington cartridge, a favourite of big game hunters. the shack, built by a collective few from Laverton as a base for the removal of feral camels in the area. We thank the owners for allowing us to refuge here.<br />
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Dino, with his solar powered red eyes was a sight to see:<br />
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But today was maintenance day. For me it included spinifex removal, tyre repair and to see what I could further do with this bloody aux tank. Best we get cracking hey!<br />
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Pulling half the front end apart, I was stunned at the amount of seed head I had collected:<br />
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The spinifex removal took me hours. And Warren too. In the midst, an A380 flies South over us and I wonder to myself who's got the better deal. Stuck in the desert, having to repair my car, I reckon i'm better off:<br />
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A full day done on maintenance and it was finally beer o'clock. Just in time for sunset:<br />
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And before we knew it, it was dinner time again:<br />
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2 big days under the belt now, we both retired pretty early to start the long journey home in the morning. Another cold morning presented itself, but I got up just in time to catch the sun rise over Lake Rason:<br />
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The hut is bloody fantastic. What a refuge in a fairly inhospitable part of the world, on the Western edge of the Great Victoria Desert.<br />
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Whilst we didn't really make use of the hut apart from the verandah as we were self supporting, I would like to formally thank the shack owners for providing us with something other than plains of spinifex and mulga to allow us to get our maintenance sorted. Doing this in the field would be a chore indeed. I have to say, if you venture out here, treat the place like its your own asset, and respect it. take your rubbish home, leave the place as you found it and enjoy the surroundings. Many thanks fella's.<br />
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Now packed and ready for the trip back to laverton, the hits keep on coming. The starter battery on my car has exited, stage left even. unpack the car again to gain access to the aux battery buried low in the rear, I put my 7m home made jumper leads to the ultimate first test. Nothing......<br />
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leaving both batteries connected for 5 minutes or so, I try again. This time I at least get dash lights, and try again. certainly a bit sluggish to crank, but she fires up. I guess with a starter sitting at 10 odd volts, that's to be expected. Winning:<br />
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The lake Rason track was a very good affair, much like the part after the Spackman. the occasional slow part, but very good overall.<br />
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And not long after, we see why the shack exists:<br />
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Camel prints and high powered rifles mark the country out here:<br />
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Passing some amazing country on the way out, I need to come back and explore some of the remarkable, isolated ranges out here. I pass one that I believe has Frank Hann's blaze atop. More research needed for that little gem.<br />
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Once back onto gazetted roads, its a shortish journey to laverton for fuel, and 400 odd K's later, another top up at kalgorlie. leaving Kal at sunset, we come across a nasty accident on the way out, no doubt only moments prior. Whilst the driver is shaken and only lightly injured, the picture of a baby capsule, jettisoned from the inside of the vehicle is a sickening sight. Thank goodness the driver is both solo and uninjured.<br />
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We push on, again into the dark, and reach a roasdide rest area at Borrabin. We get a nice little fire going, in fact the only one of the trip. It was bloody lovely.<br />
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Come the morning, we knock the remaining 600 odd km's for home over. Pretty exhausted, elated and disappointed all at the same time. That's what a hell of a trip does to you. I cant wait to get back again.<br />
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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6 nights under canvas<br />
3164km travelled<br />
385L of fuel used<br />
cost of fuel $611 <br />
for an average of 12.17L/100<br />
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camp fees $0 - No fee's out here 👍.<br />
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The running tally of nights under canvas now stands at 10<br />
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Trip vids:<br />
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-34010956341513355442018-05-01T21:31:00.001+08:002018-08-06T17:52:53.961+08:00Back to BanksiaFebruary 24 - 27<br />
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So another 4 days off and I get to catch up with Steve and his boy, Daniel for a few days away. This was pretty cool as I hadn't been away with Steve (always good for a laugh) for a considerable time now. On top of that, his Paj has been retired to street duties now and I would get to check out his handy work with the new "pooey" patrol.<br />
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Talking before hand, and with only4 days to play with (2 of them being transit to and from home), it really dictated somewhere reasonably close. My last trip being to Banksia Camp, and the one prior to that at Fish Creek, I suggested we head back that way and fill in the blanks between Fish Creek and Banksia via Broke inlet. Steve was in. He hadn't been that way before so we just set a plan to camp up at Moore's hut on night one and see how far East we get.<br />
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Meeting Steve/Daniel at the "cones" on Forest highway, I had to sort out some drama.....namely a UHF that wouldn't work. Pulling all my electrical distribution system apart to diagnose the problem, I discovered the issue......or should I say, Steve did. I had not been pressing the bloody power button on the mic, but a different one. Well that was quite embarrassing - indeed! Never done that before and I guarantee, I will never again either.<br />
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Anyway, making Manjimup about lunchtime, Steve filled the new 89L kickass dual zone fridge freezer with a bag of ice and we hit the road south into the forest country and eventually onto Moore's track.<br />
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We stopped and checked out the hut for a bit, but it was too early to set up camp for the day. So we headed down to Coodamurrup beach for a look.<br />
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On the beach, we decided to cruise down to the Gardiner River mouth. Trev and myself were on the other side of this in the "full on at fish creek" post, with no way to cross. So at least that particular blank was filled in. Getting out the car was terrible. The wind was howling and we were getting sand blasted to pieces, so we didn't hang around long and made for Moores Hut again, where we set up for the night. Steve and Dan in their tents, myself taking the easy route by putting the swag under the veranda of the hut. No point ginning around with awnings if you don't need to hey!<br />
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Waking in the morning, the weather was looking a little suspect, a thunderstorm rumbling away to the North, we had breakfast then had a mad scramble to get everything packed before the rain started. We made it just in time and decided to sit it out till the rain departed. It's not like we had a lot to travel today anyhow, the next camp being at Fish Creek, only 26KM's away.<br />
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Stopping for a photo session on the beach at West Cliff Head, we went in search of the hut, something I missed due to time constraints when I was here last.<br />
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Not exactly sure how to get there, although I did have its waypoint. So first attempt was up the limestone slope to the back of the cliff in the background above. Well that was a fail, that only led me to a cliff on the other side, but the scenery was spectacular. So we ventured past the camping spot on a track that would take us out near the western edge of Broke Inlet. The track passed the waypoint to the North by a short distance and I said to Steve, there is probably a turn back a bit further up to the shack. I was correct, very soon afterwards we turned on the turn back and was at the hut in no time. A spectacular looking place indeed where Steve stopped for an ice cream out of his freezer.....bastard!:<br />
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He did offer to let me lick the stick when he was done...Grrrrr.<br />
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The shack was a bit manky inside. It smelt a bit rodenty and musty. Definitely, it needed a good air out. the coastal scenery behind the hut was just damn amazing:<br />
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Sea mullet playing in the shallows below:<br />
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But after a short break, we hit the road for Sand Peak and Broke Inlet (or at least as close as we could get to the mouth on the Western side). Some fantastic sand track to drive, more spectacular scenery and quite a few hidden little campsites to be had out here:<br />
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But the track finishes in the middle of nowhere, so we returned the way we had just come and back to West Cliff Head. It had turned out to be a magnificent day, rather warm in fact. Even though we had had a late start, we were still on the beach early afternoon, so with no wind blowing today, it was a good excuse to have a beer on the beach, before making the 500 odd meter drive to the grassed area where we were to camp for the night.<br />
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How's the serenity hey!<br />
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A nice purple sea snail shell caught my attention in the sand:<br />
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So as the sun started to think about setting, we made our way to camp to set up for the night. Steve decided to lash out and set up his in car shower and all I could do was think "I hope he left that bloody mankini at home"<br />
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And with that, a sun that had set, a moon that had risen, dinner and a few drinks afterwards and day 2 was done.<br />
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Day 3 saw us heading out of the national park and heading South East looking for spots to access broke inlet, airing up once at Chesapeake Rd:<br />
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Poking down one track, Spring break Rd, we got closed in by the vegetation and beat a hasty retreat. To be honest, I wasn't that keen on destroying the car just to look at a bit of water. But further on we spotted another access point that allowed us to get to the shoreline. A nice little secluded camp site almost on the water and a nice view, but in all reality, there wasn't much to see, almost not worthy the 2km sandy track to get there.<br />
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With no real plan on where to go we turned off at the end of Chesapeake Rd for Camfield and that surprised us. A small little shack village, right on the banks of the inlet. What a lovely little haven this place is, a great place for a shack for sure. And there are heaps of them. There is/was access to the inlet from here, but DPAW (now known as DBCA - FFS what's with all the mane changes.....) have closed this track for management purposes. So in reality, the whole Northern side of broke inlet is just about out of bounds. Springbreak rd (if you can survive the vegetation), the unnamed track and Camfield being the only 3 points of access to about 12km of Northern shore line. A bit disappointing really.<br />
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With the weather starting to cloud in, I suggested to Steve maybe we make for banksia camp again in case the weather turned. Again, with plenty of time up our sleeve, we turned east for a look at centre Rd campground. That presented us with a hikers jarrah shack and a low level water crossing. pretty all the same but not appealing to us, so onto banksia we ventured.<br />
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As it was on new years day when I first came here, the Fisheries track out to the Southern Side of Broke inlet was still closed. Apparently, when the mouth closes, this track floods and is impassable. So until the mouth opens again, I guess this track will be closed for a while. Such a large body of water to investigate, and so little opportunity to do so by vehicle.<br />
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Arriving at Banksia early afternoon, and finding the lodge empty, we moved out gear in, under cover. Only one other camper was here, in the campground, a double swag in the open and a marquee for their other gear.<br />
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We headed off down the beach for a look and it was then the weather decided to break:<br />
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Back at the hut, in dry comfort, we let the afternoon drift away in the wake of constant showers, some of them very heavy. The other campers returned to a drowned campsite. In between showers, we went over and offered them to also use the facilities to get out of the wind and the rain. They agreed it was a good idea. Strangely, we never saw them again. Stuffed if I'd be out in the wet and cold with a nice cosy table and shelter to sit at. Oh well, each to their own I guess.<br />
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The morning now being day 4 meant packing for home. Coffee and a cooked breakfast and we contemplated the 3.5 hour drive home.<br />
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A thoroughly enjoyable few days, now having filled in all but most of the gaps on the coast between Augusta and Walpole. Next summer, I guess I will venture east from Walpole and try to fill in the gaps between there and Albany. that's going to take me some time for sure!<br />
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On the way out of Banksia, We drove the track to Cliffy Head. Rather different to the track in to Banksia, this one had some quite soft sand sections, one place in particular had me have a second attempt. but all was good, we hit cliffy head and got blown away, so we didn't hang around for long.<br />
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And soon enough it was on the road for Manji, Bunbury and the freeway for home. Steve peeled off on the Southern side for his abode, whilst had another 40 Mins of freeway to go.<br />
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All in all, another top trip away for a few days with good company. Thanks for coming Steve and Daniel, hope you enjoyed it is much as I did.<br />
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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3 nights under canvas<br />
1050km travelled<br />
124L fuel used<br />
for an average of 11.8L/100Km<br />
cost of fuel $174<br />
camp fees $0 owing to vandalism @ Banksia - not collecting fees.<br />
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The running tally of nights under canvas now stands at 4<br />
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<br />sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-63010856771299155942018-04-04T13:41:00.001+08:002018-04-04T18:59:52.700+08:002017: wrapped upFinishing off the year at Xmas;<br />
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So with a few days break at xmas, then another few days just before new year, it was time to get some more nights under canvas in for the year. Xmas was a leisurely affair, just a visit to Nannup with the family - staying in the house, no nights added to the tally. Being a bit warm, a swim at the local waterhole: Barrabup : was in order</div>
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And nothing beats a cold beer and a hot sausage with the family:</div>
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Not that there is anything exciting above, its just filling in blog space. Back to work for a few days and I had 4 days to play with come the 30th. Leo decided to come along for the trip and we thought of heading down Walpole way.</div>
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Unfortunately I didn't finish work till 1530 on the Saturday and couldn't leave until 1630 at the earliest. We decided to head back to Belvedire to get a head start for the following day. Leo decided he would head down early and secure a spot.</div>
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Just as well he did, because at 1400 when he arrived, he got the last site in the place. Such a difference to when we were there early December for the start of "full on at Fish Creek". I arrived around 1800. Just enough time to squeeze the ulti into our small assigned site, get dinner on the go, swap a few xmas pressies and have a drink or two. Sorry no photo's to show here.</div>
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Come the morning, we departed for fern Hook falls, north of Walpole. I had warned leo this was a bad time of year, and finding somewhere, especially tonight, being new years eve, was going to be a challenge.</div>
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And right I was. Into Fernhook and it was chocka's. We drove out and parked up on the side of the road to discuss our options. Leo had a few sites on his map. Something called 'sweet spot" on wiki, Crystal Springs and a site a bloke at Belvedere had mentioned to me "Banksia camp". I had none of these places on my maps, nor had I ever been there, so I told him to take the lead. And it is here all went to shit.</div>
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He had mentioned turning down Ordinance Road, something I explained also wasn't on my maps, but its all good, cause I saw it on the way in and knew where it was. Leo took the lead and I had to hang back a few Km's due to the dust. Turning onto Ordinance, he mentioned over the radio he had turned down Easter Road to check out a potential site. I was told, don't come down here, the bridge is out and I wouldn't be able to turn the trailer around. fair enough. When I met Easter Road, I parked up and waited.</div>
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Leo mentioned he was chatting with a group camped there and would be finished soon. I should go back to the Highway and he would meet me there. So we did just that. 8Km of dusty gravel later, we waited, and we waited and we waited. After 20 minutes, I wondered where the hell he was. Had he done a tyre, hit a roo, run off the road?? Dunno, but I decided to head back in case something was wrong. At the very least we would pass each other.</div>
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Wrong I was. Arriving back at Easter road, I parked up again and walked to the old bridge. I saw the group he was speaking to and explained I was looking for my mate. They said he left ages ago.</div>
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Where the hell did he go??</div>
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From my map and the track drawn down ordinance road, it appeared the road would follow the river, getting ever further from the highway. So all I could do, was go back to the Highway and wait. hopefully to meet up again.</div>
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Another 1/2 hour passed, time now being 1630, New years Eve. I explained to the family, I suspect he has gone South to one of the spots he mentioned: one of the spots I had no idea where they were. So we could also go South, rooting around trying to fins these spots and him. or we could go North, back to Shannon River Campground - a site that was suggested when we had parked up.</div>
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My thoughts on the matter was that the further we go South, the closer to the coast, the busier it would become. And I had to find them once we got in the vicinity. If we went North to Shannon, we stood a higher chance of gaining a spot for the night. So North it was.</div>
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Arriving at Shannon, we found the campground deserted. Dpaw have invested huge money in this place, having over 70 individual sites, hot showers, flushing dunnies and all. Quite bizarre considering this place is literally in the middle of nowhere and has nothing to do in the vicinity. Fantastic use of taxpayer funds - Not!.</div>
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So it was around 1800 by the time we had set up and hoped leo might take the initiative and head North and we could spend new years Eve together. Unfortunately it didn't happen and we were in bed by 2300.</div>
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Next morning we packed up and headed into Walpole. On the way in, I passed Ordinance Road would you believe. It met the highway about a kilometre from bloody Easter Road (where I headed back to the highway, the long way), going by my tracklog would you believe. They mystery had been solved. I now know where he went. Pity he didn't communicate that to us!</div>
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Walpole was the first place we got phone reception back after leaving Manjimup. I sent Leo a txt telling him where we were, thinking he would be floating around the area somewhere.</div>
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I got a call back pretty quick, unfortunately, where ever he was, reception was not good. A quick convo followed, him bagging me stating "I told you we were going to go to crystal Springs", myself replying I told you I didn't know where that was, hence why I said take the lead. And that was the end of the call - also the last time I ever heard from him again.</div>
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And that was the end of our journeys together. For all I know, he is still driving around out there, because I have not heard from him since. Some 3 months after the event as I write this</div>
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There was a really good map in Walpole and I found where both Crystal Springs and Banksia Camp were located. All off Mandalay Beach Road, which I recall passing. I sent a txt stating we were now heading to Banksia Camp, he should come meet us. Well as you can imagine, that never happened.</div>
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Personally, I am stunned. Obviously just a communication screw up, one of those events that you pull the piss out of each other for years to come, although he doesn't see it that way. Somehow he thinks I either deliberately left him in the lurch, or attacked him personally.</div>
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So if that is what mateship constitutes, you are on your own buddy. Who needs mates like that!<br />
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A rather sour end to 2017 and start to 2018.</div>
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So with the family we headed out to Banksia for our last night (the first night under canvas for 2018). When we arrived around 1400 we found the hut unaccompanied, so commandeered the prime position. this allowed us to sit in comfort in the "Banksia Lodge"</div>
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What a great little place this was. We wandered down the beach for a play:</div>
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Back at camp, more people came in and filled the campground over the afternoon. I'm surprised no one wanted to share the facilities with us. A quiet night down, we packed for home the next morning, still wondering how the hell it all went wrong - as I still do.</div>
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lets hope it's not an omen for the state of play for 2018.</div>
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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Finishing up with 48 nights under canvas for 2017<br />
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with 1 night under canvas for 2018<br />
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On this Walpole trip:<br />
1075km travelled<br />
160L fuel used<br />
for an average of 14.9 L/100Km (noting the ulti was in tow)<br />
cost of fuel $227<br />
camp fees $17<br />
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And wrapping up 2017:<br />
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<br />sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-30816392716229370522018-04-04T10:07:00.001+08:002018-04-04T18:31:36.665+08:00Full on at Fish Creek01st-06th December <br />
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Another 5 days off saw me heading South once again. Playing a bit closer to home for a couple of days and then venturing further South, Continuing the journey east of where my last trip "Wandering down the Warren" left off.<br />
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Leaving home early afternoon on a Friday, I was once again stunned by the traffic that is the Perth freeway, a freeway in name, not in stature. All was fine until the city, where the traffic banked up considerably, and then took me an hour to travel a further 30Km's. 2 hours from home to Ankatell Rd, normally a 50 minute drive. I had caught up with Leo on the freeway part way down. <br />
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We headed into Belvedire campground, a place I had reconnoitred previously but not camped at previously. Finding the place nearly empty was a bonus, and finding a fire ring with a couple of logs ready for splitting was a bonus. So with a later entry into camp, it was time to get down to business - dinner, a fire and a glass of red.<br />
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There wasn't much need for lighting this night, what with a full moon casting its beams over the area. interestingly, we spied a cheeky fox, coming in quite close to us at the fire, obviously slunking around to do a snatch and grab of any food we may have left out. Unlucky for him, we always pack out stuff away.<br />
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The following morning after coffee and breakfast, we headed onto Bufallo Beach for the 30Km run up the coast to Preston Beach. Arriving at the water was amazing. Today was one of those handful of days with no wind. The ocean was a mill pond and it made you appreciate where we actually live to be able to do things like this in such pristine conditions.<br />
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First port of call was Myalup. It was getting hot and so too was the tranny temps. Such a long way in 2/3rd low range, with a torque converter constantly unlocked, generated a lot of heat in both tranny and engine coolant. I've never experienced the torque converter being unlocked so often and it only made me want to investigate a torque converter lockup kit even more.<br />
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Into Myalup we went, stopping off at the general store for a bite to eat for lunch and finishing off with a nice ice cream on a hot day, gave the chance for our Paj's to cool down and have a rest, much like ourselves. But still only halfway to Preston Beach, we had more sand to go. The temperature was getting hot now, greater than 32 degrees and the vehicles were working hard in the hot dry sand. Leo's engine mounted DCDC Pro shut down from over temperature, something he had not seen before.<br />
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Another hour or so on the sand and as we approached Preston, we came across a Suzuki, full of young folk, stranded on the sand. It appears it has burnt its clutch out and wasn't going anywhere. We were going to offer to pull them to the blacktop, but they asked for a lift into town so they could get their "recovery vehicle". Upon arrival, and looking at the state of their gear and the recovery vehicle, we deemed it safest to tow them home with our gear and our vehicles. So back to the zuk we went. I suggested before we started prepping for the pull home, they give the zuk another go under its own steam. My theory was that the clutch wasn't burnt, just cooked, and the hour or so of rest may have enabled it too cool. And right I was, reducing the tyre pressures, the zuk started and drove its way out. The clutch not totally shagged, just too hot to perform. A win all round. So we aired back up I the carpark and headed to my old favourite, martins tank for the evening.<br />
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The old pissums were at their mischievous best, trying to raid out food crates and rubbish bags, whilst we were sitting next to them. Around 1800, a couple arrived in the site next door, erected a double swag and subsequently took off again. I guess they went into Preston for dinner at the resort.<br />
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Arriving back at about 2030, Leo and myself were enjoying a quiet drink, trying to shoo the Pissum thus mentioned away from out stuff. Every now and then, a strange sort of noise could be heard in the distance. I got up to investigate but couldn't find the source. Leo retired early, and the ZZ's started flowing whilst I sat up at the table with my glass of red. The noise continued, and in between bouts of snoring from leo's camp, I discovered the source. It was coming (literally) from the double swag next door. Female moans and groans. The dirty bastard..........I couldn't go to bed, another red was order of the night. No poles required for my swag tonight......<br />
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Sunday morning came around. The couple next door packed up quick and buggered off whilst I held my secret smile in check. Leo was out of there pretty quick too, his trip was done, and had to return home for work the next day. I hung around a bit longer. I had arranged to meet Trevor on the highway at 1000, so we could continue the journey South.<br />
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As luck would have it, Trevor raised me on the radio and I arrived at the highway turnoff just as he passed. Perfect timing. A pub lunch and a beer in Manjimup, with a fuel top off had us heading for Callcup Hill (WA's largest dune). The flexible plan was to camp at the top of Callcup, and have a crack at ascending it in the morning. But when we arrived at ground zero, it was still early afternoon, so we made the decision to have a crack at Callcup today. I stayed at the top as a recovery vehicle, whilst Trev attempted Callcup for the first time. The D-max pissed it in. With trev sporting a big grin, I had to show him what the Paj was capable of. And I failed miserably. Almost bogged at the turn around point, I had 2 cracks to no avail. D-max 1, Paj 0. That said, Trev had another crack at it and failed miserably too. I know from experience here, I need to run super low pressures, and to be honest, I couldn't be bothered, so we decided to head down to the Warren River to see if we could cross.<br />
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Crossing the Warren was again a no-go. Not without partly driving in ocean washup. Nothing neither Trev or myself was keen on. Trev was extremely keen on sleeping on the beach, what with the little wind about (something of a rarity for us), so venturing on past the Callcup track, we found a suitable spot for the evening. </div>
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We sat back with a couple of drinks watching the sun set over the ocean. Trev had a bottle of Grey Goose vodka and tried repeatedly to get me to try some. In the end, I gave in. Not being a vodka drinker at all, I was surprised how refreshing Vodka, lime and soda was. Too easy to drink. <br />
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So much so, by 2000, sitting on the edge of the dune in the dark, I suggested I couldn't be bothered cooking dinner now. So we polished off the bottle ;) Both a little wobbly booted, Trev went to bed whilst I had another glass of red for a nightcap.<br />
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Trev didn't fare so well in the morning. Mentioning that he had lost a few carrots out the side of his swag during the night. Unable to make himself a coffee, I had to look after the poor blokes welfare and made him a special brew. Unfortunately the hot milk and coffee brew didn't last in his stomach for long. Poor bloke :)<br />
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But some food made him come good and we hit the sand venturing further South for an exit at the Summertime track. Trev veered of a few times checking tracks heading away from the beach. One particular track, in typical Trev fashion, had me swearing and cursing as the sounds of the vegetation scraping down the sides of the Paj was akin to nails on a blackboard. But a magic little spot we found, the upper reaches of the Meerup River. Certainly one to put in the memory banks for another time. Light rain now starting to fall.<br />
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Back onto the beach and we find the Meerup cuts the beach, just like the Warren does further North. Stopping high on the beach and we are worried. The sand is like quicksand a good 20m from the water. It's even softer in the water. Not a good prospect, so we spend quite a while looking for a suitable place to cross.</div>
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Down near the ocean, we find the only place where the sand isn't like jelly. It has a small soft section in the water itself and in all reality, it's the only place we can cross. We spend quite a bit of time here checking out all the options, testing the water, discussing recovery options should it be required. In the end, it was time to attempt the crossing. Edging in and out to test for sinkage, it was time to just do it. So through I went, no drama's at all. Trev followed and we were across. A bit nerve wracking at the time, but time spent in preparation is well worth spent.<br />
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Then an easy run down to the Sumertime track to find the exit was pretty chewed up. Again, time spent in preparation proved its worth. Trev unfortunately didn't put his wheels where I suggested and had to have a few cracks at ascending off the beach. I went up first go:<br />
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D-max 1: Paj 1<br />
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At the end of the summertime track, it was time to air up for the blacktop run into Windy Harbour.<br />
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Some spectacular scenery to be had around Windy harbour. The view from the top of Mt Chudalup was pretty amazing, allowing us to see the dunes from where we had just come. It also allowed Trev to call home to make sure everything was A-Ok.<br />
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The cliff top views from Windy Harbour are also worth a visit.<br />
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Leaving the little village of Windy harbour behind , we headed out to the Gardiner River along a sandy track. At one point, the sand becoming quite soft, it was time yet again for tyre pressure adjustment. <br />
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Upon reaching the river, we found there was no way to cross and could see some DPAW buildings on the other side of the river. So we made our way to the Lower Gardiner River road and found a nice little campsite just to the North of those buildings.<br />
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The following morning (no duty free vodka left, thank goodness says Trev), we decided to head for Moores Hut/Fish creek. It wasn't long before our first obstacle became apparent. Again, not wanting to just plunge in, we walked, we analysed, we prepared to do it properly. Again, no drama's to be had, just an opportunity to wash all the beach sand off.<br />
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This road was quite wet and numerous holes were presented along the way:<br />
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None of them presented any drama's though. In wetter times, this track would be quite challenging. the track skirts a large area of wetland and would be inundated in a wet winter.<br />
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Reaching Chesapeake Rd, we find a diversion due to a closed bridge. having to cross the Gardiner River at a causeway also presented no challenge. However, in winter, no doubt this wont be the case:<br />
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Stopping at the bridge for a photo session, I had the window down and could hear an alarming noise coming from the right hand rear. Subsequent investigation showed a piece of wood had wedged between my rim and caliper. Luckily, it appears no damage was done apart from a few scrapes inside the rim:<br />
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Checking out the Shannon River before going into Fish creek area, Trev decided to remodel my windscreen with the famous South West ball bearing gravel. that's what you get I suppose driving too close trying to get some footage. Grrrrrr.</div>
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Turning off onto Moore's track, we headed to the Hut. Having never been here before, I was stunned at the quality of the restored shack. It was simply brilliant. I will have to come back here again. </div>
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So we now have a choice: drive the inland track to fish Creek, some 17Km's away or head down to Coodamurup beach. We chose the latter:</div>
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Fish Creek via the beach from here is the shortest way to go, so we decided on a beach run. Unfortunately, a few Km's from Fish creek, the beach narrowed and as I cruised along, I came to a grinding halt and sunk. And what a job that was to be extracted. As the video show's, it was scary soft....hahahaha.<br />
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But eventually I was out. Another group had come along and they we not going to let the beach beat them, so they picked a line about a meter higher than I had took and were through easy. Mind you, the speed they traversed was scary. I looked at Trev, he looked at me and we said stuff it, lets do it. So we were both through without issue. Its amazing what difference a meter can make.<br />
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However, we were all thwarted at the next narrow point. it was just too narrow and we all had to turn back. back through my bog point, the wheel tracks now washed away from the surf, which proved the urgency of getting me out of that place pronto.<br />
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So with the run back to Moore's hut, coupled with the 17Km inland track, we eventually reached Fish Creek (West Cliff head):<br />
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There is the most beautiful spot to camp here, grass and all one dune from the beach, offering wind protection. However, it was full, there must have been 6 or more cars in that small area. So Trev and myself went in search of another place and found a spot in the dunes. it was bloody soft to get in, I had to reduce pressures below 10PSI. But in we got. The wind was pretty crappy and we huddled behind the cars for protection:<br />
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When we woke in the morning, the weather looked very daunting. Rain was imminent. A decision was made to skip breakfast and get packed and on the road before we got wet. We made it just in time. Not without it's issues though. <br />
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This trip was the maiden voyage for my mew Kumho KM51's.I replaced the Toyo opat's due to finding the sidewalls just didn't have the strength I needed. To be honest, I wasn't overly happy with the KM 51's in the sand. The Paj (although it weighs more than the D-max) sure didn't perform as well. Maybe I just need a bit more sand experience with these tyres. But when I woke I was properly deflated......and so was my Left hand rear. Suspecting another sidewall stake, I re-inflated the tyre to see what happens. It seemed to hold pressure, so I took the gamble to drive out and check out the damage in a place more tyre changing friendly. It was still at the same pressure????/<br />
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So we drove back out to Chesapeake Rd, our re-inflation point. The tyre still holding, we inflated back to road pressure. Checking frequently on the drive back to Manji, there was no change. So it seems, with the low pressure and the tight manoeuvring in the camp behind the dune, I must have popped the bead enough to deflate the tyre but not unseat it. So in a way that was a relief, but I've never popped a bead before and that in itself makes me worry into the future.<br />
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Arriving in Manjimup, we had our breakfast, then hit the road for home. A thoroughly enjoyable trip done and dusted, ready for the next one.<br />
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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5 nights under canvas<br />
1753km travelled<br />
71L fuel used @ Manjimup (477Km's - 14.9L/100)<br />
119L fuel used remainder of trip (819Km - 14.5L/100)<br />
1296Km in total<br />
for an average of 14.66L/100Km<br />
cost of fuel $253<br />
camp fees $20<br />
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The running tally of nights under canvas now stands at 46<br />
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Vids for the trip<br />
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-61672902701135794502018-02-15T18:36:00.003+08:002018-02-17T10:34:56.601+08:00Wandering down to the Warren18-23rd November<br />
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Well after being cooked at Kunanalling, Warren decided he hadn't had enough of me and wanted to join in the fun of another 6 days away. Being November, going South was the only option. Leo also took the opportunity to get one night in with us and see some bits of the south West he hadn't seen before.<br />
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So I decided we would head down to Augusta, then follow the coast east from there. Where we ended up, we ended up. And seeing we had no real plan in place, I thought I may as well get some caching in too. Both Warren and leo hadn't seen what it was all about, so it was a good thing to show them as well.<br />
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Meeting at the "Ice Cream Cones" on Forrest highway, I quickly showed the boys what this geocaching thing was about. A tricky little cache, Warren actually found how to open this hide. Not a bad effort for a first timer.<br />
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Slowly making our way South, stopping off at some pre saved caches filled in the day quite well. I picked up a couple of trackables and geo coins to be moved on later in the trip<br />
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Pretty sad, when we got to Fergus the Bull, he was having an ear replaced. Apparently, some of the lower IQ people in our society think its a great game to steal his horns, break his ears or just otherwise be a dick.</div>
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Some more caching whilst heading South and we arrived in Dunsborough. And here I came up with a good thought - Who wants an ice cream at Simmo's?<br />
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Well we all do. It was reasonably warm, we had time up our sleeve, so why not. It had been years since I had been there, so I went with the old favourite : A Liquorish ice-cream. Sounds terrible hey, but wait till you taste it:<br />
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From there we headed out towards Yallingup. A cache near here sounded interesting and I was hoping it might provide a camp for the night. Unfortunately it didn't. The South west corner here is absolutely magnificent. Brilliant coast, Wineries and breweries galore, a real tourist mecca. The Achilles heal is the lack of camping facilities. There is very little unless you want to spend +$30 per night in some commercial venture.<br />
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So out with the maps and we decided to head to Cranebrake Pool. I said it will probably be busy and seeing its a small place, we may not get in. Only one way to find out I guess.<br />
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So on the way, we come across more evidence of some of the diminished gene pool in the area. This thing was still smoking and hot. It hadn't been torched much before hand. A great way to find your pride and joy hey.</div>
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Upon arrival, as suspected, all sites were taken and it appeared like bogan central. So that was a win. We made our way to the overflow area and found we had it to ourself. Awesome. A pleasant quiet night was had by all.</div>
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Day 2 and after breakfast, Leo hit the road for home, Warren and myself headed further south.</div>
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More caches along the way took us to some obscure sites, this fire tower, we wouldn't have known about otherwise:</div>
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Warren actually found the cache before I had even got out the car. Mind you, it was pretty exposed, but I guess with a days training up his sleeve, he was well on the way to becoming level: Expert in geocaching.<br />
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Then slowly meandering our way further South, we stopped in at Margaret River falls. A pretty little place, but the cache here had us stumped. Mind you, the tree cover didn't help with the location accuracy of the GPS.<br />
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And eventually we made Augusta. Cape Leeuwin in the background:</div>
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Checking out the new marina, and wasting a couple of hours getting some more geocaching tally's we headed for Alexandra bridge. A pretty little place it is too, mind you, I would hate to have to rely on solar here, the tree canopy making an awesome shaded spot to camp.</div>
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Just after dinner, glass of red in hand, Warren and myself were sitting under my awning. I hear a noise above and felt wet. Bloody possums: Grrr. It had decided to piss all over my awning and I copped its spray...Grrrr. Lucky, it was only a light shower.</div>
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However later on, the furry bag of piss dumped a whole bucket load on my awning. I couldn't believe so much fur could hold so much liquid. Eventually it buggered off in the tree canopy to annoy some other poor hapless bastard. It didn't return for the rest of night, thank goodness.</div>
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Out with the nanopresso in the morning, I made myself and a fellow camper a good brew:</div>
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It was a late start today, getting underway about 1030. We didn't have far to travel, only about 120 odd Km's, so it was nice getting a late start in. the target for today, Black Point. I knew it was a bit of a sandy track in, and this could slow us down, but we should arrive in plenty of time for camp.<br />
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And a slow trip in it was, but I'm sure Warren was loving it. Arriving at Black point about 1430, the weather had taken a turn and it wasn't looking great. We hung around Surfers cove for a bit to see what the weather was going to do. A few light showers passed and an hour or so later we drove to the other side: Stepping Stones. There was a cache about 1.5Km's hike up the beach, but the weather still looked very daunting, so I decided to leave this cache for another day</div>
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We took a look around both campgrounds: no one was here: And decided on the Seal Cove site. It had some timber left behind from a previous group, so that will come in handy. It also allowed us to have the campfire Olympics:</div>
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A nice night ensued around a cosy fire. Unfortunately a couple of hours in, the heavens opened up. We retreated under the awnings until it stopped, then came back out and finished the fire off - with another glass of red no doubt.</div>
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Morning dawned nice and sunny. The bad weather now gone:</div>
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My coffee clobber seems to grow every trip:</div>
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I thought I should take Warren to lake jasper seeing as we are passing by. But first I conned him down to jasper beach:</div>
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Getting down and on the beach wasn't a problem, but warren started to worry when I couldn't get off the beach. A bit more adjustment of tyre pressures and I was up on the second attempt. Warren took 2 goes too.</div>
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From there we headed out to lone karri beach. Stuffed if I know where the karri is:</div>
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And now having no plan on where we are to both travel and stay, we ventured into lake Jasper. There is bugger all camp spots here now, due to all the anti-social behaviour of previous years, Dpaw in their wisdom have made it low key, low volume.</div>
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It was only about 1300, a bit early to camp. So we had some lunch and pushed on. Some time later, bac on the blacktop, we ventured into a nice little place: Snottygobble campground. Now well later in the afternoon, timing was just right to make this out camp for the evening. A nice little fire in the fire ring topped it off.</div>
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For our last day on the ground, we just went exploring. No plans had been laid, we would just see where we ended up. First stop being Beedelup Falls where I managed to pick up another 2 caches:<br />
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From there we headed out to Lake Yeagerup and another cache I could not find:</div>
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And seeing we were in Yeagerup, it was time to hit the dunes and head for Yeagerup beach:</div>
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On the way out we took a back road for yet another cache:</div>
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It was a killer. In open shoes, peeling back vegetation in true tiger snake country. I almost quit 20m from the cache, it got that bad. But I couldn't let it go and soon enough, determination paid off with another find:</div>
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From there we headed to Drafty's camp. There was no sites available that was suitable for our set ups. I just don't get Dpaw. Lots these days have camper trailers and most Dpaw sites you go to are for tent based camping - they are either very small or you have to walk your gear in. No room for either camper trailers or a vehicle with an awning. Of course, when we arrived at Drafty's, the only couple of spots out of all the sites in the place suitable for us were taken.</div>
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So we ventured further on to Warren campsite. Again all the sites too small and no room for us. However, the carpark for river access had the room. With no "no camping" signage, we took the opportunity and set up or the night.</div>
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Here we met Verena, a German cycling across the world. Telling us her tales of cycling the Gibb River Road, she earnt our respect. What a champion. Warren and myself had another awesome little campfire to sit by tonight.</div>
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Unfortunately morning came around too quick. Some coffee and a last chat with Verena, and we were on the way for home. It had been a great 6 days and I thank Warren for being there.<br />
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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5 nights under canvas<br />
1153km travelled<br />
144L fuel used<br />
for an average of 12.5 L/100Km<br />
cost of fuel $195<br />
camp fees $42<br />
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The running tally of nights under canvas now stands at 41<br />
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And the trip vids below:<br />
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-64484359504905502192018-01-19T17:37:00.000+08:002018-01-19T17:37:23.273+08:00Kooked at Kunanalling22 - 28th October<br />
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Well I am some 3 months and 4 trips behind in my blog writeups, so as I sit by the pool here in Bali, (yep, no dust or flies to worry about here), then it's best I get onto updating my stuff hey!<br />
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It was always going to be tough. Late October and a trip to the Goldfields. It was probably going to be hot, dusty and full of flies. So Sunday morning I met Warren in Mundaring and off we headed for Coolgardie.<br />
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Doing the long stretch between Southern Cross and Coolgardie, I couldn't believe my luck - yep more bloody wide loads<br />
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But we got around them pretty easily and plugged on. It looked like lots of rain was falling to the North and South of the highway, but on the highway, apart from a small shower, we seemed to miss it all. That said, there was quite a bit of water on the road, so we only just missed it.<br />
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It seemed like forever, but we finally hit Coolgardie, then headed North to a spot I had checked out on tenegraph before we left. Travelling up the Coolgardie North Road, you could hear half the road surface beIng transplated to the side of the vehicle. It was certainly a bit slushy and slippery. But we found out turn off for our predetermined camp.<br />
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Unfortunately, Google Earth in this part of the world isn't real current. What looked to be lightly vegetated country ended up being the opposite. It was heavilly wooded and this in itself posed some issues just getting up the track to out camp. As it was, I had to chainsaw a few offending bits out of the way. Then to make matters worse, we couldn't get up the trackTo our camp due to vegetation. So we spied a small spot that we thought we could all fit into and set to work getting camp set up for the week.<br />
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But set up we did and we had a quiet night by the fire, ready for some prospecting in the morning.<br />
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Well best laid plans go astray. After a very easy morning, stuffing around with coffee, then eventually some breakfast, Warren and myself sat under a tree in the shade gas bagging for quite a while. Warren and myself had only met for the first time up at Mundaring on the way here, so we had some stuff to chat about.<br />
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My mate Steve was coming to spend the week with us today. He was coming from Bunbury. I was just hoping he could navigate his way to our camp. By about lunchtime, I was in the couldn't be arsed in pulling out the detector mode, so Warren and myself cracked a beer and talked some more BS. About 1400 I suggested to Warren we should hike the 2km's out to the main road to see if we can get Steve on the phone - we had no coverage at camp. I was a bit worried Steve might not be real keen on abusing his new 200 series down the tight bush track.<br />
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Well it seemes like no time had passed, but we got out to the main road and found we did have some coverage.<br />
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With some luck, we got a few broken calls into Steve and let him know both where we were and what to expect. So Warren and myself being out of beer, we hiked back to camp and chilled out until Steve arrived:<br />
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Late afternoon Steve arrived and we discussed how all 3 of us would fit into camp. I moved over so Steve had somewhere to put his gazebo. Although I Carried one with me, with the limited space we had to play with, it just seemed easier for me to use the awning instead.<br />
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An awesome night by the bush tele, we retired for the prospect of some yellow in the morning.<br />
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Tuesday morning arrives and the ritual of stuffing around with coffee and breakfast takes place yet again. Steve is keen as mustard to get his 5000 on the ground and is into it well before myself. Warren, not being a prospector per'se became Steve's pick boy.<br />
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I wasn't real happy with the look of the ground. It consisted of soft loamy top soil, obviously deposited In times of heavy water flow. There was no rock, quartz/ironstone whatever to speak off and to be perfectly honest, it wasnt auiferous in my uneducated mind. But I pulled the 4500 out of the bag and gave it a crack.<br />
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I suppose the one advantage of this ground was the lack of rubbish to be found. Every now and then we found evidence of old cattle mens camps, broken bottles and bully beef cans, but they were few. Not like a lot of places where metalic junk keeps you busy all day. We did stumble across one little pit and the only piece of quartz found so far. Discarding the large lump as nothing of worth, Steve ran the 5000 over it and it gave off a slight signal....you bastard, that was mine!<br />
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So some time was spent busting it up, but no colour was to be found. Obviously just mineralisation of some description.<br />
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The surrounds of the pit was obviously a large camp at some stage. A railway Used to run through here, maybe the camp wasn't From cattlemen, but gangers??? anyway, we found a few old Bits of interesting stuff:<br />
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So it was getting close to lunch and we headed back to camp where I had the find of the trip; an old tag that once belonged to a Dodge trayback truck:<br />
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What a piece of history that was, along with a couple of other small finds:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOroFt-aau4us6536XYXA3aj1b1aJTqP1sva8sQpkyKfv7qzqN97cnJH45JIeMKJzh4lvJras1JVNkXsvn3y03S4cCT4cJZSj5MsMrb5Vjv-Q8c0EZLMAWAx-tU-1B_tybjTO2epxQ5w0/s1600/DSC_0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOroFt-aau4us6536XYXA3aj1b1aJTqP1sva8sQpkyKfv7qzqN97cnJH45JIeMKJzh4lvJras1JVNkXsvn3y03S4cCT4cJZSj5MsMrb5Vjv-Q8c0EZLMAWAx-tU-1B_tybjTO2epxQ5w0/s1600/DSC_0028.jpg" /></a></div>
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Once home I did some digging on Winterbottoms. I found a superb photo of their premises thanks to the WA Museum:<br />
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And a small piece from RACWA that's worth repeating:<br />
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After lunch, I couldn't be arsed, so I just followed Steve and Warren around. I think I had set myself to believe the ground was useless so I couldn't see the point dragging the detector around. Even just walking around, I was struggling, so I decided to head back to camp for a bit of a clean up. feeling a million bucks after a shower, I went downhill later that afternoon and evening. I just felt lethargic as hell and sat with my head in my hands. About 2000, I wandered off to bed without dinner, hoping I could sleep off whatever lurgy was making me feel pretty ordinary.<br />
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Felling a little better on Wednesday morning, after the coffee ritual, we headed out with detectors in tow. A couple of hours on the ground and we all came to the descision we were wasting our time here. So I checked my maps and found I had some ground marked a bit further out near Ora Banda. At about 1100, we decided to break camp and shift for different ground.<br />
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Via the old Kunanalling Hotel:<br />
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Finding a track heading up to the patch, we drove around a bit and found a suitable place to park up. The ground here looking far more promising: quartz and ironstone littered the ground. Salt and pepper - yeah!<br />
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Thursday morning dawned and I was now feeling much better. Moving camp on the Wednesday was hard work I tell you.<br />
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Running the detectors over the ground for a few hours, we returned to camp empty handed. The wind was starting to pick up, and the longer we sat in camp, the worse it got. It got to the point it was useless to go out again. It got so bad, I couldn't even cook dinner, so I had bickies and dip for sustenance. You have to see the vid to understand just how bad it really was. Another day written off.<br />
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Friday dawned and the wind had finally abated, somehow we all survived the night with little damage - I still cant believe my awning withstood the pace. Little did Warren know, but I knew today was Warren's 65th birthday - so Steve and myself went over and gave him 65 all the bests. So our last day on the ground and we got the detectors swinging. Coming back to camp empty handed (as per usual), we collected timber. Tonight was going to be special. A baked dinner from the camp oven for Warrens birthday.<br />
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And a brilliant dinner it turned out to be too. Warren even supplied apple pie for desert.<br />
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Saturday morning dawned. We were sort of over it by now, it had been a very unproductive trip. Up early, packed and back on the road for home, Warren and myself said goodbye to Steve at Merriden, and Warren and myself parted company in Midland.<br />
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Whilst it was not as planned, I'm sure we all enjoyed the company and a week in the bush. This prospecting business still eludes me......Grrrrr.<br />
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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6 nights under canvas<br />
1408km travelled<br />
176L fuel used<br />
for an average of 12.5 L/100Km<br />
cost of fuel $228<br />
9.5L of water used<br />
17 beers, 1 cask of red and 5 cans of lemon soft drink consumed <br />
camp fees nil<br />
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With an overnighter at Yanchep (not reported) and Sandy Cape in the last entry, the nights under canvas tally stands at 36.<br />
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And the trip vids:<br />
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<br />sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-65133367470732954552017-10-01T13:02:00.003+08:002018-05-01T21:21:56.164+08:00Squeezin in at Sandy<br />
September 15-17<br />
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Watching the weather during the week, it wasn't looking too promising. However, Thursday night, Leo and myself decided we would head for Sandy Cape on Friday afternoon and take the risk of the now predicted light showers and just live with it. Leo got off work early on Friday and I met him on the road about 1430. The plan was to head up to Jurien, have dinner at the pub, move onto the campsite afterwards and just take what comes from there.<br />
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Discussing the weather over the radio, I asked Leo to put his money where his mouth is. A pint was no on the offering for me should it rain. I would be buying if it didn't. Leo also wanted to play a game: how many cops would be see on the way up. Another pint on offer to the one who scores correctly. Against my better judgement, I elected 2, Leo, 4.<br />
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We arrived in Jurien about 1700. A slow trip up, we got stuck behind a line of half a dozen vehicles following a booze bus doing its legal speed of 100Km/h. Being the cops, no one would overtake it....go figure! which meant we had a leisurely stroll up the highway for about an hour. Time being on our side, it wasn't an issue anyway. But with 2 cops seen, I was feeling pretty chuffed - a free pint was coming my way. Winning!<br />
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Leo having never been north of Lancelin, I showed him a few bits of Jurien. It was way too early for dinner and we had some time to kill. But after an hour or so at the boat ramp, the sun getting closer to setting, we decided to forego the pub dinner, buy something to cook for tea at the local IGA and head on out to camp in time to watch the sun set over the ocean. And a good idea that was too. Leaving town, we were tested by the slow moving booze bus. The female copper laughed when I told her we had been stuck behind her for the last hour.....Oh the irony.<br />
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Arriving at Sandy Cape, the place was heaving. It just seems to be getting more popular as time goes on. I guess, with the restrictions Dandaragan Shire has put on free camping on the coast, then the very few legal places to go will only get busier. We managed to squeeze into a spot for the night, a mere 50m from the beach:<br />
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As is quite often the case in a public campground, you have no choice over your neighbours. A large group across the road was carrying on a bit, swearing, driving around all night and just generally being a pain for others. The neighbours in the van next to us made some comments about them earlier on to us. All in all, it could have been far worse than it was. By 11pm, with a few beers and reds under the belt, we retired for the evening. Not a bad effort for me, seeing as I had been up since 0330.<br />
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I was woken about 0600 in the morning. The sounds of Leo snoring and the dew raining down on my swag had pushed the bladder into action. Peeling back the covers of the swag revealed a pretty amazing sight:<br />
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Fog. And wasn't it thick:<br />
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I took a stroll down the beach with the camera. You couldn't see either the South nor the North heads:<br />
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Killing time for an hour or so, Leo decided to raise his weary head. The underside of both our awnings were as wet as their tops. So we had a slow relaxing morning, waiting for things to dry out. It was about 1030 when we had finally cooked breakfast and packed up for some explorations for the day. At this stage, we hadn't decided where we would camp tonight. We would just wing it and see what the day had in store for us.<br />
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First port of call for the day was to take Leo out to one of my fave little places: Stockyard Gully Caves.<br />
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A relatively minor track to get in, I was surprised by the amount of cars in the car park. I had never seen so many. Donning our caving gear, we headed off down to the gully.<br />
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The bee hives at the entrance creating quite a loud buzz in the air:<br />
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And into the cave we go:<br />
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A flat walk on soft sand inside of some 250-300m, and pretty soon you are in complete darkness. Turning of ones head lamp and taking in the blackness is a surreal feeling. As you will see in my vid, I mention the bad habit of souveniring cave flow structure. I know it happens in other caves and I find the practice abhorrent. However, upon reflection, I have to admit, some (most?) of this damage could well have been caused by flood damage. You see, the cave is really just a tunnel. Its a creek bed, and in times of high water (no doubt that was some time ago), then it could well be possible these structures were removed by water and debris. At times gone past, the whole "tunnel" could have been under water.<br />
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Anyway, this time around I found evidence inside the cave that some movement monitoring is going on:<br />
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And before you know it, the rays of daylight start poking your eyeball's:<br />
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On a hot day, its a remarkable place down here. The river gully, vegetated with large gums is a cool little oasis. The vegetation so far removed from the scrappy salt bush that lines the coastal plains in this area.<br />
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The cave itself also provides great relief from the flies and heat on a hot day. With a couple of hours of exploring done and lunch now baking in the oven, we hit the track out, this time heading for Green Head.<br />
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Arriving in Green head at Dynamite Bay, the Pie and Chicko roll was ready for the Eating. <br />
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Poor old Leo had to go to the store for lunch and had a chocolate ginger scone with a choc milkshake to wash it down. Yuppie! A nice little store it is too, if you are in town, I recommend it.<br />
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From there, I took Leo up towards a little tourist track to see some of the other coastal scenery about the place. Venturing in to the new Milligan's Island camp ground to see if that's where we would like to spend the night. Quite different to the Cape, there was no one here. Whilst it seemed a nice, new campground, it just didn't have the appeal of Sandy so we decided we would venture back there for the night.<br />
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We drove down to the beach and spotted the most amazing contrail. A B777, on its way to Singapore at 36,000Ft, leaving a phenomenal contrail and a black exhaust plume parallel to the cloud. I've never seen that before:<br />
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From there we headed out to Point Louise:<br />
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Time now starting to get on, we decided its best we head back to camp in time for the sunset. However, a drive along Anchorage Bay back to Green Head was in order:<br />
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Returning to Sandy Cape, we found the place to be even more packed than when we left. With slim pickings to choose from, we managed to squeeze into a small site among the vegetation:<br />
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And just in time to grab a beer, a camera and a GoPro to watch the sun go down over the Indian Ocean:<br />
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Dinner again a simple affair. A pre made chicken parmigiana, garden salad and some dressing. Too easy:<br />
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However, once the sun went down, boy did the mozzies come out to play. Over a few drinks, leo decided to look up the International Space Station to see where it was. With pretty flakey coverage, He turns and says, would you believe its right above us......No way, I shit you not. So out into the darkness we ventured and watched as the space station zoomed on by. A Cosmonaut and an Astronaut or two, flying over, right above us, some 400Km above. Here we were wishing we could be where they were, and here they were wishing they could be where we were!<br />
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Come the morning, we helped a couple with some issues trying to fill their water tank on a rental troopie, packed up and headed for home. Leo made note of the fact he was now due a pint, due to the fact no rain had fell over the weekend. So, with that and the cop bet, we ended up even.<br />
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The only really thing of note coming home, was coming across an accident scene with a lucky escape. An older lady, trying to open a drink bottle, lost control in the dirt, spun and crossed to the other side of the road, backwards, burying the commodore arse end in the dirt. A lucky escape, a fella towing a boat coming the other way, only just missed her as she reversed out of control right in front of him.....<br />
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So a nice couple of days adding to the nights under canvas, now at 29 nights for the year. <br />
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A measly 560Km weekend, 210Km from camp to home, made it a pretty easy weekend. One we both dearly needed, since it had been nearly 3 months of being locked in at home and work since we had last been away.<br />
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The Tab seems to be doing the job nicely and the multi odometer function is a handy novelty.<br />
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In a month, I get a week off, so I'm thinking I may go and have a ferret again with the detector. Will this be the time I pop my nuggetty cherry???<br />
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And the trip vids:<br />
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part I-<br />
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<br />sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-39796135894347737002017-07-20T20:26:00.002+08:002017-10-01T10:13:56.759+08:00Get lost why dont ya!<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">So I have been asked a bit lately what would I recommend in regards to sat nav in your vehicle. Would I recommend a hema such as the HN7, a tablet, an Ipad or some other device.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Well at the outset, I have to say I have absolutely no experience with any apple product, nor do I plan to. Too many handcuffs for my liking. But those that have them, love them, so there must be something of worth there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Since 2009 when I first set up an incar sat nav (and I'm not talking Garmin Nuvi's, Tom Tom's, Navman's and other street routable portable devices), I went with the good old PC, running various operating systems and had the output linked to an external monitor.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH-OOJ9dZaIjx0tVXpZG43-8s6rkAcAYNic_Mf7VCH52lE6IG95M1DkhZaxLeOeBfbFCkPZvoaS3kKT6g2JjJmtV0Hgfco4e3JehHdcYWBD-SUX3UYLfQh-beRg6I4hE2wXzjoDnAaz0/s1600/reversecamimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH-OOJ9dZaIjx0tVXpZG43-8s6rkAcAYNic_Mf7VCH52lE6IG95M1DkhZaxLeOeBfbFCkPZvoaS3kKT6g2JjJmtV0Hgfco4e3JehHdcYWBD-SUX3UYLfQh-beRg6I4hE2wXzjoDnAaz0/s1600/reversecamimage.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">That has served my purposes very well, although it does come with some hangup's. Like trying to change mapset's on the move for example. Its almost impossible to do, and cant be done safely IMO.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">But I've never been lost and have recorded some great data over the years. For example, my track logs from 2009 - 2015:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6LKp8XSrZ7cUePrBPjzZL7eDVEzJbx-ed2r8Mb7iQUTqpnt-91_gpUGzk2_e19hmX1V5os858DLI4o4CABY9XPrUE7joyVGtLCS3xr38-EECiUosKqd5_TwFno33hQizC2oF_l2kc_s/s1600/tracklogs+by+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6LKp8XSrZ7cUePrBPjzZL7eDVEzJbx-ed2r8Mb7iQUTqpnt-91_gpUGzk2_e19hmX1V5os858DLI4o4CABY9XPrUE7joyVGtLCS3xr38-EECiUosKqd5_TwFno33hQizC2oF_l2kc_s/s1600/tracklogs+by+2015.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">After my Canning Stock Route trip, the old 10" netbook hard drive running XP was starting to play up. I'm surprised it lasted that long. That poor old hard drive had been beaten to a pulp from off road corrugations for years without issue. The Canning finally sorted that out - not to mention the other vehicle damage suffered.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">So I replaced that 12 months ago with a 14" lappy with SSD, running windows 10. That has brought me up to the modern era. But I'm getting over trying to get touch screen drivers to run on Win10 effectively. That allows me control over my mapping program from the onitor itself - the laptop is buried under the seat.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Since 2009 my software of choice has been PC ozi explorer and I can get my way around this reasonably well. Its pretty full on for the novice, but in reality, its not that hard to master most functions you would need to use for off road navigation with a bit of practice.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Some years ago I also purchased a cheap Chinese 7" street navigator running a WinCe platform, purchased a licence and put ozi on that. That wasn't too bad, Having 2 navs running at once, displaying different map sets of the same location can be handy. Its been sitting in my glove box since my old car failed on me though in 2015.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScdP-kZlXoYIkmJcoH-0o8NRkimp-fdOTwU5oADNiyXGQxxnSveTMtRqvhRJdVeVwD7A64UpRHHK_1oKJBaejSruLPZN4L_IRwvLCp8mgAjXAzkDXNt9kFAgAxMW8aKNzQmsbx-DqGts/s1600/P4180206_zps55c07b03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScdP-kZlXoYIkmJcoH-0o8NRkimp-fdOTwU5oADNiyXGQxxnSveTMtRqvhRJdVeVwD7A64UpRHHK_1oKJBaejSruLPZN4L_IRwvLCp8mgAjXAzkDXNt9kFAgAxMW8aKNzQmsbx-DqGts/s1600/P4180206_zps55c07b03.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Over the years, I've purchased a lot of ozi mapsets. So to stick with what I have is a no brainer - unless someone can show me a better alternative for my map set library I've built up, primarily in ECW and various Ozf formats. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">So that brings me to the question that's been asked of me: what mapping platform to run? </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I recommended an android tablet. The reason being, its far cheaper than a hema (if you already have maps that is - and most maps aren't cheap) and far more versatile. Not only can you use a tablet for navigation, but there is a whole world of apps out there to cover almost any need one could have. The hema can't do that. And if you buy a 3/4G capable unit or have access to wifi, then you have the world of the webs at your finger tips too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">So, not to rest on my laurels, I put my money where my mouth is and went out and bought a tablet, specifically for this purpose. I'm unsure how this will go in the future, so will just have to give it a shot. With the PC, I've saved all my files as a GPX file. This allows me to save both waypoints and tracks in the one file. I can also exchange it between different platforms and import that into Google Earth if needed. However, Ozi android, still after all these years in development, cant handle .GPX files. So to make my older files usable on the tablet, I'm going to have to save both waypoints and tracks as separate files.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">It can be very handy when in an area you have been to before and cant seem t find your way. Uploading previous saved tracklogs can be a godsend when you cant find your way. So that is one issue I will need to contend with. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Onto the Tab. I already have a quality sSmsung tab with 4g . But I want a stand alone tab for my nav and my 8" Samsung isn't big enough for me. So enter a lenovo tab3 10 business. On special at the Good Guys atm for $200. Here is where I strike my biggest drama's. trying to find out if the tab has 2 features I need</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">1. a stand alone GPS</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">2. A magnometer (compass)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">In the past, asking salesmen these questions was a mission in futility. They haven't a freakin clue.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Funny how things don't change. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">The salesman was getting a bit irate at my barrage of questioning. I said, if you can confirm these features you have a sale, if you cant, I have to walk. I must have spent a couple of hours with him. He tried to tell me it only had a-gps (needing an internet connection) and if it didn't have Glonass in the specs it wasn't stand alone. So I told him that's crap and he should google Glosnass - a Russian GPS constellation</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Anyway, with no Glonass in the specs, he wasn't keen to sell it to me. After searching numerous sites for specs on this tab, we agreed it probably did have a standalone gps and I would give it a shot. In fact, is there any tabs out there without a stand alone GPS only A-GPS?? So I saved at least $150 over a similar sized and lesser memory Samsung.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Once home and through the initial set up, I downloaded a GPS status app. And my fears were quelled. It did have stand alone GPS - phew. But no magnometer (compass). It would have been nice to have that magnometer, but for nav purposes isnt' required, so I can live with that. Funny though the lower spec 10" Lenovo showed an electronic compass. And Android 5.1.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">It might have been a better bet in hindsight. I forgot I had read that with Android 6 (the OS of my new tab), writing to SD cards had been disabled and provided some difficulties. I recalled this when I went to play with the new tab and found some issues. So to get around this, I have mounted the 64Gb card as internal storage. I can still transfer files with USB transfer on the PC to the card so all is not lost.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Anyway, teething issues sorted, I payed my $32 for an OziAndroid licence key and got that up and running with my truckload of maps. The GPS can be a bit flakey at times compared to my gps module on the PC, but it is good enough. I suppose I could go buy a bluetooth gps module if I dont like this flakiness at some stage in the future:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I then installed wiki camps to the tab, another valuable feature of using a tab:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91tXmNApiHUb6BU4IF7iToOMAWyPJpWvaa4gF06sG0vLRQk5pPHAw7aJRPR4pNjV0VyW6AlYXR5WaMyonHsITDcJL9b0AmPCXJzka3-R6R2lk8dH1ABGGi4Ju3nEdvswbzeBBkMUt4lo/s1600/sat+nav+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91tXmNApiHUb6BU4IF7iToOMAWyPJpWvaa4gF06sG0vLRQk5pPHAw7aJRPR4pNjV0VyW6AlYXR5WaMyonHsITDcJL9b0AmPCXJzka3-R6R2lk8dH1ABGGi4Ju3nEdvswbzeBBkMUt4lo/s1600/sat+nav+9.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">My next task was for street nav routable maps. I was going to go with Igo - somthing I'm familiar with, but getitng no response from a vendor made me think again. My mate Woody, who was one who asked me which way he should go, put me onto here we go (formerly here maps). A free app with a free map download for off line usage.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I tried it out today, and although I knew where I was going, it seemed to do the job, even when I deliberately veered onto a different route. Like all rout-able street maps, sometimes you scratch your head where they take you. I've always said, it pays to look at a map first and rough plan your route.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">So, to make this a going concern, I had to sort out mounting it in the car. I went the ram mount option. A seat bolt flexible pedestal, with quick release tab holder. Not a cheap option at $120, but it should do the job. I put a brace on the stem to help sort some of the movement this will produce when in the rough - mind you, I had a heavier monitor on a different stem and never bothered with the vibration in the past.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I was always planning on running this in landscape. However, it seemed to encroach too much into the passenger area for my liking, and a 10" tab provides plenty of field of view in the East-West plane, so my decision was made. Portrait it shall be:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">It doesn't encroach too much on the passenger area, so that is a good thing too:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">And I can easily turn it out of the way to gain full access to radio and climate controls when needed:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">With a world of apps available to download, it makes the Tab a much better proposition to a hema or the like IMO.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">But that said, I already own my maps. If I had to go buy them from scratch, the Hema or the like may well represent better value for money. So this is where I'm at at the moment. A total outlay (excluding maps) of $400 has me up and running. Now I just need to get out there and use it and see if I can cope not having the functions full blown OziPc had. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">EDIT: 11/08/17</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I mentioned the internal GPS seemed a bit flakey. By that, I mean I could see the speed box on Ozi didn't seem accurate at times and even sitting on a constant speed it would show speeds that obviously were not correct. So I decided to see how an external GPS would fix that issue.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">So enter the Globalsat BT-821 bluetooth module. I went the BT-821 route over the others for a couple of reasons. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">1. It was about the cheapest and I didn't want to spend a motza proving a concept</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">2. it wont work with Apple products. I have none anyway and don't plan on ever owning such</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">3. It has excellent battery life over the others if I don't want to power it on the go</span></span><br />
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I feel if money wasn't an option, I would have been keen on the Garmin GLO. Although only having about 1/2 the battery life, it also connects with Glosnass. More sat's to connect with should mean greater accuracy?? But its also twice the price.<br />
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<a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-AU/AU/p/109827" target="_blank">garmin GLO</a><br />
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The BT-821 only connects to the GPS sat's and a major downer is the only charger supplied is a car charger. Due to it having a 4.0 x 1.7mm jack plug, it wont accept standard usb cables. However cheap solutions for that can be found and I will be able to charge it inside once this cable arrives.<br />
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It was very easy to connect it to the tab and to ozi android. So I took it on a run for about 100Km's on a route I initially tested it on where I found that "wobbly" speed issue. Wow, what a difference the BT GPS made. The speed function was now so much smoother and accurate and it held fix for longer in places where the internal one just dropped out. So I think I will be running the BT module as a permanent set up now. Whilst viewing the sat page on ozi didn't seem to show any increase in the number of sats or HDop between internal and BT gps, field results show it to be much more stable. I believe the recorded track will be much more accurate now.<br />
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Which leads to a question: do you need to buy a tab with internal GPS if you can just connect an external BT unit? I suppose the additional cost of a BT unit would have to be taken into account to answer that question.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> One reservation I had about running ozi android over the pc version was compatibility of all my recorded logs over the years. I save them in .gpx format as this allows me to save both the track and waypoints in the one file. Unfortunately Ozi Android doesn't support this function in full.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">You can load waypoints from a gpx file, but not tracks. So I was given a lead about a converter program. Thanks Maurice!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.borisov.ozitrackconverter&hl=en" target="_blank">Ozi track converter</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I downloaded this program and gave it a trial. It is very easy to use and will extract a track from a .gpx file and save it as a .plt file, which then can be used in ozi android. So to save me some work extracting tracks from my .gpx inventory, I will just leave this app in place and should I ever need to view an old track log, I will just convert it in the field as required.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Winning!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Watch this space. </span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">So with the first trip now under the belt (squeezing in at Sandy): some observations.</span><br />
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The Tab and ozi android seemed to do all I needed. My tracklog was recorded fine and I was able to put this into the PC version to combine all daily logs as a complete trip and saved as a .GPX file.<br />
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The biggest drama was trying to export the one waypoint I had saved and then finding it. Playing around with the config menu, I set the saving folder to default. Eventually, I could find the file. I'm not sure if this was an issue with coms between tab and PC or I just screwed something up. I guess I need to have another play on my next trip.sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-12646325829998824662017-07-02T21:20:00.000+08:002017-07-20T18:17:14.744+08:00How to make a small fortune<br />
19-25th June<br />
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So another year comes and so does another attempt at finding some Yellow. Meeting John at the leisurely hour of 9am, because we are not travelling as far this year, we headed off to the Bakehaus at Bindoon, to meet the third of the Party, Bruce. Bruce was coming from further South, via a different route to us, so the Bakehaus made the perfect meeting point. And I got to have a coffee and breakfast whilst we waited.<br />
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Stopping for fuel at Wubin, we had another 100 odd Km's before we turned off onto the dirt for a week of hunting for precious mineral:<br />
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An interesting article on Gold can be found here:<br />
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<a href="http://geology.com/minerals/gold/uses-of-gold.shtml" target="_blank">uses-of-gold</a><br />
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I was given a lead earlier in the year where some alluvial had been
found. As time drew near, I wrote to the tenement holder seeking
permission. I never received a reply from that. Lucky for me, I also
wrote to another tenement holder nearby, and they gave us the permission
to have a look around their exploration lease. A big thank you goes out to Minjar Gold for allowing us to have a look around their lease.<br />
<a href="http://www.minjargold.com.au/" target="_blank">http://www.minjargold.com.au/</a><br />
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So the die was cast. <br />
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Another 50 or so Km's on, we then turned onto a mining track to seek our camp for the week. Having a spot marked that we spied on Google Earth about 6 Km up, it wasn't that impressive, so we went exploring. About 2Km South of that spot, we found a suitable place to camp up for the week. Although I was quite alarmed at the amount of vegetation. Pushing through this with a detector would be very hard work indeed:<br />
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Whilst making camp, or more likely, having a beer by the fire, John went off in search of some way points he had marked, some 600m away. When he returned, he said he had found an old shaft and the country opened up considerably. That was great news to hear. A relaxing night by the fire and we all retired to noddy land for the evening.<br />
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I surprised John the next morning, being up before sunrise. Unfortunately Bruce had issues with his hand held GPS. These issues we never resolved for the trip. This would put Bruce on the back foot, because there is no way you can venture into this country without GPS. Not if you want to return that is. So he had to stick to visual navigation, which meant he couldn't venture into the scrub like John and myself did. A late start after some coffee and breakfast, John lead the way, through the thick scrub where he showed us the mine he found yesterday:<br />
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lots of open ground was presented to us, so we all headed off in different directions, with radio contact to make our fortunes.We would use this mine as our meeting point when we worked the area. A few hours in and we returned to Ground Zero (GZ) to swap tales of all the junk we had found. We hadn't found a lot in all reality, which in some ways is a bonus. But a nice piece of yella wouldn't go astray. The hair thin pieces of wire, about 10mm in length was a pain. I found a few of these over the week. Also, digging a fair hole for a target turning out to be a can lid was depressing:<br />
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A small rest and a bite to eat, we headed out again to make our fortunes. the ground showed promise: <br />
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But it wasn't to be. Returning to GZ, it wasn't to be for the others
either. So we made the 600m trek back to camp where John proceeded to
cook a roast. Having half a lamb, he fed the lot of us. Thanks mate, it
was delicious:<br />
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Over breakfast the following morning, we decided the ground we worked yesterday looked good and we should return. More so because it was open. There was no way you could detect most of the ground in this area, the vegetation just being so thick. Open ground was good but I was unsure. Whilst there were some nice patches of quartz, there was also a lot of banded iron and iron stone about. Not that I'm an expert, but I think there was just too much iron for good alluvial finds.<br />
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So we made our way to GZ and set up for another day of detecting. I decided I would push on for the base of a hill to the West. At first the ground was open, then the vegetation started. Ducking and weaving, trying to find a clear path was a chore. And bugger me, a good Km from GZ, on the slope of a hill full of vegetation, I found evidence that someone had detected before me. Its got me beat. No matter how far you venture, you always find evidence of someone being here before you. Its bloody amazing.<br />
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So I returned to GZ to meet the others. A bite to eat and John said he would show us some more workings he had found in the morning stint close by:<br />
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Lots of hand dug holes here. The trench above was impressive, that would have taken some work. We mused on what made them dig there in the first place. Had there been alluvial finds here in days long gone? We decided to return to camp and take the vehicles for a drive to assess the territory. Bruce's car needed a run anyway. He was running a fridge, on one battery, with no capacity to recharge it.<br />
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So off exploring we go. First stop was the breakaway where we were supposed to camp at:<br />
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And then we checked some old activity nearby. I was planning to head up to a couple of inactive mines I had marked up by Chullar Hill, about 20Km's away. That hill can be seen clear as day from the breakaway:<br />
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Along station tracks we go, coming to an old bore:<br />
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The sign on the stock holding fence proving they are a funny bunch out here:<br />
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Continuing on, we came to an active mine site and had to cross their haul road. The tracks on my maps don't quite match the route we are travelling, no doubt, changed by the recent mining activity. It's now 1530 in the afternoon and I'm worried about getting back to camp in time. So we can the idea of old mines exploration and head South for camp. We come to the junction of the Midday track. Bruce wasn't keen - he reckoned it was overgrown. Apart from a couple of acacia's at the start, it looked fine to me, so we ventured on. Camp only being some 11Km away. Unfortunately we only made 650m on this track before it closed in. So a complex turn around manoeuvre had us going back the way we came. So our 11Km shortcut got turned into a 26Km back over the same ground grind. We arrived back to camp just before dark and proceeded to get dinner on the way. Another nice night by the fire with desert from John - lemon crisp biscuits. You must thank your wife for that, it was a great choice.<br />
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Our third day on the ground, we headed South from camp in the cars looking for ground. Coming across some interesting stuff, we parked up - in the shadows of another old working. I headed East for some 750m. Coming down a hill full of ironstone, I reached the flats where in times lots of water flowed. After a couple of hours with no prospects, I decided to head back to the car. Just in time too, the weather was changing rapidly and it looked like rain. I just made it to the car before the first sprinkles set in. That's as bad as it got though. The wind was certainly increasing and the cloud looked ominous.<br />
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John had a find on the track, close to the car. It took him a bit just to get it out the hole, then he had to find it. I tried to tell him, on a track, adjacent to old workings was not a good sign. But he followed through (as one should)<br />
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That event was recorded here:<br />
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Funny as.......not!<br />
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For the second stint, I made my way towards the boundary of an existing lease. Once off the hill the ground showed reasonable prospect. But again, the precious stuff alluded me. With the cloud now pouring in, I made my way back to the car.<br />
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Returning to camp at a decent hour, I got the camp oven under way. Yet another bloody roast. We had 3 roasts in total on this trip:<br />
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And whilst the weather was threatening, we only got 3 small showers...that lasted all of a couple of minutes for each. Perth had been hammered, so we dodged a bullet.<br />
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The fourth day on the ground, and we were getting a little disheartened. We took the cars out again. I mentioned that track that passed by GZ must come off the main track. We headed out to the main road and came across what was obviously either an old miners camp, station workings or both. Evidence of cans suggest to me old mining camps. Evidence of ruined buildings suggest station outposts. So I believe it's a combination of both:<br />
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We crossed to the other side in search of ground. Lots of rubbish here would make detecting a pain, so we head back North . With a bit of looking around and we found the track which passed GZ. We proceeded past the old workings (GZ) and ventured a bit further North, again stopping at some good looking ground. But alas, we came home empty handed.<br />
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Bruce, being stuck to the track having no GPS found a lot. A lot of nails, tacks and other assorted bits of junk. John and myself remarked on the lack of wildlife. We saw no evidence of anything other than birds. Even their scats were few and far between. Though this brings the detectorist some advantage. No wildlife = no bullets.<br />
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John remarked by the campfire, he had decided to leave a day early. He would go home solo tomorrow. Bruce and myself would stay another day as planned.<br />
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John departed about 0930 whilst myself and Bruce went in search of ground. I had noted some interesting looking ground out by the main road, so out there we went. On the way I decided to stop in on a mining lease, which was about 2km from our camp. I was surprised to see an active site, some boys on the drill rig hard at work:<br />
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Although there was no "no entry" signs anywhere, we didn't hang around. We didn't want a warning shot over our heads. I'm sure if we were sighted they would have been not to happy. Such is the breed out in these parts.<br />
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Back to the track which leads to the main road, I spotted some old workings, so we ventured in to investigate. Wow, a lot of work had been done hear some time ago. A hand dug trench about 1.5m in width at the top, going some 50m in length with a depth of about 10m. Bloody hell, I thought the trench near GZ would be hard work. This was something else again. And around this trench was a few other shafts that had been dug.<br />
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But sight seeing was not our main aim, so we found some ground out off the main road and once again, unsuccessfully prospected for a couple of hours. Then proceeding back to camp, again on some nice open ground, we had our last stint for this trip. The yellow was elusive. We came back to our last campfire richer for the experience but not for mineral wealth. I'm starting to set a trend here and I need to get this monkey off my back.<br />
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Lucky for us, John had brought some prior found samples for us to google over, or we would never have seen any:<br />
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Having to water the plants at 0330, I decided to have a crack at some star trail photography with the GoPro. Unfortunately, with both phone and GoPro batteries flat, I had to gin around for about an hour before I retired back to the swag. I let it do its stuff. Set on 30 second exposure and continuous night shooting mode, the GoPro took lots of pictures. <br />
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And I got some interesting results on reviewing the recording once home. First up, I plugged in a power bank to keep the camera running. For some reason, this didn't work and the GoPro battery went flat whilst the powerbank didn't discharge. So I have one problem to look into. Secondly, I think if you are to dabble in this, you need some lit background as all you really see is little dots moving around a black sky. It needs some reference. But I also lucked in. The camera stopped recording just before dawn. This allowed the foreground and sky to be lit. Using some software to compile the images together and form the start rail I managed to get this remarkable shot.<br />
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Beginners luck I reckon. But it showed me why I need some partially lit background. I will definitely try this again.<br />
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The compiled images made the following clip:<br />
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So with coffee done it was time to pack for home. On the track out at 0930, I told Bruce I would wait at every turn off point so he didn't get lost. With no GPS nor UHF he would need my guidance. The plan was to head to Watheroo and have lunch at the pub.<br />
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Hitting the main road, I waited. And I waited. And I waited some more. After 15 minutes with no sign of Bruce, something must be wrong. The track was only 6Kn long after all. So I ventured back up in search of him. Only 500m up, he rounded a corner, flashing his lights. Bout time! So I reversed into the bush to turn around. Bruce came up to my window. Yep, he had an issue....Bugger.<br />
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Upon leaving camp, he realised he left his camp mug behind, so he reversed back to grab it. Straight into a tree....Grrrrr<br />
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He was not a happy man, as one would expect. A damaged bumper, tailgate and rear canopy window shattered into thousands of pieces. Worst of all, we had all this dirt to travel and the back of his ute would hoover this dust, straight into his tub. So we made the only decision. We canned the pub. The least amount of gravel was the way we came in 7 days ago.<br />
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You had to feel sorry for the bloke. I scratched his car (once again) and now he had all this damage to sort out. Worst of all, he was planned to go away again the next week and this damage would make that journey a chore.<br />
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Arriving in Wubin, we got our first real phone coverage for a week. Txt messages going off, one was from John. He too had some adventures. 5 minutes from home (which was a lucky break for him), the car started bellowing black smoke. He got the camper trailer in the driveway but that was the end of the ranger. Certainly wasn't a great trip vehicle wise:<br />
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3K later, with new injectors the ranger lives another day. I haven't heard back from Bruce how he has got on yet.<br />
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So another week long adventure has been completed. Not the way we would have liked, but oh well, at least we were not at work!<br />
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So how do you make a small fortune? Well, you start off with a large fortune and take up prospecting. That should turn your large fortune small in no time.<u> </u><br />
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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6 nights under canvas<br />
920km travelled<br />
107L fuel used<br />
for an average of 11.7 L/100Km<br />
cost of fuel $133<br />
camp fees nil<br />
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With Yeagerup, The Anne Beadell, logue Brook Dam, Mukka and now Ninghan complete, (some of those trips not reported here) the running tally so far this year is 27 nights under canvas. It will be a few months now before I can add to the tally.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">And the trip video can be seen below:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span>sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-90364322473235932932017-05-10T19:33:00.003+08:002017-07-04T21:35:23.340+08:00It's 50 in the desert, part II<br />
April 2 -17<br />
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How cool. As I write this entry, a milestone I hadn't anticipated has been struck.<br />
My blog has now had > 100, 000 hits. Awesome effort and thanks to you all for reading. <img alt="Hot smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-hotsmile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Qxem_YVjfr3nq2-dvmiheorDy-kbKY23uLClepXz6NNXjUrbccte7Vijul8zViNvoNbpje7xrTvI6ZAEFxjVF-v3H_F8DcraIlct2YhyphenhyphenjZpZ3TXgcofpQBfjW4SUpyGa9tiT4PXcuKc/?imgmax=800" /><br />
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Part II:<br />
So, after 6 days of big travels, I've made Adelaide. With a few milestones yet to complete:<br />
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Milestone 2: celebrating my long lost mates 50th birthday<br />
Milestone 3: returning across the Nullarbor by roads less travelled<br />
Milestone 4: Getting enough geocaches found to get my tally to 200 or above<br />
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Saturday and I get taken around to my long lost mates (Rick's) place. To be honest, he was a bit shocked to see me. Age may have wearied them, but instantly recognisable after 25 years I still am. I made comment "you don't think I just crossed the desert for fun did you"? Thanks for inviting me Helen.<br />
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We chat for a few hours and I head back to his Mum's place, where I stayed for my duration in Adelaide. Set up the swag in the garage, I'm still chalking up nights under canvas. Later in the afternoon, Rick comes around to his mum's place and then finds he has had a surprise 50Th thrown for him. It was a great night. Another long lost soul of Ricks came from Sydney. Between him and myself, Rick was well shocked.<br />
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Happy 50th Birthday mate!<br />
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Sunday was a quiet affair, until more people came over for a second celebration. The weather now had turned. Overcast, occasional showers and windy as hell. Nothing like in the desert. I was constantly watching the weather to see what I had in store on the way home.<br />
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And then came Monday. Happy Birthday to me! After Ricks mum made me an awesome bacon and egg breakfast, it was time to hit the road yet again. Rick had flown out to Whyalla earlier in the morning, I was to meet him there. 5 hours or so of my 50th on the road. A later start than I had planned, I bid farewell to Rick's mum at 0945 local. But the plan had a hiccup. I was pulled over for an hour 15 minutes after leaving. Another Pajero forum recognised me and told me to pull over. An hour in a carpark later and GLSGLS was happy to see these black fella feet get the hell out of his town.<br />
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With daylight, navigating my way out of the city was a breeze. Onto the Wakefield Rd and all was well. I had 2 not so good introductions to Adelaide when I came down this road. 1 - a caravan turned in front of me as I was bearing down on him at 110Km/h near Pt Germein. And 2, a bit later, rounding a corner I had a car on my side of the road overtaking a truck. Welcome to South Australia. Lucky for me, there were no issues on the return Journey, but a couple of vehicles towing in WA had me shake my head.<br />
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Falling behind time now, I stopped for fuel outside my Grandfather's home town of Pt Pirie and took a shot of the stack for a bit of nostalgia:<br />
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Time now being 1230 local, Whyalla was looking to be a later than planned arrival. But I got there in the end, about 1400. Rick had a friend with him (Sharmane) and we started having a couple of pre-birthday drinks. And Ricks brother - well over 30 years since I'd seen him - came around too. About 1800, 3 of us met Ricks 2 half brothers at the pub, where Rick made sure I was well fed and watered. Back to the hotel room and I finished my birthday watching "scream" on the box.<br />
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Day 9 finished, 400Km's travelled.<br />
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Tuesday arrived and it was time for the long haul home. Topping up my water jerry with the 3.5L of water I had consumed since Perth, I bid farewell to Rick and headed South for Pt lincoln at 1000. Milestone #2 now knocked off, it was time to concentrate on #4 - getting some caches found.<br />
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Spotting a sign post for Lucky Bay, I drove in for a look. And a surprise that was, for I had found where the ferry arrived from Walleroo.<br />
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Not having any caches downloaded from home, I was reliant on an internet connection now for some finds. And as luck would have it, there was one here, right next to the shacks the locals lived in:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSTgi6zidSNnLnSP8ebXTrf9IYPso0WFfigK2yOJ-_kOM_x9tbfm_KhfBMsr3_mOaSE1aKJ3IzerPPHN8QzkE8ms_5nuzqih0sbltZzPjbzWkF1mBuxmNrksIx0YVMrdEkWl_WaOTSYI/s1600-h/DSC_0148_zpsmtleva1j%255B7%255D"><img alt="DSC_0148_zpsmtleva1j" border="0" height="687" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsq4QbMDF9jjdy8OVNfQkQwhGUaXhBcFH5DpnpYgFJ7p_1rlwmzAdtkrT6yASmIPdEHCaVC3RqGBf4klAuDYPYE1jLBWbR1GesiLoiaW1V4PdDnI4rWPvvUyUYOxavPLUHwcuzQgLX77A/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="DSC_0148_zpsmtleva1j" width="1028" /></a></div>
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And lucky stumps (GC6A8GN) now had my stamp added to the log book. Next port of call, I dropped in on Arno Bay. A bite for lunch and I went to find another cache. But I had a small issue. My app C:geo wouldn't log in. Whilst I could see there were caches near, I couldn't navigate to it. It had me stumped and after 15 Minutes of ginning around, without success, I moved on. Pt Lincoln still another 120 odd Km's away and I had to find a place to park up for the night. So I bypassed some places like Tumby Bay so I could find a nice spot for the night. Arriving Pt Lincoln about 1530, I went to the supermarket to replenish some items I would need on the Nullarbor. Then onto Wiki Camps, I found a spot that was worth investigating, so off I head.<br />
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And I found my spot for the night at Sleaford Bay at 1615:<br />
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The ground being hard limestone, I didn't even bother with a peg. The copper log fence provided a suitable anchor point.<br />
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From desert dunes, I now make my way along some coastal scenery until I can find some roads less travelled across the Nullarbor. Unfortunately, while the sun came out - finally - it was blowing its ring off and I spent most of the night huddled beside the Paj, strategically positioned as a wind break.<br />
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But I had something to trial. Disposable frying pans (disposable aluminium foil trays). My only cooking source was either a fire or a butane cooker. For the butane cooker, I had a hot plate. Wipe it clean afterwards, use no water for cleaning frying pans. So I decided Pad Thai in the disposable frying pan was the go:<br />
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It worked a treat. Cook the chicken on the hotplate. Once done, put on a plate. Then stir fry some greens with noodles in the disposable pan on the hotplate with the chicken, fish sauce, sweet chilli sauce and tamarind paste added. Apart from overdoing it on the tamarind paste, it was pretty bloody good. And you get to eat straight from the pan. Just a couple of cooking and eating utensils to wash. Wipe the hotplate clean and throw the disposable pan in the rubbish bag on the rear door - Nice! I'll have to try these with some other dishes.<br />
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Hiding from the wind, I rang a mate in Perth and filled him in on the events thus far. But I had to cut the call short - a bad moon was arising and I wanted some pictures:<br />
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With the wind still howling, It was pointless staying up, so I retired to bed early<br />
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Come the morning, the wind had dropped and a heavy dew had set in. this was to plague me all the way home. I hadn't used the awning for the 6 days to Adelaide as there was no dew. I was to use the awning everyday from here on in, unless I found some shelter. That had the effect of delaying my departure times, waiting for an awning to dry out.<br />
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The moon still visible on the Western horizon come morning:<br />
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Day 10 finished, 314Km's travelled.<br />
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It was 1000 before I hit the road. Ceduna was further than I thought, some 420km away. And I had planned to camp about 70Km's further out from there that night. So with my C:geo app playing up, and the distance to travel, I had no time for caching nor sight seeing.<br />
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Reluctantly passing by the Coffin Bay turn off, I continued Northwards. At 0130 I decided a lunch stop at Streaky Bay was in order. A pie from the bakery sitting by the shoreline. Its such a pretty little place here, even more so today with not a cloud in the sky or a breath of wind in the offering:<br />
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But push on I must. Hoping to make Cactus Beach for the night and maybe even catching up with Frank (from my Coober Pedy stop) who said he would still be there today. Making Ceduna at 1530, I took on a rather large quantity of fuel :110L of diesel after 940 odd Km's travelled. Fuel pricing from here will only get worse until I get to Norseman in WA. Floater off the Pajero forum informs me Nundroo is 30 cpl cheaper than Nullarbor Roadhouse (where I plan to veer from the highway), so I will top up there before the big crossing, but optimise the bill by taking on a full load at Ceduna.<br />
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20Km's from town, it was time to do some work on milestone #4 (gaining my 200 geocache tally). Now, I had some caches preloaded from home, across the Nullarbor, so the C:geo app not working wouldn't trouble me so much. Stopping in I picked off Kloedens Ruins (GC4G4TM) pretty quickly and was back heading West for Penong soon enough.<br />
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Not knowing what the dirt road in from Penong to Cactus was like, I was a little concerned with the time now being 1630 and 20 odd Km's to the camp for the night. But I should not have feared. Cactus Beach is a world renowned surf break and must have some traffic going down it. It wasn't bad at all. A few decent sized pot holes to avoid and a lot of family sedans coming out.<br />
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Now, I know nothing of the camping at the place and passed a major campsite on the right. Continuing on straight ahead, the road leads to Port LeHunte. And what a pretty little view that presented me with:<br />
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But with the time now being 1700, there was no time for taking in the scenery, I had to get camp sorted. I find the only designated camping in the area is at the camp ground I passed on the way in. The whole area is private property and in an effort to protect the environment, the land holder has constructed a large, 2 section camp ground. It even has flushing dunnies in a cubicle made from local limestone boulders.<br />
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Making my way in, I head for the ground furthest South. It is chock a block full. So off to the other side and I find about 3 spots to choose from (Its the day before Good Friday and I wonder if its always like this or is it just early Easter arrivals?). None of the spots available are ideal, but I pick the flattest one and get to work getting my crap together. I note that Ole Frank is not hear, and I'm not surprised by that really. Time now 1715 with not a lot of sun left in the day. Whilst cooking dinner, the property owner comes around and I have to pay the only camp fee of the 16 day journey.<br />
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With the sun now gone, it was time to get the camera out again as the evil moon made its presence felt above the limestone rubble flushing dunny:<br />
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Day 11 finished, 521Km's travelled.<br />
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Another rather pleasant night and some dew once again, I hit the road at 0930. First up was to head down to Port LeHunte again for a decent look. There was a couple here by the jetty, and after a stroll out to the end I got chatting with them. They were making their way for Waroona in WA. The woman decided to show me her pets. Green Tree frogs. They were so cool I had to grab a pic:<br />
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Then I tried to find my way to Cactus beach itself. A rough limestone track with side tracks going everywhere, I eventually found my way. Here is the site of another Geocache I had to pick off (GC2QD94). The scenery was stunning, but the freakin March flies were in swarms.<br />
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I would have loved to stay longer, but the march flies biting me every 30 seconds dictated I push on for roads less travelled. Today I would leave the Nullarbor (highway) and probably have a couple of days of peace without people. Prior to Nullarbor Roadhouse, I picked off another 2 caches (GC287HP and GCG399) before making the roadhouse by 1430. Stopping off for an hour here for lunch, I met Floater and his girlfriend. But like always, time was marching on and I still had some ground to travel. Here I turned off the highway to complete milestone #3 - roads less travelled. - one more box left to tick.<br />
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100Km's of rough limestone track to get to tonight's camp - Koonalds Homestead - where I can have a well earned shower (with no privacy at Cactus, I had to forgo one there). I stopped for a picture where the Cook road meets this track. To the North, some 370Km's away is Volkes Hill Corner, on the Anne Beadell Highway, where I had passed a week ago:<br />
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A little further on and I came across a Dingo. Much fatter and in much better shape than the ones I spotted on the AB. No doubt, the food source for them is much better down here:<br />
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It was nearly 1700 by the time I reached Koonalda. The beauty of travelling West within a time zone is a later setting sun. Desperately wanting a shower, I was shocked to see people everywhere when I made the Homestead. That's going to make having a shower a bit hard....again.....<br />
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2 separate lots were in Vans parked up by the shearers quarters. But a group from Flinders University posed the greater issue. They had commandeered both the Homestead and the shearers quarters. I quickly said my hello's and got onto showering duties before taking a walk around all the old wrecks to be found here.<br />
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The Uni group belonged to Fussi, a cave research club, found here: <a href="http://www.fussi.org.au/welcome.php" target="_blank">FUSSI</a> which was pretty cool really, seeing I have dabbled in some caving and rope work in the long lost past. I thought we might have some some common ground. I was keen to hear what research they were performing here asked too many questions? A single bloke, looking a bit rough after near 2 weeks on the road, I was probably conjuring up some Wolf Creek images to them. I mentioned back in 1992 I had abseiled the bight, all 80 metres of it to the waterline. They probably thought I was full of it, so I reproduce the one image I have of the feat. Find the purple tee shirt if you can. We wont mention being tied off to the rear axle of a commodore, nor no helmet etc. such was the times <img alt="Surprised smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-surprisedsmile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX8O0s51W-GjGKX__W3Rn6Qew_Nbkz1E9t61ou5wAUp1nXZQ-G_iFc5rEVGltxRPfoV9IzrUgohVvBP4x68L8hWwTf9CqON94c_-5ALA6r31FY32n2nMzjxz9yfxt9AdkyMTPFXWZJl4/?imgmax=800" /><br />
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I have read some of the FUSSI newsletters since, and if I was Adelaide based, I might even bet tempted to join and help you out. It looks like you do some fantastic work. Good one! Anyone with a love of caves and rope work is a friend of mine. I hope Heiko is felling better.<br />
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I asked if they had issue with me setting the swag under the homestead verandah, which thankfully they were ok with. Just as well, as you will see later. And whilst I was cooking dinner by the homestead, they invited me for a few drinks in the quarters once I was done.<br />
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One member of their group was Clem. An indigenous advisor. I had good
conversation with Clem trying to absorb what I could about the cultural
significance of the area. He mentioned he was involved in a new business
venture, offering a cultural camping experience in the region. I wished
him all the success they deserve and attach a shameless plug to their
website: <a href="http://ancientlandtours.com/" target="_blank">Ancient Land Tours</a> <br />
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The night ended with a nice sunset before I headed off to join the FUSSI group for a couple of drinks.<br />
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Day 12 finished, 349Km's travelled.<br />
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Picking the homestead veranda was a wise move. I woke before sun up and a magnificent fog had settled over the land. The dew was horrendous. The homestead awning sure saved me a wet pack up today. I just had to get up, grab the camera and snap some shots before it disappeared:<br />
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It was truly a remarkable sight. I went and found the geocache located here that I had found back in 2012, brought it back to the group and showed them what it was all about. It had been bugging me where it was located and I had to pull up my old tracklog to gather the co-ordinates and re find the bloody thing. I must be getting old. I mentioned to Clem I was venturing further off track a little later today, visiting another cave nearby. I mentioned a few other Nullarbor caves with caches I would visit on the way home. He was a little concerned at first, but I reiterated that the caches are at known caves, well patronised and were not in area's one was not supposed to be in. They are rules of geocaching, and he seemed a little relieved at that. You cant go place one where one is not allowed to be.<br />
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Why, I cant explain as I had very little gear to pack and no awning to dry. But I got a late start today, heading North for Koonalda cave at 1030. Upon arrival, the FUSSI group were well into preparations for descending into the abyss<br />
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But it was great to see I set a trend all those years ago with vehicle anchor points :)<br />
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A shot with the Paj needed to be taken for posterity. I had the old one here last time:<br />
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Its now 1100 and I have to go. So I bid my farewells to the group and head for the shearing shed. I note the old wool bale scale has disappeared since I was here last, which is a bit disappointing:<br />
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Its 1130 before I hit the track heading West again. About 45 uneventful Km's on the rough rock track and I make my diversion track. This is unknown country to me now and I plan about 100Km's of this track to poke my nose out on the highway at Eucla. As soon as I turn onto it I note the significant difference in track quality. No rock. It was softer soil based. Dusty as hell. It wouldn't be a place to venture into when there was a bit of moisture around. And the track was mainly just two wheel tracks with foot high grass separating the tracks. All I could think of was you wouldn't want to stop in this stuff due to the risk of a grass fire. However, quite a few clay-pan's appear and offer a safer place to stop:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcW3dFM4KFbIJwu0y2rTCtHak2xS18CnonWlWWpiw7vCiXFn6zPzC6hGxAUrJDkqZxycUTCZs6udD8CYUmBpkhyPXlU82NT4t8kELQS2D4YLcTt4GyNmMXWINgv-Fm0lkE-lI7rk86jd0/s1600-h/20170414_105911_zpsaqwqwlco%255B4%255D"><img alt="20170414_105911_zpsaqwqwlco" border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQ6KSG3QZGcq0XtVW9SzlW0Fk4GJXMUwol9C5CH-AaaQ4xQTw2148RDXEkmrKf57tSVJIkTg09IGhQVjk87kUA3IhRD1FpIQM1tP_eq221ObXEnMlTjNa0cKY6wPslrbCXOQsxgJLrsI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="20170414_105911_zpsaqwqwlco" width="1028" /></a></div>
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I took another 10Km detour and visited Warbla Cave. The only thing of note I saw here was a shed skin from a snake. I know they must be around, and I took all precautions in my snake proof boots :), but I never had the luck to see any on my journey so far.<br />
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Unsure if I was to see any fanfare or sign-age at the border, a rock cairn with a couple of empty stubbies would have to do. No quarantine check point here. It felt like a drug runner route:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjklxVuKdM_MFQ5j4Eq4ADbimjiVjpXFdrWGWqe59ifg_6nG-_hx8Wn0LZVU1rSSbuhBaNCB-CNEd5rzSwEAOPW2whXq00VErpAchhCWwDeSebN0BRgUDJNGhXU-9r_5b4zxPwiQCfOw/s1600-h/DSC_0261_zps0fd3wqwm%255B4%255D"><img alt="DSC_0261_zps0fd3wqwm" border="0" height="687" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIJEJiu0HkaSZoytmANY2AhC2VnkGFVLkj0Sr23G8LVcBdtZqY22GY5LmvDd0BFNNGugP02bPyxGPn2KhHxTOWGd87BO5U23eO-ja8kgu2Lib2N6ZhUPt8GKKR6x3wnauKd0YjCF0pDI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="DSC_0261_zps0fd3wqwm" width="1028" /></a></div>
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Nearing the end, in the Weebubbie Cave area, the easy to traverse ground changed to limestone rock hopping. Some slow bouncing stretches to navigate. But all was well and at 1415 I poked my nose out just shy of Eucla, without event, but a car absolutely covered in dust from head to toe. I reckon there was an inch of dust coating the back step.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGmm7IggiRg17NW2eIqi5lqB00COtKGawM3zhHUPfJGLDT7pnLqeM1iQH3vQIW53kmzOHfHCRYg96yA885u5pye_uCI79wdvmD9s13haxZ6lCeNSJjWxzbVZPz0jxt3dBVGdm63uuCQM/s1600-h/DSC_0262_zpswcqpqeva%255B4%255D"><img alt="DSC_0262_zpswcqpqeva" border="0" height="687" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKD31VzU-eWrR4itJyN3ZCZ8WppFCQNsWSDr_BXGEqLTqRIF-4dyK8QYbDvVrHumIrk0AQ8VZLSqoZvT0Kc4nfbwRs_E1cCER0vUdjStE28b0wqxi8P5TyuZa4PubdT7fgnSae2mOrTg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="DSC_0262_zpswcqpqeva" width="1028" /></a></div>
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Milestone #3 now completed, there will be no more roads less travelled from here. A quick stop in Eucla for another cache (GCTB9C) and I was on the road heading West, destination unknown. Now cruising along the Hampton Table land, I dropped in at a roadside stop for another cache (GC2Z9T0). A water tank with a large sheltered top would be an ideal spot to camp, but being 1600 (I had just gained 1.5 hours by crossing the border), I reckon I can make Madura tonight, another 60Km's West. As I swing past the shelter, low and behold, who is here?<br />
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Yep, you guessed it, it's Frank. Well instead of spending a week at Cactus, he moved on the next day. Then he went to Esperance as planned. He had planned to spend 6 months in the South West, but had a change of mind. He was on his way back to Cairns, where he had come from when I first met him in Coober Pedy. Like wtf dude. Sure he was a loveable chap, what with himself and his 6 month old kitten. But he had some "issues" too. He was telling me the yanks had thrown a huge bomb down a cave in Syria since I had left (I hadn't seen the news since I left home 2 weeks ago - and that was bloody fantastic). Some yanks had gone into the cave and got decimated by an animal of huge proportion, an unknown species to mankind. They sent another lot of troops down and they nearly suffered the same fate. The second lot confirmed this beast and managed to shoot this monster dead. It took some work to kill it dead as bullets didn't make it flinch. The yanks, not wanting news of this beast to make the public realm, and also afraid there might be others down there, unloaded the largest non nuclear weapon down the hole, killing all evidence of this beasts existence. Such is Frank, god love him :)<br />
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So I showed Frank all there was to know about geocaching, and then got the hell out of there, like a monster in a cave about to have the bejesus blown out of him.<br />
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Arriving on top of the Madura Pass at 1650, I picked off another cache (GCJQGW), I decided to head out to Madura Cave, pick off another Cache (GC6Z2WT) and spend the night there. Dodging quite a few roo's had me slow down a little. But upon arrival at the cave, I found the ground unsuitable for spending the night, so I drove back up the pass, forgoing a few caches further to the South. It was starting to get late now and I finally made camp around 1830, where the sun had already set.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL7-OQ_H8ERXdtiu6V9Cp-2xHHPHay6lSDH-8bVXaTOaZALwHIssMq81NyBpfg3X1fPBtotvAFBQeAsKKR-FDZeKvDptEVUpUsInDoSGN5yXUe22IQs_SO_NdcrD3zjRVCn5nHEE7-8A/s1600-h/DSC_0268_zpsywlsiian%255B4%255D"><img alt="DSC_0268_zpsywlsiian" border="0" height="687" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gpTBDngwGH00oEm9E0ukTuJyBt1pVIScPVt_Y6qc4Pn8seSTQoloStB3K-D20-8YKbOYYJA8t1ruNTeEredetbvU3rgpNkDg0wc1a4ERz5LGYf2hv6_iYMVDU9wmejpg84bAIH0DhvY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="DSC_0268_zpsywlsiian" width="1028" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGBF1IJuoaM3N3L2xa3dpH77NCh0NuM1KW4sr7BVA-4YVjkdaFomNRa8D69v8Wul0OIejryvA54ZE1Q4f3pKglOLj01AOuGs4zsuDUSyS5EnHqTSs2FJRkTKfqllO6tmzcnCRm7hpVJo/s1600-h/DSC_0286_zpswlmokild%255B4%255D"><img alt="DSC_0286_zpswlmokild" border="0" height="687" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP97IdMRiecQE-Bn36c0iKrDTV_nxLbity1NS3SwOnaj4hhVC4sqFB3qE_Exo_VpjxYupX7ixkC8roECJORZxK50iFjlBb-3MAkmlkShlKDlarsi6jD_U5dM2KopI5vlGRpJPdgmJ7n7A/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="DSC_0286_zpswlmokild" width="1028" /></a><br />
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An excellent spot, very high above the Hampton Tablelands with views for miles. Doing some timing of when I saw truck headlights appear to the time they pass, I calculate at least 12Km of visual distance of road to the East.<br />
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Day 13 finished, 339Km's travelled.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfvq-1GKBxnngG1tfhr4PEb3BqId8TcS-MzXQsJzesnIE__bE4AWUIXNmVLs6HaKQJfJXZkduLItIIDyz5Oirr6J9UCkk1uDVBpvmQPRdWTc-rlZsAKp8ON-qNVOfyqcZ2TLYdSlCO0I/s1600-h/day+13_zpsomyenys5%255B3%255D"><img alt="day 13_zpsomyenys5" border="0" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzsafjTsYyMTN33KCEglosg_DNYeDIlW0lwFWuPHwMZGCwmLSAfvKckW5o5HXrcKZxSvnbbokwVXUN_YzVp36xGJqRF6HJ-e9wXRFAQ5xmor5oLihXjUl-k0HVTQwXzNMxcNispml06g/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="day 13_zpsomyenys5" width="1028" /></a></div>
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Waking up in the morning to a most spectacular view, I had a slow start and had a play with the camera. I'm less than a days drive from home now, still with 3 days to kill and no plans on where to be. So I could afford to indulge in such luxuries (unlike the crossing of the Anne Beadell)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1nkbE9rRnu40u89y2bDiYd1hXCwDstR4K2L4Z2Bhfdo0CTXuhIvBMQhyphenhyphenXuCGEyvmFnEdCSKPf26gsutCWCRlDr9GmdQE3lvrNLtvRLrE-XpMeMFp3hodmx4l7AZe9bNifzADfbxDAkE/s1600-h/DSC_0270_zpso7d1uzeg%255B9%255D"><img alt="DSC_0270_zpso7d1uzeg" border="0" height="687" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVCk9NX_EyF1EH-MzqeJ-orBUzOzJdhjVUgiPPyeZ-bFWB6y6Hy6Fqm1o7970ooBzu2SJ7czCRYGWNHUSwviOcv59rbLWo0WDO4BVIuUcKXEULdTVMc7z82miCwKonyOsrIZ8NTlb14g/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="DSC_0270_zpso7d1uzeg" width="1028" /></a></div>
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And I played with some special effects on the camera. HDR oil painting mode:<br />
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Apart from dropping in on another cave today, there wasn't a lot planned. On the road at 0930, 45Km's from camp I picked up another cache at a roadside stop (GC4R9Z8).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPDMHDs-R_0713E4bXRVO1dVacYFcXTSnR7nWfCuYGcBvsVC9YPQkbpXQ9gTdDz6tVj_NfmdM8tWVIOjpB0Y04Nnwcoiw1JjoQlRLdk2WzyNORKbRprLlVL-UEcjoXH37Rc3DLkYV8zM/s1600/20170413_133247_zpsofmewhqn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPDMHDs-R_0713E4bXRVO1dVacYFcXTSnR7nWfCuYGcBvsVC9YPQkbpXQ9gTdDz6tVj_NfmdM8tWVIOjpB0Y04Nnwcoiw1JjoQlRLdk2WzyNORKbRprLlVL-UEcjoXH37Rc3DLkYV8zM/s1600/20170413_133247_zpsofmewhqn.jpg" /></a></div>
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Arriving at Cocklebiddy, I added another one to the tally (GC4687K) and proceeded up the track about 10Km's that leads to the entrance of Cocklebiddy Cave<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOxNCDu-R0Ck89mXBgBxuu9VFfRbkqeKaz0upL6maXr3b0iF1eSZWTk5gvbWcBOwPn5hMfpAFK3qH_VLtuZ6EhvadDr7upzGNRWG3VKVkykrjlIi_M6SNmMI2r5S8eIGMv-isfttCamY/s1600-h/DSC_0292_zpsjlihiai1%255B4%255D"><img alt="DSC_0292_zpsjlihiai1" border="0" height="687" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPY0yX4LLI0nRG3iWoP-UVQ3B3P-0mpBBHMJGLk0S_Xi-pk-mfYQCrISwfFQabtvo7QtOfLYcKFxlyqPaKGu4VNfrbC_SCcctATPWpjzLol5OnoPHFdarcH6b4_BqWaHla5_0G-cy2uL4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="DSC_0292_zpsjlihiai1" width="1028" /></a></div>
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This cave is world renowned. It has the longest passage of underwater caverns of all the caves on the Nullarbor. A cave divers meca. Where once the public could access the cave, its now locked up and entry is tightly controlled.<br />
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On the highway again heading towards Caiguna, I noted a vehicle approaching from behind, making good ground on me. When he passed, All I could do was shake my head, if not for the fuel bill, the safety of it all. It was Easter and double demerits were in play, although I saw no mobile patrols at all:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCC9wHvu0N_fKddH6k0XqEQO6nGAWyGsmxSCPwQLHq6tjPIAPRE7Xf_DiIr5MfkTMvksjl0pKHvdfiL3eRwD_NIcJOEPc3AQuOJaNFeqOPoH1i8RKfT-ayvPlZpkR8b7Thyphenhyphen2tfvn4B7E/s1600-h/caravan_zpsulk2wajf%255B3%255D"><img alt="caravan_zpsulk2wajf" border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGbXol8V2PXuJltvU5BSKmZQhAB3mRfRStfe3UFAmEiZ9og1dBDwfooI3JuUWh9Lytg12KI1F5XVvblIVzoj7Sha0ahmYQRED7cvDJPtgdCemRDHlhM-_ThMqwkU-Ba0o5iSYgOwU2X4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="caravan_zpsulk2wajf" width="1028" /></a><br />
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Caiguna is the start of Australia's longest straight stretch of road. If it wasn't for the 4 caches I picked off along here (GC2NNJ6, GC287H1, CGJDVP and GC4JDTH) it would have made a long day. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje40NWDv53JbFUWfa8zTYkdASPTzUPZaW5FDX8Rjw3bLE8OrThFO2mFwbLbdfZ7nYbyLbIjb5eDBUf5gwxuGJieKGkHfRIWPMzMuut0Qro8ZYi7dfhNdtaX4hn25N85o2dNNtCzvNs8bk/s1600/20170416_105544_zpstxm19pam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje40NWDv53JbFUWfa8zTYkdASPTzUPZaW5FDX8Rjw3bLE8OrThFO2mFwbLbdfZ7nYbyLbIjb5eDBUf5gwxuGJieKGkHfRIWPMzMuut0Qro8ZYi7dfhNdtaX4hn25N85o2dNNtCzvNs8bk/s1600/20170416_105544_zpstxm19pam.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNW98NzhSxiG91YUNI5NRSXdHQ2Zbs9Ip-JDNJSme1E1pw9tIsZgIY2zWrVftIzc0EHb38JEvcT9UKmMV2mIVtYUiHG3mzLNHfft6WjH296OUW8ObWfUgDRHfDpq5FinvJ0yI95WtKgk/s1600-h/DSC_0298_zpsotosrdzf%255B4%255D"><img alt="DSC_0298_zpsotosrdzf" border="0" height="687" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycF0OBpVSr9J47Tbuj_1GAMRfOsh5t0Kn8HZEjaUWhvj9wCueck1kHNs4OCMzs4F9e2oKb00wkvvDFODhdaI6MAbINu2vsGvyJBIWT8PnUFbqCd8uB8Y6_rqUVgoIyU8_7o-8l0CnQrQ/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="DSC_0298_zpsotosrdzf" width="1028" /></a></div>
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The fourth cache was at another roadside stop and I decided to make it an early home for the night at 1615 and grab another nice shower. There were quite a few caravanners here, I just picked a spot to get away from them a little. But I should have moved on. The place was nothing short of a filthy mess. The bins were exploding, rubbish was strewn everywhere and the worst part was most of the rubbish was dunny paper. And this was a site that had 2 newish drop dunnies - how does that work then??. It really put a downer on the place. If it wasn't for the handy picnic table, I would have set up way out the back, away from all the crap. Mind you, I had stopped in a few roadside stops since Ceduna in the quest for more caches, and most of them had quite a lot of rubbish about the place. In complete contrast to the Anne Beadell which had nothing. How I long for the desert again..... But the sunset was a killer. Pity I couldn't find a nice piece of skyline to photograph it from:<br />
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Day 14 finished, 308Km's travelled.<br />
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The beauty of roadside stops - A truck pulls in at 0300 and idles away a mere 10 meters from my swag for the next half an hour before he departs again. That killed my sleep pattern. So I was up early, coffee soon on the boil. During my second cup, a guy comes over for a chat. Its been a bit weird this trip, anyone except Frank and this bloke have been very stand-offish and not that friendly in all honesty. It must be that Wolfe Creek syndrome - either that or I just smell a bit.....<br />
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On the road early today at 0715 due to my early waking hour, I can put in a bit more effort for home. I pick off the cache at the Western end of the longest straight (GC2Z9RE):<br />
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I had been watching my fuel ever so slowly evaporate since I came out at Eucla. Constantly making mental calculations on where my next fuel stop would need to be. I was hoping for Norseman and by the time I got to Balladonia, I reckoned I had enough to make it. Making Balladonia, I really considered taking the old Telegraph Road to Norseman, but I could smell home from here and opted to stay on the black top. The vegetation had changed from salt bush to salmon gum, I was now in the Greater Western Woodlands - almost home.<br />
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Dropping into Newman Rock for another cache (GC6J6CH), the granite outcrop very reminiscent of all those found in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields regions:<br />
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And my last cache along the Nullarbor at Buldania Rocks (GC4478) before finally hitting Norseman and taking on 135L of diesel after travelling 1183Km since my last top up at Nundroo. I hadn't had a roadhouse burger all trip, so I broke that tradition here and spent some time logging all my finds to date. But would it be enough to give me the 200???<br />
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Well it wasn't. I had a few earth caches to file - they require emailing some specific questions about the place to the cache owner. I would leave them until I got home. But I was 3 caches short - bummer. I will have to pick those up on the way home.<br />
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It was 1220 when I departed Norseman, my figuring was to camp somewhere overnight at a roadside stop and make for home in the morning. Karalee Rocks sounded good to me, I will just have to see how we go for time.<br />
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The trip to Coolgardie was interesting. It showed me it was not just South Aussies that were shit at driving. being well overtaken by the Juggernaut on the Nullarbor, I had another tool to contend with. This one, overtook me 3 times in the 170Km's between Norseman and Coolgardie. So much for double demerits and the distance you gained from the speed you drove at.:<br />
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I made another 60Km's West of Coolgardie before pulling over early for the night at another roadside stop at 1515. It was pretty early, but I had mobile coverage and I needed to download some more caches to check off milestone #4. I also had a very pretty site in among the salmon gums and had access to some timber for a nice fire for the last night.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVhXZQ__UTeeCitNfsrI22jwSxHrzuc2oVz_qa9C-2WhlkgNwqmahhNBdyKPLYOiAcOZ-KIjoCCNYVtdz9vdZVqGnTPTbmWWF7A5VEsAmImWGOAzGyphPZJx_ArmOu-7ZRHPWT6zWRLY/s1600-h/20170416_152704_zpsbhgfblai%255B4%255D"><img alt="20170416_152704_zpsbhgfblai" border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMDajS2aheQboZU-9BvRfdHelBeuIQQdRRrXgGDRkLpjlb42sy5g6uyQkXZ_HU2YlhyphenhyphenO183YWHDJM3J4t6WW9mvBomKqcLHbiC6Qhse_gHQ9T7mrYDdRIEhbvK_i5S4yKHgG-KsAjqL8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="20170416_152704_zpsbhgfblai" width="1028" /></a><br />
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It was then I discovered 2 problems - flies - little bastards were friendly indeed. I hadn't really seen any (apart the March Flies at Cactus) the whole trip:<br />
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And problem #2: hotspotting my tablet to my laptop I find I cant download coordinated direct to my gps via windows 10. In among the flies and some beer, I had to give up and manually enter the coordinates. A tedious process indeed.<br />
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Apart from the fact some knob left 2 empty cans in a fire ring, when there were at least 6 bins in close proximity, the place was spotless. It was welcome relief - once I put the cans in the bin for said knob.<br />
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With a nice fire going, it was time for baked bean, Jarlsberg cheese and onion jaffles - yep I had onion this time :)<br />
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Once night fell, there was some thunder in the distance and a few lightning strikes a fair distance away. But once the jaffles were done, it started to lightly rain and said thunder and lightning approached. I was huddled under my awning and taking some GoPro footage when it struck:<br />
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Lucky for me, it lasted about 15 minutes and I was able to retire by the fire for the rest of the night, watching the lightning in the distance.<br />
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Day 15 finished, 470Km's travelled.<br />
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And so we get to the last day. On the road at 0800, I picked off my 3 caches to close out milestone #4 - getting my tally to 200 finds. (GC28ECF, GC2E2CH and lucky last GC46EJN). The last being at Karalee where I had thought about camping, some 80Km's West of where I camped last night. I must get myself to camp there one day.<br />
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A final refuel in Southern Cross, I had some lunch in Mundaring and made it in the door at 1600. Looking very dirty and a little battle scared, all I could do was to think I need to do the Anne Beadell again. Not over 4 days next time though.<br />
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Day 16 finished, 528Km's travelled.<br />
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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4 milestones completed<br />
16 Days on the road <br />
6700km travelled<br />
813L of fuel used<br />
for an average of 12.14 L/100Km<br />
cost of fuel $1221<br />
camp fees $15<br />
Permit fees $35 <br />
4 cans of butane<br />
7L of water (+5L of shower water)<br />
1/2 a block of beer, 2 x 4L casks of goon, 1 bottle of home brew bourbon and one bottle of tokay<br />
and another 14 nights under canvas, even if 3 of them were in someone's garage :)<br />
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The next journey should be a week in the goldfields, looking for some yellow: Coming soon.sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-89905201427516323492017-04-21T22:46:00.002+08:002017-07-03T20:08:20.271+08:00It's 50 in the Desert, part IApril 2 to April 17<br />
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Well, how's that for uncanny. I chalk up my 50th blog post with a trip report on how I marked my 50th birthday. At the time of starting to write this post, The blog has had 95K hits. Wouldn't it be nice if I could hit the 100K mark with this post. This blog entry is all about milestones....<br />
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Milestone 1: marking my half century with a solo desert crossing<br />
Milestone 2: celebrating my long lost mates 50th birthday<br />
Milestone 3: returning across the Nullarbor by roads less travelled<br />
Milestone 4: Getting enough geocaches found to get my tally to 200 or above<br />
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Mid February, I received a text message from the partner of a mate I grew up with. He was turning 50 and they were throwing him a surprise party for him in Adelaide. I haven't seen him in over 25 years. I wanted to go. Not only to see him, but also because I turn 50 the day beforehand. And if I'm going to do it, I will do it in style, with an epic trip to celebrate my half century.<br />
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So I applied for short notice leave and was knocked back. All was not looking well until 6 weeks prior to departure, when I eventually got the nod. Then the plans were on in earnest. I have decided to go to Adelaide the long way, with a solo crossing of the Great Victoria Desert, via the Anne Beadell Highway. A highway in name only, certainly not in structure. Near 1400Km's from Laverton in WA to Coober Pedy in SA, very remote and very few people (If any). To be in Adelaide on time, I will need to cross this desert in 4 days. No mean feat in itself and no time for smelling the roses.<br />
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It would be an injustice not to mention the work of Len Beadell at this point. This "highway" was named after Lens wife. Len spent numerous years out here, ploughing tracks through central inland Australia.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Beadell" target="_blank">Len_Beadell</a></span><br />
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Once in Adelaide, I will have a few festivities to attend to, then head off for a fleeting visit down the Eyre Penisular, to finish up with some roads less travelled across the Nullarbor for home. A 16 day solo adventure to mark my half century.....Nice one.<br />
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Day one:<br />
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Finishing work at 2300 the night prior, I hit the road at 0600 for the 1000 Km drive just to get to the Western side of the desert. A long day on the blacktop, I dropped in on Chuck for half an hour when I refuelled in Kalgoorlie -see <a href="http://chuckitinlowrange.com/main/" target="_blank">CIILR</a> -, but had to push on. I wanted to be the other side of Laverton tonight, to give me my best chance of crossing the AB (Anne Beadell) in 4 days. But time was dragging on, no doubt hindered by long 40Km/h sections of road works in the Boorabbin area. And on this it was a mission fail. Great - first day in and I'm behind schedule already. I may have bitten off more than I could chew here. As the sun dropped below the horizon and still being 50 odd Km's short of Laverton, I had to pull up for the night. Just a station track, opposite the Mt Morgan mine.<br />
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What concerned me the most, was that Laverton had received 5" of rain the week prior. Such unusual circumstances for such an arid landscape. If this rainfall made the desert, I could well be in strife. 4 days to cross the AB is a mission in itself, let alone in poor conditions. As I went up the station track, looking for a suitable clearing, a mob of wild donkeys crossed the road a few hundred meters in front of me. That was different, I don't ever recall seeing wild Donkeys before. A suitable clearing was found and I parked up for the night. Time now being 1750, it had been a long day, and the next 5 days until I hit Adelaide should be no different.<br />
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First task, to get some firewood. Dragging a fallen log back to camp, the issue of all this water being around came to task. Mozzies. And I mean a freakin black cloud of them. So bad in fact, I had to drop said log and run back to the car for insect repellent. Biting me through all my clothing even. But either the DEET or the campfire did the trick.<br />
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With the fire now going, I couldn't be arsed with culinary delights, having just spent 12 hours on the road. Baked bean, Jarlsberg cheese and onion jaffles were called for. And here I hit my first snag - I forgot the bloody onions...Grrrrr. So I settled for a two component jafffle instead, leaving some melted cheese in the beard for Ron (later on that is), and chilled by the fire for a couple of hours, knowing I had to get an early start the next day - I had some ground to make up.<br />
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Day one finished: 932Km for the day.<br />
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Day 2:<br />
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With ground to make up, I decide to skip breakfast - sans coffee of course - and get into it. On the road at 0720. I take on fuel at Laverton and push on up White cliffs road. Its easy going, except some wandering cattle has me reduce my speed. And there are some sections of water covering the track, which worries me somewhat as to what the AB will throw up at me. At about the point I expect the AB to start, I meet a cross road. This leads to a mining operation, so I push on a little further to arrive at a bore and some cattle yards of Yamarna Station - and the start of the AB proper:<br />
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I am now in desert country. The red sand, the spinifex and the vegetation makes for one happy little solo traveller. Its now the point of no return. At 1040 I turn East and poke my nose into the long desert stretch. 1300 odd Km's to Coober Pedy, the only source of civilisation now will be at Ilkurlka, some 400 odd Km's away. Not for the feint hearted, nor recommended for the unprepared solo traveller.<br />
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And I find the conditions to be great. The occasional rough patch, I am happily ploughing along, in all my solo desert glory, at speeds up to 90Km/h, that could easily be done higher, but common sense prevails here. I reach Yeo homestead at 1145. So I have made average speed over ground of about 70Km/h. Fantastic. With another 160Km's to get to camp, at this rate, I will easily make up for my lost ground from yesterday.<br />
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Yeo homestead, an abandoned homestead, in the Great Victoria desert:<br />
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And it also has a well, with water and a working pump. I have no idea on the quality of this water though so Caveat Emptor:<br />
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Unfortunately, I can not find a lot of information on the history of this place. At 1230, after something to nibble on, I continue Eastwards. I am still maintaining my average speed and marvel at the sights of the Morton Craig Range, where I met my first mob of camel:<br />
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And then I get to the landmark known as Bishop Rileys Pulpit:<br />
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But the further I push on, the more slow going some of the sections are, interspersed with 70Km/h stretches. I cross into the Neale Junction Nature Reserve, and I'm having a ball out here. The vegetation has thickened and I'm now miles from anywhere, arriving at my pre determined camp site at 1545. I have made good ground today, one can only hope the remaining 3 days are as good. With stops, I have averaged 50Km/h since Yeo. A good day.<br />
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Until that is, when I unload a couple of logs I had collected earlier. My Right hand rear tyre looks a bit flatter than I had let it down to. And the pressure gauge confirms this, I am 20PSI down. Grrrrrrr. So I put some air in and will wait and see what the morning brings. I decide to check out the Junction before setting up camp, as I may have some repair work to do in the morning. Here I fill out my first visitor logbook:<br />
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A few pictures taken and I note the camel prints everywhere in the sand. Then its back to the campground for a well earned beer and to settle in for the night:<br />
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The first of the Geocaches on the AB is located here (
<a class="CoordInfoLink" href="https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4KX30_mother-daughter-crossing?guid=bb2a0869-e4a7-48a8-b88d-f516d446922b#">
<span class="CoordInfoCode" id="ctl00_ContentBody_CoordInfoLinkControl1_uxCoordInfoCode">GC4KX30</span></a>). Unfortunately, it was a DNF for me, same as the last log, back in 2016. I note the owner has since disabled the listing for the time being, but together, we are putting steps in place to confirm it is actually missing, and to have it replaced if this is so.<br />
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With dinner done, it was time to sit back and relax with a glass of red by the fire. The weather being warm through the day at 31 degree's, the night was a crisp, easy sleeping 12 degrees.<br />
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Day 2 finished, 424km travelled.<br />
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Day 3:<br />
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Up before sunrise, I have this deflating feeling I may have some tyre issues to attend to. And, my gut instinct was right. Overnight, the tyre had lost the 20 pound I put back in it. Seeing as it appears to be a slow leak, I'm hoping its just a tread puncture that can be plugged. But first, coffee. I don't function without coffee. I found a little visitor that came by during the night:<br />
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Then its onto the tyre:<br />
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Pulling half the gear out of the back of the Paj, I remove said tyre and find I have staked a sidewall. Bugger. So I have a couple of options here: Try to repair said staking, or go through the arduous process of getting a spare out. I opt for the former. Only being one day in, if I have any more tyre issues, then a repair could have to be done anyway. The risk being, that here I have nice, flat open ground to work in. On the track, I may not have such luxury. I dig a stick, about 5mm in diameter and an inch and a half in length out of the tyre and insert a few plugs. But will it hold air ????<br />
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I can hear no leak so I put the wheel back on. Then proceed to pack up, another day on the road without breakfast. I will have to do regular pressure checks for a bit to ensure my repair is solid, something tyre pressure monitors would alleviate. More gear to buy.<br />
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I hit the road at 0815, which, with the tyre repair being done, wasn't too shabby in my book. The country now a series of long, undulating sand ridges to climb. Very impressive scenery, but I am longing for desert dunes:<br />
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At 0830, I come across a mob of camel. Instead of getting of the track, they decide to run down it. Its the Great Victoria Desert camel marathon. I cant get past them for 6 minutes/3Km's. They are lumbering along at about 25km/h. The bull, at the rear, keeps blocking my path on the left. But he makes a mistake, I take the chance to get up beside him and he ventures off into the scrub, taking his 2 harem with him. It was funny as buggery, watching their weird sideways rolling motion as they ran - or jogged in this case.<br />
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Back to business and I am making great speed, up to 80Km'h in this stretch and all is a toddle. Time being 1025, I have averaged speed over ground of 55Km/h. Best of all, my tyre is holding pressure. I come across a vehicle wreck and elect to put my sand flag on.<br />
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I am about to turn off, into dune country, for the site of another cache (
<a class="CoordInfoLink" href="https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC5020_plane-wreck?guid=686f226d-d090-49e8-99a5-348f0f2ca50c#">
<span class="CoordInfoCode" id="ctl00_ContentBody_CoordInfoLinkControl1_uxCoordInfoCode">GC5020</span></a>), last found in 2014. After the last DNF, I do not hold a lot of hope of a successful find. This is the site of a plane wreck which went down, due to pilot error in 1993. All 4 occupants were seriously injured with major back injuries. The ATSB report makes harrowing reading:<br />
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<a href="https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1993/aair/asor_199300002/" target="_blank">ATSB investigation</a><br />
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Now we get into real dune country. 9km's in, tight and twisty, overgrown in places and steep dunes. A couple catch me out on their crests as the sand disappears from view as you summit and you don't know where the track is:<br />
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Even though I only have 4 days to play with, I have to go in. The wreck site is incredible. I look to the dune behind the aircraft and suspect, with a double engine flame out, non feathered props, his glidescope would mean he had to have hit this dune before landing in the swale. A hard landing. Its blood curdling to think about and I cant imagine the despair they would have felt once they came to a stop - if their severe injuries allowed them to do so:<br />
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I finish off my photographs here with a piece that haunts me every time I look at it:<br />
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Goldfields Air Services stripped the engines, avionics and other items of value. Since then souvenir hunters have had their go, and typically as one finds in the bush, shooters show their marksmanship by hitting a target, the size of the proverbial "side of a bus". Good one guys. Just a note: there is a visitor book in the right hand wing pod to sign. Be careful when opening that there are no surprises in there.<br />
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I go and have success by finding the cache. 3 years since last found and all is in great condition. A quick bite to eat, and I hit the dunes again, making it back to the AB at 1140. So I have spent nearly an hour and a half on the detour, but glad I did so.<br />
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10Km on, you come to the campsite, set up by the Spinifex people. A shelter, and a tank. Typical of the other 2 found to the East of Ilkurlka.<br />
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But its Ilkurlka I need to get to. Another 60km of the same, good going, undulating sand hill country and I arrive at 1245. So average speed over ground was about 70km/h. If I can do this for the remaining 2 and a half days, I'll be a happy chappy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ilkurlka.org.au/background-location" target="_blank">Ilkurlka Community</a><br />
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I summons Phil, the roadhouse manager on the radio and he comes to greet me and give me the diesel I will need for the remainder of the journey.<br />
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We chat for a bit and I go inside thinking I might be able to grab a frozen pie or something. Unfortunately on that point, I was mistaken, but I did leave that suggestion on a feedback form he asked me to fill out. So I'm struggling to find what I can do to help support the community here. I opt for an Ilkurlka sticker. We then go outside and I introduce Phil to geocaching. He has been managing the place for 18 months and never knew one existed here. So I show him what its all about, and would you believe, he finds it before me..... He assures me, he will become a custodian for its safe keeping, now that he knows it exists (
<a class="CoordInfoLink" href="https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4KZCN_ilkurlka-spinifex-country?guid=17dd632c-9d00-491f-ae82-040dbf56380d#">
<span class="CoordInfoCode" id="ctl00_ContentBody_CoordInfoLinkControl1_uxCoordInfoCode">GC4KZCN</span></a>):<br />
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Phil also informs me I will meet a party of two, in two vehicles coming from the East, most probably tomorrow. A travel writer from Melbourne. Great intelligence to have. I will have to report my position more frequently tomorrow then. I spend an hour here and hit the road, still with 160Km to go to make camp at Tjintirkara Rochole, about 10Km West of the border. At 60Km/h average, like I've been making I should be in camp by 1600. Nice one.<br />
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However, 100m East of Ilkurlka, conditions change. Corrugations appear, rutted and rocky sections slow you down and vegetation starts to encroach on the track. It takes me an hour to travel 60Km's to get to Tjutatja tank campground, where I spot 2 small, scrawny, malnourished Dingoes, trying to obtain what moisture they could from a seeping pipe on the tank. I am now falling behind and hold fears of making my camp on time:<br />
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Small dunes to ascend now come into play, soft and sandy, but no drama to negotiate.I have to mention that if you see white rock/Dolomite, you need to slow down. You can be assured this generally means washed out sections of track. If you see black ironstone/Laterite, you also need to slow down because you can be assured there will be corrugations and/or washed out sections of track. My focus is now solely on the road. gotchya's appear from nowhere and more than a few times I've had to hit the skids. The vegetation now very close to the track, makes it a little disconcerting in regards to wildlife jumping out in front of you in the late afternoon sun. All I can say is thank god I'm heading East with the sun on my back.<br />
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I pull into camp at 1715, about 10Km's from the border. The sun has gone down (due to being so far East in the Western time zone), I am pretty well flogged and need to get dinner sorted before dark. There will be no fire for me tonight with not enough time to get everything done before dark. Again, just a basic campsite with a water tank, shelter and drop dunnies. To me, that is just perfect. Another beautiful night in the clear, crisp desert air and I retire for the evening. <br />
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I note the sign post in the morning that there is no rooting to be had in Spinifex country, which is lucky because I was solo and I was also pretty well rooted when I got in last night.<br />
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A 9 hour day, I made 340 odd Km's with probably 2 hours of break from driving. So average speed over ground was about 50Km'h, with the section East of Ilkurlka slower. Half way through now, I wonder how tough the second half will get. I expected a challenge and I may just get it.<br />
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Day 3 finished, 344Km travelled.<br />
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Day 4:<br />
I'm on the road early again today at 0750, not knowing what to expect and by 0810 I'm signing the visitor logbook at the border:<br />
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Then its into MT land and unknown conditions:<br />
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After a high speed run across Serpentine lake (up to 70Km/h), the speed drops off again on the other side. Some very rutted track slows my progress and I make about 25Km's in the first hour after leaving the border.<br />
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2 hours in and I've made about 75Km's, entering some nice sand dune country, interspersed with rough rocky stretches in between. After the camping exclusion zone in Mamangari conservation park, there are numerous cleared sites suitable for camping if needed. be aware though, if camping in this park, camp fees are required and can be purchased with your permit fee to transit MT land. I got a copy of the "outback travellers guide -Anne beadell highway" booklet and for $16 I thought it was good value. Its 8 years old now since published, and some of the corrugated/rocky stretches notes don't seem to align very well, but on the whole I reckon its a good companion with moving map in the vehicle.<br />
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Expecting to see these opposing vehicles today, I've been calling out my position approximately every 10km's since leaving the border, hoping to avoid any vehicle conflict. Ilkurlka are monitoring Ch40 and the strip map I am using says the same. Every now and then, I go to scan, but seem to be picking up spurious interference on Ch31 occasionally, which gets to the point of annoying after a while, so I revert back to Ch40.<br />
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I'm only hitting a top speed now of about 50Km/h. The vegetation has closed in and my sandflag is copping an absolute beating. I expect I wont have one come the other end, or I wont have a flag on it, the over hanging vegetation bashing into it quite frequently. But it does serve another purpose. the sand flag is cutting timber into nice 2ft long logs and delivering it straight to my roof basket. Every so often, when I spot a less watered plant and stop to help it out, I have to put my flag back on the stick.<br />
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Numerous track markers layed by Len Beadell are passed. There are hundreds of them. If you stopped at every one, not only would it take you 2 months to complete the trip, you would be bored witless:<br />
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Slow going as it is, I push on and finally make Volkes Hill Corner at 1330. It has taken me 5 hours to do 170km's, so an average speed over ground of around 35km/h. With yet another 160Km's to go for tonight's camp, I'm expecting a late finish unless the track improves. I measure my Dobinson remote res shock temperatures and they come in at 38 degrees on the front, 58 on the rear. You have to be happy with that, pushing on in rough ground for extended periods.<br />
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Turn South at this Junction and you will get to Cook, on the trans Australian railway line. I plan to cross this same road on my return journey, only South of Cook, about 370Km from here. I have a quick bite to eat and push on, having about a 20 minute stop over. I'm starting to think I wont meet these guys tonight, as I doubt they would push on for 5 hours from here tonight. Its about 9 hours to Ilkurlka, where they expect to camp tomorrow night. But I continue my intermittent scan and position reporting.<br />
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Conditions improve a little East of Volkes Hill, my sand flag isn't being beaten into submission and I'm reaching speeds up to 60Km/h. At 1500 I finally meet the traffic I've been expecting all day. I've done about 50Km since Volkes Hill. Unfortunately, against my best efforts to avoid an unexpected approaching vehicle, I met these fella's as they rounded a blind corner. The lead vehicle, towing a trailer, hits the skids and crosses it up. I'm off in the spinifex in case he doesn't pull it up.<br />
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Then I loose my crumpet. I've been expecting these guys all day and have done my best to make sure everyone knows I'm out here and heading East. The first thing I ask is if they have a radio, to which they respond in the affirmative. When I learn they are on Ch16, unfairly in hindsight, I let Glenn have it. Stuff like "don't you know Ch40 is the go here". It's in my guide, used by Ilkurlka and I'm sure its both signposted and on the permit literature.<br />
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Well, upon investigation it appears I'm wrong. There is no assigned channel, signage or conditions on the permit sourcing a dedicated channel. So Glenn, I owe you an apology. I hope you understand my frustrations were just born of the fact I knew you were coming and I couldn't let you know I was too.<br />
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We wish each other safe travels and push on. At 1620, I have made Anne's Corner. In 8 hours I have only made 225km's since the border so therefore only 30km/h speed over ground. the sun is getting low in the sky as the times I write are still Western Standard time. With another 50 odd Km's to go, that will bring me into camp sometime after 1600, so you can be sure it will be dark. Not ideal, but I need to stick to plan.<br />
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The Mt Davies road at this junction looks very overgrown (indicated by the arrow) and would be a pain to push a decent vehicle through that:<br />
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Yet another opportunity to push my flag back on the stick. Bloody vegetation.....Grrrrr<br />
And I find that I've had a very lucky escape. The bushskinz slider saving me another tyre no doubt:<br />
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But push on I must. Entering Emu, more sand hills appear and I make good speed. 10km's or so from camp I had to put lights on and arrived at Emu at 1740 Western time, in the dark. the one thing I notice in the dark....rabbits. Quite a lot of them. Welcome to South Australia. But I am in luck. I find Emu has a shelter and picnic table to use for the night and a fellow traveller has left me about a 2 hour supply of firewood, so I can rest my weary bones with a glass of red after dinner. Thank you kindly, that was very appreciated.<br />
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Another big day now done, on the road for 10 hours today but still on plan.<br />
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Day 4 finished, 336Km travelled.<br />
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Day 5:<br />
With luck (only because I have a schedule to attend to), I should be across the desert today. Again, not time for breakfast, just the morning coffee. Packed and ready to go, I note the 3rd of my AB caches is located here. So before I leave I have another successful find (GC1AJF9) and hit the track for the last time at 0730 WST (which btw equates to 0900 SA time). I struggle the whole time I am here to adjust to SA time.<br />
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Driving out to totem 1, I spot a Sturt desert pea that I will have to photograph on the way out.<br />
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I was forewarned by Kingbrown on the paj forum about staking hazards here. I didn't see them on the way in due to facing the morning sun, but surely saw them on the way out. If you are heading for totem 1, just after the totem 2 turn off, you will find a line of broken off star pickets on your right, just waiting for you to add to the profits of the local tyre dealer. you have been warned. Stay left on the way in, stay right on the way out:<br />
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And the desert pea as promised. The only one I saw:<br />
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Conditions were pretty good up to Tallaringa conservation park. At Tallaringa well I had made about 100Km in 3 hours, including the side trip to totem 1. A sign post from Len Beadell directs one to the well. Well, I couldn't find it, neither could Glenn, the fella I passed yesterday. So I didn't waste much time here. However, I read in my strip map, that the original well had been moved by Len. I wonder how one moves a well???? My map shows a well a little further East and South of the AB, I'm guessing that's the "original" one?? Anyway moving on and I find a track heading down that way, so I poke my nose in for a look. It ends up a maze of tracks, but I follow my nose trying to get my pointer centered on the dot on the map representing the well. I reckon if I had time up my sleeve, I could find something. But as time was my enemy this trip, I decided the remnants of an unmaintained well, first found by white man in 1908, with no maintenance, just wouldn't be worth the effort in the end. if I come back (which I reckon I will), I'll do a bit of research first.<br />
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The next 55Km's again are pretty easy going, occasional corrugations but all short lived. I make the Dingo fence in an hour and10 minutes. So nearly 50Km/h. Better going than the last 2 days since Ilkurlka for sure. You cant cross the fence here, you have to detour South for 3Km to the gate, then come back on the other side again, to re-join the AB. Whilst here, I pick off the last of my AB caches (GC42KFR).<br />
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Coming into Mabel Creek Station, you pass a bore, tank and yards on the right. From this point, until you get to the next windmill, the track is very washed out and slow going. Nothing too challenging, just slow. Obviously a place where a lot of water runs whenever this place ever gets any decent rain.<br />
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After that, the road improves considerably and once you veer North of the Homestead, you realise you have reached the end of the AB going by all the signage. Success, my 4 day challenge to cross the AB, sans a tyre stake, and badly beaten vehicle from all the Vegetation after Ilkurlka is done.<br />
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Like the demtel add, but wait, there's more. No steak knives here, but I'm still 50km's from Coober Pedy, I need fuel, a wash, somewhere to camp and I still have another 900Km's to get to my destination in Adelaide. And there is yet another cache I want to pick up on the way into town. However, I can make road speed from here.<br />
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I pass Eight Mile (one of the richest opal fields of Coober Pedy in its hey day) and I drop in for the last cache on my trip to Adelaide (GC3PWGP).<span style="color: #999999;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999;">The town of Coober Pedy in South Australia is a major source of opal. The world’s largest and most valuable gem opal “Olympic Australis” was found in August 1956 at the “Eight Mile” opal field in Coober Pedy. It weighs 17,000 carats (3450 grams) and is 11 inches (280 mm) long, with a height of 4+3⁄4 inches (120 mm) and a width of 4+1⁄2 inches (110 mm). It is valued at AUD$2,500,000</span><br />
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Found here:<br />
<a href="http://aus.worldpeacefull.com/2011/08/australia-largest-producer-of-worlds-opals/" target="_blank">australia-largest-producer-of-worlds-opals</a><br />
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As I drive in, and hone in on the GPS, I get a very bad feeling. I have rocked up into an old mining camp, squatter shacks everywhere and I feel like I'm about to go ferreting in someone's back yard.<br />
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A vehicle pulls up to a shack about 50 meters away, so I go over to introduce myself and why I'm here. Turns out, he is the "rabbit" - you would have to pull up the cache page to understand. He helped me find the cache, cause the clue doesn't make sense now the old truck is no longer and then I spent an hour chatting with him in his shack. Seriously, If I thought I had just enjoyed the desert, the conversation with this man was nothing short of spell binding. If it wasn't for the fact I had to get out of town for a wash, I think I would have stayed the night.<br />
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Rabbit, I know you wont get to read this blog, but hopefully someone can relay my thoughts about my visit here to you. You sir, are a true gentleman.<br />
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You see, that's one thing I love about this country. Its full of such wonderful characters in the most strangest of places.<br />
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Fuelled up in town, I can do some fuel calculations for the crossing. I used 194L from Laverton to Coober Pedy (about 24L more than my tank capacity) over a distance of 1408Km. An average of 13.77L/100. you have to be happy with that.<br />
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But I need to push on. I find a bit of an average roadside rest area about 50Km from town, Ingomar rest area. No one is here, its 1745 local time, the sun is not far from sinking below the horizon and I need a wash. Job done I reckon. The Ab now conquered, Adelaide tomorrow. Pity the flies were so friendly here though, I never saw one in the desert, another most excellent point of being out there.<br />
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I had to wait until the sun went down to cook dinner, due to said fly issue. Afterwards, sitting back, sipping a red, I hear a vehicle on the highway slow down. he is pulling in. Bloody great, back in civilisation and here goes my peace and quiet. I get a bit alarmed, a landie pulls in, camper trailer in tow. Thinking I'm now going to be swamped with a hoard of kids, I'm surprised to meet Frank. he is travelling alone, apart from a young kitten he picked up along the way. A bit of an eccentric fella, a bit of a conspiracy theorist (must have been that alien abduction and anal probing) but a nice fella all the same. turns out, he is going to Cactus Beach for a week, before making his way to Esperance WA. Seems I will meet him there when I pass through. Anyway, a pleasant night with frank and my goon, we retire for the evening.<br />
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Day 5 finished, 340Km travelled.<br />
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Up again before sun up, and Frank, I hit the long road for Adelaide at 0815 local. Frank follows for a bit, but he isn't carrying my speed and we eventually loose radio contact. See ya at Cactus mate!<br />
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I marvel at the scenery out here. It is less treeless then the Nullarbor. Bloody amazing to see. I make Port Augusta about 0130 local and refuel. Stopping in a carpark opposite to update the world on what's been happening, I see a challenger heading my way. No it can't be. yep, Kingbrown from the Paj forum has come to make sure I get my now black fella feet well out of town. cant have that sort of riff raff hanging around. thanks mate, it was a pleasure to see you again, after we first met at Windich Springs on the CSR last year.<br />
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But push on I must, reaching the outskirts of Adelaide around 1900 local. Its now dark, and I really don't know where I'm going, so that presents another challenge in itself. A mate in Perth calls me and he guides me in to my base camp via google maps. Mind you, he gave me a few wrong turns, but his assistance was appreciated and I rocked up at my mates mum's place around 2000 local. Now its time for a rest, and tomorrow, meet my long lost mate I haven't seen in over 25 years.<br />
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Day 6 finished, 830Km Travelled.<br />
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Over 6 days, on completion of part 1 of my quest, I have knocked one milestone off my bucket list.</div>
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I have used 390L of diesel up to Pt Augusta, costing me $675 over 2885Km's.</div>
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For an overall average consumption of 13.5L/100</div>
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I used the grand sum of 3.5L of water (+ 2 for showering) - I took nothing from tanks located on the way.</div>
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Apart from my love of the desert country out here, my next best experience was the lack of rubbish from fellow travellers. Thank you. Same cant be said for part II. </div>
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Part II, the return Journey across the Nullabor coming soon. </div>
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Trip Videos:</div>
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<u><b>Permit Information and contacts:</b></u></div>
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<b>For travel on the White Cliffs/Yamarna Rd to Yeo Homestead:</b></div>
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<u>Ngaanyatjarra council<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.ngaanyatjarra.org.au/permits/getting-permit" target="_blank">http://www.ngaanyatjarra.org.au/permits/getting-permit</a></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>For Travel from the WA border into SA:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.maralingatjarutja.com/" target="_blank">http://www.maralingatjarutja.com/</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Note: additional camp fees to a transit permit apply if you wish to camp in Mamungari Conservation Reserve</i> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I hear often that MT can be slow to process permits. However, I will list the way I went about it. Download the permit application in the link on the page above. Pay the required fee by EFT, copy the receipt and email to both receipt and application to:</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">reception@maralinga.com.au </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Follow this up with a phone call to let them know its coming. I followed this process and had my permit approved 2 days after I started the ball rolling. Thank you Manisha.</span></span></div>
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<b>For access into the Woomera Protected Area:</b><br />
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Importantly, I would apply for this permit first, because the Dept<b> </b>of Defence regularly close this down for operational reasons and this will make any other permit worthless.<br />
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Download the Tourist Application Permit W005 available here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.defence.gov.au/woomera/forms.htm" target="_blank">http://www.defence.gov.au/woomera/forms.htm</a><br />
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email the form off and once you have that approved, then continue with the others required.<br />
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<b>For Access into Tallaringa Conservation Park:</b><br />
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I note just about all my research shows you need a SA Desert Parks Pass for entry into Tallaringa. This is incorrect. A DPP will cost you $160, valid for multiple desert parks for a period of 12 months. Which is fine if you plan to hang around for 12 months and visit multiple parks.<br />
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Information you will find hard to find with out a bit of effort is that you can just pay a vehicle entry fee if transiting. A more economically acceptable method if you are just passing through.<br />
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<i>NOTE: additional camp fee's apply if you plan to camp here </i><br />
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<a href="http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/flinders-ranges-outback/tallaringa-conservation-park/booking/vehicle-entry-fees" target="_blank">Tallaringa entry fee</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/booking#Tallaringa%20Conservation%20Park" target="_blank">Tallaringa camp Fee</a><br />
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Please email me and I will provide banking details. We can split the $150 saving 50/50 :)<br />
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<b>And of course there is Ilkurlka:</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.ilkurlka.org.au/" target="_blank">http://www.ilkurlka.org.au/</a><br />
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Everything you need to know is on their site. But don't ask Phil where the geocache is hidden. That is your task<br />
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And finishing off,<br />
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<b>The Anangu Communities request that visitors do not not leave the Anne Beadell Highway as there may be sensitive areas nearby. </b><br />
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Respect their culture and wishes, and we get access to country. Simples!sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-9321150168307309152017-03-24T10:21:00.006+08:002017-07-13T09:09:34.562+08:00Yearning for YeagerupJanuary 6th - 10th, 2017<br />
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With 4 1/2 days off, I decided to head to WA's largest dune, Callcup Hill, with some boys in tow that really wanted to have a crack at it. The boys would join me for a couple of days and I would then venture solo for the remainder. Hopefully to put the Dobinson MRR's to a harder test than the last trip.<br />
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With an early finish on Friday I hit the road about 1400. The route, direct to Nannup. Leo, Riccardo and Marty had left the day before. They were getting a woodie about the prospect of 4wd'ing in Brunswick, would camp overnight somewhere and meet me in Nannup around 1800. I had no phone contact with them and just winged it that they would turn up. I arrived at 1750. Parked up for a couple of minutes, I heard a crackle on the UHF. Yep, the boys had arrived. But concerningly, they were less than a kilometre away, and my UHF was deaf with a very scratchy, broken signal. An issue to plague me for the remainder of the trip.<br />
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A refuel for the boys and we were under way (gotta love my long range tank - when it doesn't fail on me anyway). Leo had met my father in law over xmas, so we all ventured up to see him and my family who just so happened to be staying there that weekend. Time marching on, it was now 1900, time to find a camp for the night. The one local spot I knew was full to the brim. Like the last trip, I had the same 2 options: Cambray or Punch and Judy. The former we would be there in 15 minutes, the latter would have us arrive at well after 2030. I pushed for the former. Leo pushed for the latter, he didn't want to back track. Cambray was the opposite direction for tomorrows journey out to Callcup (all 15 Km's or so). My thoughts won the group over and we arrived to find a very nice little camp site at Cambray, arriving at 1945. A bit late for my liking, but all was well. 340Km's for the day done.<br />
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Camped up in the usual chuck wagon formation (a large circle, cause we all know how bad the Injins are out here in these parts) A great night ensued. I had never met Riccardo or Marty before, so we had time to see each others set-ups and work out how we all ticked. Myself with a centre pole dome on a stretcher, Leo with his sheet and a blanket on a stretcher, Riccardo with his double dome swag on the ground, and Marty, with his just a canvas bag type swag, also on the ground. I think my led strip under the awning with remote control operation and dimmer gave the others some ideas for the future. Another refill of the woobler and I noticed the time. Now well after midnight. Bloody hell, where did that time go? So I finished my goon and made for bed. The others did likewise.<br />
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In the morning, after a round of coffee, I made what is becoming my staple camp breakfast: bacon and Jarlsberg cheese toasted wraps. Yum. But we had a big day ahead. Marty had time constraints, he was leaving us today and had to be in Bunbury at 5pm. So time was of the essence. My plan was to let the boys have a play on Callcup, Marty can go home from there, the rest uf us head along Warren Beach to camp up at Yeagerup, the boys can head for home from there in the morning and I will venture on to Black point solo. But best laid plans go astray - with me, quite often.<br />
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We departed Cambray late at 1015. No doubt a cooked breakfast didn't help, but that put us behind the eight ball from the start. A pie for lunch from Pemby bakery and we headed off for Callcup. I did mention, that its a bit of a rabbit warren getting in there (and seeing I had been only once, some years ago), I was a bit scratchy on it. But I have the tools (and my old tracklog) so all should be well. It was 1220 before we turned off for Callcup.<br />
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And my fears proved real. All was good at the start, till I turned off on a track that ended up a dead end. Whilst it had a nice little camp site, it wasn't helping us get to Callcup. No drama, I checked out my prior track log and would follow that.<br />
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Against better judgement, I followed that track log to the letter (till I missed a turn). That left what I consider to be a major track. And I obviously missed a turn and we ended up on some obscure, overgrown plantation track. So I made our way back to that major track and we plugged on. At this point, Riccardo was becoming a bit agitated, owing to the time factor. I suggested he could take the lead, I was doing all I could. Subsequently, after this last little detour, we made Callcup - with myself still leading at 1330. Getting a bit late for Marty. Callcup is known as the largest dune in WA. Its a multi staged ascent and sits 240m above sea level, and is renowned to be super soft and a challenge to ascend.<br />
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The top of the hill was very soft. Tyre pressure is king: <br />
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The decision was made to just have a short play up top and get Marty back to the black top so he could get to Bunbury. We would play on the hill in the morning when we have more time available. Marty's little car sure struggled in the soft sand. In fact he almost didn't get up the little incline off the hill for the track out. More pressure out, some max trax, a bit of pushing and a few attempts got him over the crest and on his way.<br />
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Owing to the issues getting in, it was advisable to guide Marty out. Leo and Riccardo took those duties on. I decided to secure the one and only camp site a few Kilometres from Callcup at a leisurely 1440. And here I sat. Slowly setting my self up for the night in between bouts of sipping beer in the comfort of my camp chair :) 140Km's for the day now done.<br />
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A fella drove past, obviously just having come up Callcup. I asked about crossing the Warren River (now our destination for tomorrow). He said, yep, no drama, there is no water in it. Cool as!<br />
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Whilst my camp was slowly coming together, and the empty can pile was building up, I wondered where the hell Leo and Riccardo were. Every now and then, I could here them on the radio, then they would disappear. Yep, I knew it, they were lost. I tried a few times to raise them on the radio, but to no avail.<br />
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They got back to camp near to 1900 and told the tale of going around in circles only to end up back on tracks they had just came from. Even ending up down tracks that had to be cleared of vegetation so they could make progress. They got Matty back to the black top, a piece of piss, but screwed up coming back to camp. It must have taken them at least 2 hours to return and they were not happy. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself about Riccardo getting a bit snarly when we were trying to make our way in.<br />
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After another enjoyable night, we were under way at 0900 for Callcup. The plan was to let the boys have a play at ascending. I would wait up top in case a winching was needed. Leo made the first attempt, but couldn't quite make the crest:<br />
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Riccardo followed in Leo's failed footsteps, not only to just pass him, but make it up the top....only just. Riccardo and myself chuckled about the fact, Leo wouldn't be happy.<br />
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The "shit yeah!" smile in the inset says it all. Either that or he just sharted:<br />
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But with an adjustment of tyre pressure, Leo gained the "shit Yeah" smile too. Well the best smile he could pull anyway after being convincingly outshone by Riccardo.<br />
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Only to be laughed at by posing off up top and coming a gutzer....again.<br />
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It was a good laugh. I'm sure both Leo and Riccardo will sense the humour in my take on the proceedings. 45 minutes or so later, we all head down Callcup at 1000 for Warren beach. We had to make way for some wildlife to depart on the way down:<br />
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Arriving at the Warren river, we are all just a bit pissed off. The
Warren is full of water, its deep and its flowing hard. No way will we
cross that. To the fella that gave me the false intelligence the day
before, thanks very much. Tool!<br />
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Now we all have to go back up Callcup. Something I hadn't planned to do. A few hiccups on the way up and we were all up and on our way out.<br />
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Leo took the lead out and subsequently took a turn I didn't. We were now separated and I had no radio contact with them. I knew from where they turned, they would be out. So I also made my way out - by the way I had come in. The boys were now heading for home. I was heading for Yeagerup - the long way around - thanks again for that top piece of intelligence.<br />
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I turned off to check out some camp sites on the Warren and as I did, I got Leo on the radio. They were out and both of us went our respective ways. On arrival at Yeagerup dunes, I drove the track to the large dune over looking the beach. Watching a few attempt to climb out of this dune, I gave them some advice. They were up, but the dune had now been chopped up. Whilst I know I would have made it easy, I was now solo and didn't need to prove anything. So I made my way to camp, arriving at 1515. A bit early, but time to relax.<br />
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There had been no dew the previous nights, so I decided to go naked tonight. It paid off: It didn't rain :) Only 94Kms done today.<br />
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A late start today as I have a chat with a fellow that rocked up to my once solo campsite the afternoon prior. He has an MDC forward fold and I go over for a look. Its an impressive bit of kit really. The canvas is as thick as cow hide and it has lots of nice features. I cant believe how far these import campers have come along over the last decade. Mind you, its having a nasty impact on our Aussie manufacturers who seem to be falling like domino's at the moment. The other drawback is the weight. Shit these are heavy and due to the extended drawbar and forward storage, have very high tow ball weights. He asked about conditions going down to Yeagerup beach and I recommend he leaves the camper behind. I could have been a tool and said "no worries mate!", like no water in the Warren, but seriously, why would you do that.<br />
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The plan for today: Black Point. Just before I finally hit the road at 1000, he returns and is glad of my advice. He also didn't descend the larger dune towards the beach. Subsequently I find he has no compressor, no recovery gear and probably NFI either. So my advice was good value.<br />
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I make for lake Jasper. The typical sandy track I remember has changed a little. It doesn't have the 35" wheel ruts like it had last time I came out. The sand a little soft in places, was no issue to traverse. Turning up the Jasper Road, I find the sand a little softer. The 'dunes", or more likely, small inclines don't have the conveyor belt laid like it used to have. Things have changed here. The camping has been severely restricted and ski boats not allowed now, no doubt why the conveyor belt has gone also. A few soft crests and a couple of soft sandy patches almost catch me out, but the Paj ploughs on.<br />
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Arriving at the Lake at 1200 I expected to be here alone. I grab the camera and walk down to the lake to be met by a tribe of 20-30 people, playing cricket and laying back. Men, women and their kids. I say g'day and start some conversation. I am met with a very frosty reception. Anyone would think I'm here to steal their camp site or their women. I mean, really, do you have to be that unfriendly? So I give them a mental one fingered salute and get the hell outa there.<br />
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Back on the track, I pass the Twin Karri's Beach turnoff and find similar soft sandy patches of track. Another 4km's on and I round a corner to be presented with a hill that I start to drive up. Once on it, I'm in shock. This particular hill has quite deep, opposed wombat holes, I'm in a wrong 4wd mode, haven't picked a line. I'm a bit worried to be honest. the Paj lifts opposing wheels often - the Pajero Salute - traction control is going banana's and I'm concentrating on getting her up. But no drama's the Paj does it with ease. At the top, I note my tranny temp is over 120 degree's, so I stop at the top in some shade and grab a camera to investigate what I had just climbed.<br />
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Yep, it was rutted alright, but with a bit of a look see first, this should present no drama. Problem being, I was climbing it before I knew it. The picture below in no way does the terrain any justice:<br />
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A pic of the typical track between Lake Jasper and Black Point:<br />
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I pass the Jasper Beach turn off and decide not to go down. Sure, its a lovely beach, but I've been before and I want to get to Black Point to get a camp site before others may do. About 3km after this turn off, you descend a limestone capped hill. You round a bend and come back up another hill. Its a bit on the soft side, but no drama. Round a right hander and the hill keeps on keeping on and the view in front is alarming. This shit is seriously soft. With wrong 4wd mode again and unsuitable tyre pressures, there is only one thing to do: more loud pedal.<br />
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But it fails. I just don't have the momentum to continue. So I start to reverse down. reversing around the right hander and at the top of the starting slope, some thing's going amiss. The Paj is veering left and I cant pull it out. Like being on train tracks. I get to the point where the left hand rear is approaching the drop off on the side and I have no choice but to stop, go forward and try to get back on line. Into drive and all I have is wheel spin...Add expletive here....I'm thinking this is not good, I may just have to winch my self forward. So I go to basics first - let some air out. Down to 10 on the front 14 on the rear and I try again. I manage to get forward just a little, then try to pull it around again in reverse. This time success. I get back on line and down to the bottom. Ok, so tyre pressures should be ok, time for an adjustment of 4wd mode. I select low and put the diff lock in. This time I go up the hill at a rate of knots, bouncing over the wallows and no doubt shaking up the beer in the fridge. Round the right hander and I add more loud pedal whilst the induction noise from the snorkel is trying to drown out the engine noise. And up she goes, at a rate of knots and sails over the very soft sandy crest. Phew. Technique my son. Works almost every time.<br />
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I plug on with my deflated tyres and I am a bit wary of the limestone cap rock that is cropping up occasionally. I really should put a bit of pressure back in to stop those bulging sidewalls from touching cloth - or should that be cap rock?<br />
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But I continue on and get glimpses of the coast in between the vegetation in this now high vantage point. I make the Black Point turn of at 1330 and head on in. I cant recall the camp sites here, so I will have to do a reccy. But first, I go out to the coast. Its early enough and I have plenty of time to spare:<br />
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There are two camp grounds here and both have been renewed and are modern. I see a site in the first that may be suitable, but go to check the second. That one had a much larger area, so I decided that was it and proceeded to unload gear, chill with a beer and generally just have a relaxed afternoon.<br />
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I have the place to myself, there is no one here. Some units in their 3" exhausted patrols come hooning down the track and shatter the peace. Great! But 1/2 hour later, they bugger off again...winner. Later in the afternoon I take a walk up towards the other camp site. high above the coast I notice I have phone coverage, so I go back to camp, grab my tab and start trying to communicate with the outside world. SMS seems to go through, but internet coverage is scratchy to say the least. Whilst trying to post a pic, a patrol comes past - well there goes my solitude. I wave and he continues on down to the second camp site. later in the afternoon, whilst cooking dinner, ole mate comes for a drive by. Obviously to check out where I am and what I'm up to. And he doesn't even bother to stop and say G'day. Another miserable sod. I never see him again. So, with a quiet night, another day is done. 94 Km for the day completed.<br />
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Unusually for me, I am up early. Its home time today. And watered, packed but not fed and on the road at 0700. I have a few K's to go today, so an early start is good. I make my way out via Black Point Road. This is a seasonal track, is gated each end and gets closed often. It passes through some swampy ground, and no doubt, when wet causes some drama's. I have never been down this road, so I don't know what to expect. But its no drama at all. Some more soft sandy stretches, a bit wallowed in places, but my low tyre pressure eats it up. And soon enough, I hit the black top. I put air back in the tyres and hit the bitumen. I stop off at the Nannup steamer and cant be bothered looking for that pesky Nano cache I haven't been able to find here:<br />
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I drive back to the in laws, cook my bacon and cheese wraps, bid them farewell and start the 3.5 hour, 360 Km trip to home. And yet another excellent adventure comes to a close at 1400. Just enough time to start unpacking all me gear....again.<br />
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Track log:<br />
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
4 nights under canvas<br />
1070km travelled<br />
151L fuel used<br />
for an average of 14.1 L/100Km<br />
cost of fuel $206<br />
camp fees $15 + National Park access fees (I have an annual pass)<br />
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And the vids for the trip:<br />
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-12475746570410489032017-03-21T10:14:00.004+08:002017-07-13T10:33:28.329+08:0038 specialDecember 8th-12th, 2016<br />
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So to finish off 2016, I got away for another 4 days bringing the 2016 nights under canvas to 38. This was to be a test run trip. The Paj, now almost repaired from the carnage on the canning, needed some local testing before hitting the rough again. The last item to go, the front cross member, was booked in for when I returned from this trip.<br />
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A late departure from Perth at 1400, had me on the road for a little spot I had spotted some 4 years ago that I reckoned would be a good camp. I wasn't completely sure where I had to go, but if stuck, I had my tracklog from that previous trip to draw on if needed. As it turned out, I found the start of the track easy enough, and then just had to follow my nose.<br />
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By 1710, after 240Km's of travel, I had arrived at my planned destination on the Collie River and set up for the night:<br />
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A beautiful little spot on the river with plenty of water around:</div>
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So after a pleasant, quiet night alone, come the morning, it was time for coffee, pack up and head off to meet Trev and Duffy dog at Gnomesville.</div>
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The mist on the water this morning, and the reflections in the mill pond still river, made a remarkable sight:</div>
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Stopping off on the way out for some scenery and track shots:<br />
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It was here I realised I'd gone bush without my front intercooler bash plate. I had removed it in preparation for the cross member replacement, and didn't think at the time going bush without any protection probably wasn't a good idea. I would have to gingerly sneak through the bush now.<br />
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And then I was making my way to Gnomesville, I caught up with Trev at 1040. Whilst marvelling at the sheer amount of gnomes placed here, I grabbed a couple of caches in the near vicinity and set a new trackable off on the start of his adventure:<br />
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We then made our way into Donnybrook for some lunch at the bakery and headed off to check out the Grimwade campsite. We had no real plans on where we were to make camp for the night. So out to Wrights Bridge we went. not being overly impressed with the site, we ventured on into Nannup.<br />
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I had two spots to recommend. Cambray and one I call Punch and Judy. As it was now 1600, I suggested Cambray, owing to the fact it was the closest and would accept dogs. There is nothing of interest at Cambray, but its a place to camp up for the night.<br />
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On arrival, Trev was very uncomfortable with the 1080 signs, and rightly so. That will take a dog out in no time. Whilst 1080 is a hotly debated topic with dog owners, I suggest the benefits to the environment far outweigh any inconveniences created. Foxes and feral cats decimate some of our most endangered mammals in our forests here. The limitations of 1080 baiting is all part of responsible dog ownership. We decide to move on.<br />
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My Punch and Judy site is at least 45 minutes away, and with it now being 1615, I suggest we head back down the Balingup Rd for Wrights Bridge. On the way, we checked out a few tracks giving access to the Blackwood River, and Trev stumbled upon a little site we could both squeeze into at 1730.<br />
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As it was now getting on, we spent an hour or so playing with Duffy dog in the water and got down to business: beer and dinner at camp :)<br />
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We both made the decision not to deploy awnings. There had been no dew the previous night and no reports of rain was forecast. At 0400, I woke up with a wet face - note to self:<br />
1. If you have an awning and don't use it, then it will probably rain.<br />
2. Same deal not having your swag flap done up whilst not under cover<br />
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Listening to the drizzle for the next hour or so, we got up when it stopped. Now I have a wet swag - fantastic. Swags are great, they keep you dry. But if wet and you roll them up wet, your bedding will also be wet when you unroll it the next night. This is alright for Trev, he is going home today, I however have another night to go. So I strip the bedding from the swag and plan to dry it out this afternoon.<br />
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We hit the road about 0830, making for Balingup, Where Trev heads North and I head South. I have no plan for tonight, just where ever I end up. I veer off down an unknown road that looks "interesting" just out of Balingup. This takes me through some rolling hill farmland. Some Tee junctions, some map reading and some decision making on my part get me into the heart of forest country. At another Tee junction, I study the map and whilst doing so, A fire truck appears on the opposite side of the junction. Expecting them to come over for a chat, they don't. I had to walk over to them.<br />
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It was then they started to give me a serve : mate, you shouldn't be in here, the roads are closed. To which I reply, well great, how about you put up a closed road sign in the direction I have just come from then. Apparently, there had been a large bush fire through the area during the week and they were mopping up. Once he was made aware that my father in law is a member of East Nannup bush fire brigade, his tone subdued a little. I told him I would make my way direct to the Brockman Highway, as I didn't want to be on any closed roads. At the junction with the Brockman, I found a little sign. Pity the same wasn't present at the other end:<br />
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I am now in familiar country. I make my way for Donnelly River Mill and then take forestry tracks for Graphite Road. So I have decided, I will make my last night somewhere here in the Manjimup area. I start taking various tracks looking for river access points. I spot a place where the Bibbulmun crosses and head down a rather long, steep hill. Its a nice little spot here and with some open ground suitable for a camp. However, its a bit windy and its under the canopy of some very large trees - widow makers - so I decide to push on for somewhere more suitable.<br />
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I find a site in Wiki Camps "Chapman Bridge" and decide to had for it. It also is on the Bibbulmun. Who knows: it may be full of Swedish backpackers. So that's it, destination decided. Knowing my luck though, all the backpackers will be sporting names of Sven and the like :(, not Ingred like I hoped would be the case.<br />
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I really should have plugged the co-ords into ozi because I spent ages looking for this place. All I knew was that it was a few Km's to the North of my present location, and multiple back roads didn't seem to take me there. I spent about an hour rooting around before I called it quits. I did spy this old bridge though. "Paling Bridge" or so I believe:<br />
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From there I made a dash for Glenoran Pool for a spot of lunch. And I had a chat with a Ranger about this Chapman site. She didn't know it personally, but gave me a lead on how to get there. So I took that lead, followed my nose (and off road maps) and found it eventually around 1500.And wouldn't you know it. It was about a Kilometre up a road I had been on when I was rooting around on the other side. If only I had ventured on......<br />
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First job first, get the swag out and dry for tonight whilst I still had some sun:<br />
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A nice little place nestled in among tall trees. A running creek, a
hikers hut, a few camp tables etc. Perfect. And no sign of Sven :)<br />
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The trees are freakin huge:<br />
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So a quiet night and a bit on the cool side with some light wind blowing. Perfect for sleeping. A nice 3 night getaway, seeing some places I knew and exploring some others I don't. The trials on the Paj were all successful, building ones confidence for some more tougher work to come.<br />
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At 0830 I was on the road for home and by 1330 I was in my driveway, ready to start the unpacking process. I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but I sometimes wonder why I go away at all. The sheer volume of work to pack and prepare beforehand, then the unpack and cleaning once back home, makes one wonder. But I tell you this, once you're out there, you sure do forget about those chores pretty damn quickly.</div>
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Trip Log:</div>
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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3 nights under canvas<br />
976Km travelled<br />
100L fuel used<br />
for an average of 10.2 L/100Km<br />
cost of fuel $130<br />
camp fees Nil<br />
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And the vid for the trip can be viewed here:<br />
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-59085945523917814562016-11-12T18:49:00.003+08:002017-07-13T10:42:02.402+08:00Plough Disc fire pitWell, I thought this was a blog entry and I was incorrect. So I have reproduced the original article I did back in July, 2015<br />
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1. Grab one <span class="highlight">plough</span> <span class="highlight">disc</span>. De rust and hit it with rust converter.<br />
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2. Cut metal plate to fill the hole and weld in place:<br />
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3. Weld leg sockets in place:<br />
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4. Invert and fit legs:<br />
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5. Paint with bot belly black:<br />
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6. fire up some heat beads and pull the camp oven:<br />
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7. Insert roast, peel vegies and have a few bevies whilst you wait for the spoils:<br />
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Camp meals at home. Easy as.<br />
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sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-43466486464907866532016-08-20T23:53:00.001+08:002017-07-13T11:15:04.723+08:00A Caning on the Canning, part V - FinalArriving at well 6, Steve met me at the car door. Getting out I said, hey, can you smell diesel. Looking at the right hand rear wheel, you could see diesel had leaked from up on high. Thinking it was just some spill from the overflow, I said screw it, I'll look at it tomorrow. Priorities first: dry the mattress and swag from the rain overnight at well 3.<br />
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Pierre Springs IE well 6 was a fabulous place. Huge bloodwood gums every where, lots of shade and a restored well with good water. I was just glad to be back with my party again. We had been carrying them for so long, myself since Perth, it was time to break out the bickies and dip:<br />
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Everyone was just so happy to see me:<br />
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Ok maybe it was just "Harry's" load of firewood then.<br />
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Another great night by the fire ensued, back to the old creature habbits pre well 31. As it was a sort of home coming, more talk of aliens and the occasional bottom burp made it feel like home.<br />
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Day 19, and In the morning, Steve being a perpetual, well before sparrows riser, pointed me to a very pretty sight, which I just caught on the camera, before the stunning colours disappeared:<br />
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Packed up and almost ready to go, the boys collected some more water from the restored well:<br />
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The restored well, greater than 30m deep, and deepest on the CSR, would have been a real challenge for Canning and his team digging that one. We hit the CSR again at 0900, bound for well 5. Pretty soon into the trip, we pass a strand of <span class="st">Xanthorrhoea, or grass tree or black boy if you like. Its only a very small patch and very unusual to see this in this type of country. Stopping at the entrance to the now off limits Carnarvon Ranges track, the scene Northwards, towards Mt Salvado and the Inglebong Hills was pretty amazing:</span><span class="st"><br /></span><br />
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Arriving at well 5 by 0945. The well, restored by the Chamberlain Tractor Club was certainly a stand out in its gawdy colour scheme:<br />
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But the hits just keep on coming. Walking back to the car, I remark it looks like my auxiliary tank is sitting on the piss.<br />
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Peter investigates:<br />
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and politely tells me the mounting bracket has failed:<br />
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Fan bloody tastic. Best we can do is buggerise around for an hour, trying to work out the best way to ratchet strap it to the body, so we can get both pieces home:<br />
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Finally under way again at 1100. Just prior to well 4b, the first of the 5 gates and the start of the diversion track to well 3.<br />
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And a long stop over and lunch at the remarkable Windich Springs. A group travelling North was here already. Noting our vehicles, one came over. It was King Brown from the Pajero forum. We told him what he had in front of him and look forward to hearing how he went when he finally pokes his nose out again. A bit of money has been spent here. A near new, large, steel information shelter supplies a wealth of information:<br />
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There are picnic tables and fire rings in the campground, shady trees and a dunny that someone kindly attached a mud map to - pardon the pun.<br />
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At 1330, we are on the move again after an hour and a half stop. Not long afterwards, crossing the steeper Kennedy Creek crossing.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwcd5BTmgXghpzN6Yn4Y80Y663XV2WsqCzVGJi0jduSILCadcHnO1-O52gJudvOIPtK4ccg03Al1vFjLvly' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Then we move down to well 4a. Whilst looking at the well I ask Steve how much movement he has in his bar. We compare and mine moves a hell of a lot more. Steve goes under and lets me know my front cross member has fatigue fractured in multiple spots. This is the last straw for me, I've had enough. I wont even look at the damage until I get home. The bar can fall off for all I care. I have certainly copped a caning on the Canning.<br />
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Through the Frere Range we go, picturesque with its numerous slow dry creek crossings. Then we get to the last bloody gate at 1500. We decide, with all the stops today, we will not make well 3, so will find a suitable spot for the last Canning camp. And at 1600, we find a most perfect clearing, free from the dreaded spinifex and plenty of timber for our last fire on the canning.<br />
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Steve sets up his u-beaut, engine warmed, bull bar mounted shower and comes out a new man:<br />
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It was a mixed feeling of nausea, tears and choking on laughter having that laid on you. Luckily, it disappeared to his private wardrobe very quickly. But it was a good laugh and you can see someone is enjoying having the boys tucked in. And now the last trip name, Mr Mankini is revealed.<br />
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Being the last camp, it was jaffle night again. baked bean, cheese and onion. The after affects of which this group will never let me have one again. They were bloody awesome. Even all through the night and the following day :)<br />
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Being the last night, jaffles brewing with my beer, bourbon and red wine, Brenda beckoned that we appease the anal probing aliens with our tin foil hats:<br />
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And so it was done. Tomorrow we would be rid of that blight known as the Canning Stock Route. I for one, couldn't be more thankful. 101Km's fro the day completed.<br />
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Day 21 and we are under way at 0800, making well 3 at 0850. I showed the party the frogs residing in the well. A couple of which made the 20m leap to the water below:<br />
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But before we leave, I have to show them the eagle's nest I found here two days prior, after changing that tyre of mine:<br />
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We are then through that rocky ground. Quite a few people have taken to doing their own art work in this rocky desert:<br />
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Then its through the small dunes, the corrugated plains in between, the dry boggy country, well 2 and 150Km's later, we celebrate. We are at the end of the Canning. Some of us might have done the lot, but others have done a lot more:<br />
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Onto well 1 so the others can tick that box off their list we make Wiluna at 1430. The general store extremely well stocked and quite a nice affair, a contrast with the rest of the township. Peter got an eye opener, visiting the pub with Steve for some more beer supplies.<br />
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I had managed to Convince Peter and Willie to let me take them on a back blocks tour of the Goldfields before they started their 4000+ Km journey home. I understand they must be well tired by now, but they agreed and I'm sure they are glad they did so. So all of us shot off for Sandstone, a quaint, pretty little town. Unfortunately we met with a road closed sign, so I devised a detour, hoping we could get through that way. But there was no way we would make Sandstone tonight, so we found a nice cleared area to rest up finishing up at 1600, 246Km's for the day. <br />
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Day 22 kicks off at 0830 and we find the detour allows us to get to Sandstone at 1000 for some fuel. A quick look around the town, some internet updates and we head for London Bridge and the like before setting of for Lake Ballard, arriving at 1430.<br />
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Peter and myself go and get some wood for the night and then we all tour the lake:<br />
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362 Km's done for the day and what better way to finish the night than a roast in the camp oven:<br />
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Day 23 and we hit the road at 0830. An hour in and we take a road less travelled. Stopping in at Kurrajong Rocks, we make our way for my favourite little place, Jaurdi Station:<br />
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210 Km's done for the day, mainly through back tracks and we make the homestead. I've never seen a person here till now. There is about 6 or so Dpaw guys staying here for the week, doing work throughout the reserve. We use their fire and a couple come and chat a little, but the remainder just left us alone.<br />
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Day 24 is a sad day. We all part company today. The last 3 and a half weeks has been bitter sweet. The tracks have been crap, but the company awesome. Its the coldest morning of the trip, a sheet of ice in my water container. A late start of 0930, we head off for the last 75Km's to the highway. There we say goodbye to Peter and Willie. Thanks for being such great travelling companions.<br />
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And 100Km's later, I say goodbye to Steve and Brenda. Refuelling at Southern Cross, they head for home, I head for a wheat belt rock. Thank you to you as well for being awesome company.<br />
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Making my way through all sorts of wheatbelt roads, I make Baropin Rocks at 1430. Here I have a mission to complete: To place the trackable I removed from the Wolf Creek crater. Mission complete, I grab some fire wood and warm up by the fire, in the shadow of a large overhanging piece of granite:<br />
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Day 25 and I have 350Km's to home. Leaving at 0815, I traverse fields of green:<br />
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And fields of yellow<br />
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Before finally seeing the vista of Perth city and reality begins to sink in. Now I've got a car to repair.<br />
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Well 3 to Well 6 and back to Cunyu Station:<br />
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Cunyu Station to home:<br />
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Tracklog for part V. Blue = in company, Black = solo<br />
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<u>Trip Stats:</u><br />
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25 days, 24 sleeps in the swag<br />
7675Km travelled<br />
1130L fuel used<br />
for an average of 14.27 L/100Km<br />
cost of fuel $1716<br />
camp fees $10 at Windjana<br />
Best consumption Sandstone - Wiluna @ 11.2L/100<br />
Worst consumption billiluna - Kunawaritji 17.0l/100 (note the dunes)<br />
Biggest fuel bill Kunawaritji. $3.40 per litre @ 122L = $415.0<br />
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<u>Damage Bill (as known at the time of writing):</u><br />
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Peter and Willie - none<br />
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Steve and Brenda. One windscreen, Newman.<br />
One shock, Broome<br />
One robbed vehicle, Broome<br />
One cracked new windscreen, Fitzroy Crossing<br />
Two rear shocks, CSR<br />
One partially fatigue fractured front cross member<br />
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Me One chipped windscreen, Pt Hedland<br />
2 rear shocks, CSR<br />
One fatigue fractured front cross member, CSR<br />
One staked tyre<br />
One failed rear aux tank mount, section of the tank<br />
One failed front mount, aux tank, section of the vehicle<br />
One hole in roof lining<br />
Not one door panel without rub damage<br />
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<u>Complete GPS log:</u><br />
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<br />sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319658259015421304.post-980093729761945382016-08-20T00:41:00.000+08:002017-09-06T17:06:25.209+08:00A caning on the Canning, part IVWe were warned by a couple at well 35 that an aboriginal funeral was taking place in Kunawaritji Community that day, and camping at well 33, some 8km's from town was probably not a good idea. The problem being, well 34 was a dust bowl of unhappiness and the CSR was lined heavy with spinifex all the way to 33, so our decision had been made. It was a quiet affair with no natives to disturb the peace. Well it would have been quiet until the mob in 2 vehicles, bundled with kids rocked up. Trying to chat with them, the Swiss couple seemed friendly enough, the fella from NSW didn't want to talk.<br />
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Shooting stars were everywhere on the CSR. I would often lie awake in the swag, staring to the heavens and I reckon I would see one every 5 minutes or so. This is probably how Brenda came to relay her story of min min lights when she was out at Murchison House Station the year prior. That became a source of fascination and eventually turned into jovial comments about alien anal probing just about every night by the fire. She so longed for contact, but I doubt that extended to probing.<br />
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Day 12 starts at the leisurely time of 0845. Time enough for the fuel to be open. The community was as to be expected, you can draw your own conclusions on that. But the fuel, phew! - the most expensive fuel I have ever purchased. Watching the dollars on the bowser swing past at 3.4 times the litreage was a sight I wouldn't like to witness again. The general store was also pretty barren. We were told, due to the huge influx of mobs from the region for the funeral, the store had turned over 16K worth of stock the day prior. Fuel, a pie and a loaf of frozen bread saw my wallet part with $425. The fuel was quality, along with the pie, but the bread was crap.<br />
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By 1000, we were finally under way and turned back onto the CSR. Just after we started, we stopped. Peter had a strange knock and we tried to identify the source. We spent nearly an hour and we think we traced it to the front eye of his left rear spring. A dose of silicon lube made it go quiet, but we were worried what damage may had been caused in there.<br />
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And so it was, back into that horrible soft sand corrugation. With no spare shocks left, I babied it to well 32. At 20Km/h it took an hour to travel the 20 odd Km's. So we stopped and checked shock temps again. Steve's well over 100 degrees, mine under 80. A group of two vehicles came in from the South, followed by 4 or so dirt bikes. Now that would be an adventure, the CSR on an enduro with support vehicles. After a half hour shock rest, we continued. Same shitty conditions, same slow speed. It doesn't matter where you go, there is always a funny bugger somewhere, as we found out on the way to well 31.<br />
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Arriving at well 31 around 1330, we found it to be a rather pleasant little spot. Lots of shady trees and open ground, perfect for a lunch stop. On the way back to the fridge I checked on all things suspension. To my absolute horror I found the shock I had just put in the previous night had now also failed. It was devastating. I broke the news to the group and they were just dumbfounded. I made the decision that my CSR race was run. There is no way I could risk the next 1000Km's with one failed shock. I consulted the maps and my best choice was to head back over that 2 hours of crap we had just driven, cross the desert and head to Newman for replacements. The others understood my dilemma and my reasoning. I told them I wasn't going back to the community today, I would camp here the night and start afresh in the morning. Steve said well stuff it, best we get on the piss then, a celebration of sorts. We had made a measly 57Km's for the day.<br />
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Although I do tell a horrible lie. The real reason for me deciding to bail out was to seek assistance for a horrible, nasty outback affliction I had been carrying for some time. The dreaded Black Fella feet:<br />
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Since leaving Broome 8 days ago, my quest for conserving water was working too well. I had used a total of 7 litres. Like scurvy when at sea, my self rationing of water led to this ailment that needed urgent attention.<br />
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So that was it. Dismayed, the group would spend their last night together at well 31, Peter, the true champion he is, got to work with the firewood. I said to Steve, screw it, lets make it jaffle night. So with crappy, undersized frozen bread, a can of irish stew, a jaffle iron and great company, we sadly tried to enjoy the best of a shit hand dealt.<br />
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The occasional rumble from somewhere behind my chair, which led to the Captain Flatulence title and some commentary on aliens helped a sad night to end well. Packing up in the morning was hard to do, but in the end, the group posed for a selfie:<br />
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Day 13 started in earnest at 0900. Whilst the main party turned West, I headed North East, dreading the thought of that horrible piece of track, 50Km's long back to Kunawaritji. Funny enough, the track being so poor, I couldn't even tell I had a non functioning shock. With regret, I listened to the radio chatter between Steve and Peter gradually become weaker, then intermittent, then silence. I was now on my own solo quest for Newman. Hoping like hell, the track from Kunawaritji to the Woodie Woodie road was in some sort of condition.<br />
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After 2 hours, I passed the community and headed West. In the beginning, the road wasn't too bad, now travelling parallel to the dunes in the swale. But the further I travelled, the worse it got. A car full of black fella's that had overtaken me earlier was parked up on the side of the road. I stopped to see if they needed assistance, which they didn't. 2 old females, skin more weather beaten than my oldest pair of leather boots are peering into the open passenger window, checking out every bit of content I had in view. Cunning buggers.....They asked for a lift to Marble Bar. At that stage I was unsure if I would go via the longer but smoother route to Marble Bar or via Skull Springs Rd. They instantly made that decision for me.<br />
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Half way to Punmu and I wasn't having fun. I had to reduce my speed to 80Km/h max and upon sighting corrugations, even further. Hitting corrugations would kick the arse end out and was a scary prospect. More than a few times stability control kicked in to bring me back onto the straight and narrow. After Punmu community it got worse. Having no plan on where I would camp, I was hoping I could make for near Telfer and get coms with the outside world. Driving into the setting sun was a pain and once I saw bars on the phone, I started checking places out. Numerous gravel pits turned out to be non starters, cause I had no coverage inside them. I eventually found a turn out, about 20m off the road with coverage at 1745. Telfer mine being 10Km's to the South West. A late one, but I had coms and was off the road. I had made 320Km's for the day, the biggest day I had done in the last 8 days.<br />
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As it turned out, a friend was on a business trip in the area. He would be in Newman in 2 days, coincidently when I predicted I would arrive. He arranged to bring me a set of new rear shocks. I cant thank him enough for that. Dinner and a few beers done, I lit a small fire and was burning off some rubbish. I hear a car coming from the East and it stops 400m from camp. I just knew it was a car load of black fella's. Car doors were banging and I was just hoping they wouldn't drop in on me, with empty tinnies and a cask of red on the table. Then I see a headlamp walking towards my camp. So, quickly off with the lights and extinguish the fire. Another car then also came and stopped. The headlamp turned back to where it came. More door banging and crap, me sitting in dark isolation. And about an hour later, both cars drove past, I'm guessing not seeing my car in the bush. Phew. I had no nulla nulla in my possession so if it turned ugly, it would have been white knuckle on black chin. Not a pleasant prospect.<br />
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Around 11pm, sort of half asleep in the swag, staring to the heavens for aliens, yet another car came from the East and also stopped at the same place, 400m away. More door banging and the like, I was now wide awake. Wondering what the hell was going on down there. Another tense hour passed, and it too finally drove past at slow speed, not dropping in for a cuppa. Phew #2. It ended up being a pretty restless night, cause not long afterwards, out of nowhere a huge desert wind started to blow. It must have been 30Kt's.<br />
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Day 14 and making a coffee in the morning was a pain. This massive blast of wind was throwing fine desert sand everywhere. My coffee that morning was crunchy with a slight hint of camel. At 0900 I was back on the road, heading east to see what the source of all the fascination was the night before. Then all was revealed. The car full of all sorts of crap one would expect of an abandoned vehicle from a desert community:<br />
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So back on the road, I travel another 33km's and then hit the graded and well maintained superhighway being the Telfer Mine road. My corrugation issues now sorted for a while. Another 107Km's down and I crossed the Gregory Range and made the Woodie Woodie road.<br />
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40 Km's South I then turned onto Skull Springs Rd for Nullagine. The road was undergoing road works and was far smother than when I last came through in October. The 140 odd Km trek not too bad at all, still at reduced speed though, and I will be so until I get a functioning shock once again.<br />
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I made Nullagine at 1500. Emptied the groups rubbish from the CSR I had carried out, and celebrated with an ice cream from the general store. I managed to get Steve on the satphone. I was as relieved to hear all was going well for them, as much as they were relieved to hear I was now only 200Km from Newman. I had spent an hour in the town with calls and internet updates, then proceeded to a little water hole I had found when up here in October, Cadjeput Rock Hole.<br />
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Arriving at 1600, I had made 330Km's for the day. With the wind still howling, and finding water in the rock hole, I also got a load of washing done. The only problem was with that wind. No way would I light a fire tonight. In fact, due to the wind, I had to wear my winter jacket for the first time. So with an early night, and an easy trek tomorrow, I slept with ease.<br />
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Day 15 was a relatively easy day. Into Newman at 1200 I visited the tourist bureau, the 4wd shop and then the supermarket. I even caught up with my old school buddy, Brent, whom I hadn't seen for years and just so happened to be on his FIFO roster, working in town. At 1430, I got a call from my mate that he was staying at the cappy, had my shocks and would be in town in a couple of hours. I said great, lets have a meal and some beers at the cappy then. So I just bummed around for a couple of hours and made my way to the Capricorn Roadhouse.<br />
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He arrived about 1/2 hour after I got there, I grabbed the shocks and headed for the bar. A great night with good company, excellent food and beer in glass for a change. Whilst they had paid accommodation at the cappy, I rolled out about a Km to the Capricorn Bronx. A place full of old car wrecks and rubbish strewn everywhere. But it was a place for the swag. 210Km's done for the day:<br />
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My plan had been to maybe hang around the gorges of Newman for a week, maybe even head up to Mt Meharry then head home. But my shocking mate, planted the seed over dinner - why not go up the CSR and catch up with the party. Bloody brilliant idea, exactly what I will do.<br />
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Day 16, an early rise, I met my mate for breakfast at the roadhouse at 0730. Whilst chowing down on a bacon burger, some locals came in and were straight to the bar for emu export at 0800. We just looked at each other. Breakfast done, my mate departed South and I changed a shock in the carpark:<br />
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The locals, now finished with their export kept coming over and hassling. One asking for a lift - car in the air, wheel off and shock on the ground. Another asking for a phone. Just bugger off will ya.....<br />
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With the shock now done, I decided to spend the night at Kalgan pool. A few crappy corrugations on the way in, and a few shallow water crossings and I found a perfect little spot a couple of Km's from the pool itself - which incidentally was probably a good thing as I found out someone else was parked up at the pool. What a magic little site. Clear running water and a spectacular view of the Hamersley Range. Arriving early @ 1400, I had time and water to do laundry and remedy those Black Fella feet. Only 62 Km's for the day:<br />
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With a nice little fire going (yes "Harry", I used the bow saw), I didn't realise but I had my latest night of the trip. The last of the lumber burnt out at midnight so I trotted off to the swag.<br />
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Day 17 and I headed back for Newman. Some more supplies and sustenance via garlic cheese toasties from Subway, and I was on my way. Destination Wiluna. Now on the blacktop, with no stability issues, I cranked the music for the first time in a long while and before I knew it, some 250Km's later, I was at the Wiluna North rd. I thought I'd try Steve on the Sat phone. It connected and he answered. They were having a lay day at Durba Springs....bastards....Anyway ensuring they didn't need any supplies, I informed them I would meet them at well 6 and proceeded to North Pool, outside Wiluna. The biggest day for a while at 490Km's.<br />
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On day 18, I got underway at 0900. Heading into Wiluna to take on a full fuel load, the target being Well 6, some 250Km's up the CSR. I had noticed on leaving Kalgan, that new shock was knocking a little. So I checked before I left Wiluna. The mounting nut had come loose a little, but the knock was still there after re tensioning it. By now, well and truly over all the shit I had endured, I said stuff it, well 6 here we come. Time being 1100.<br />
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I bypassed well 1 as I knew we would all visit that on our return. Lots of (now dry, thankfully) bog holes were traversed and we came into some rocky hard country. Stopping at well 2a, it was now 1345. The well, made into solid granite, would have been quite a chore in the day to dig/blast/ remove rock:<br />
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I note the abundance of Sandlewood throughout this whole rocky region. The amount of rock in this region was just out of this world:<br />
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The rocky ground disappeared once descending a rocky incline and led into sandy plains with the occasional small dune to traverse. Unfortunately, the sandy plain was full of sharp corrugations:<br />
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But onwards I forge. No knocking shock nor corrugation can stop me now.As I come into proximity of well 3 at 1530, I cant work out where the well is. I poke the nose down a track and disaster rears its ugly head yet again:<br />
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On the most pissant of tree root, I had staked a tyre. I was on the far South Western edge of the Gibson desert by now and all I could think of was the Gibson's history. On Ernest Giles' 2nd expedition, he left the main party in the Rawlinson Ranges (near Warakurna on the Great Central rd) by a tank they had dug, whilst he and Alfred Gibson scouted forward in search of water. Gibson rode off into the desert never to be seen again and Giles barely escaped with his life returning to the tank. I had taken every blow on the chin till now, but this was my last straw. All I wanted to do was shut the car up and become a part of history like Gibson or Boguki and just walk away from it all. I was over it. I would shove the CSR up Canning's camels arse had he been around.<br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bogucki" target="_blank">Robert_Bogucki</a><br />
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But as you can probably tell, common sense prevailed, with some difficulty I changed the tyre and decided to settle in for the night. I then went searching for the well on foot. It was 100m away, in another direction. Grrrr......129Km's done for the day.<br />
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Whilst looking for the well, I spotted that un-talkative mob that had camped at well 33 with us, nestled in among the trees. The swiss lady was first to see me and I apologised for frightening the bejesus out of her, much like Paul the cyclist had done to Steve.<br />
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My thinking now was screw it. I will camp here till my party arrives. By the time the tyre was done, and all the gear packed away, It was too late and I just couldn't be bothered getting wood. So dinner and a few beers, off to the swag I went.<br />
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No awning tonight as I just couldn't be stuffed, I woke to the sound of rain on the swag in the wee hours. teriffic. Pulling the flap over, I nodded off again.<br />
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Day 19: In the morning, the weather not looking the best, and the swag quite wet, I changed my mind and decided to hit well 6. Still with one spare on hand, if the shit hit the fan today, I know at least my party is only a couple of days away. I grabbed a coffee, pulled the bedding from the swag and hit the road at 0900.<br />
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From here to well 4 (Windich Springs), the track diverts from the Canning, along station tracks due to errosion issues. It was slow going. Not only is there 5 gates to open (and close again) but there are numerous (sort of) steep creek crossings to traverse. I wondered how bad the actual Canning was:<br />
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Traversing over the Frere Range, quite picturesque in itself I came to a steep exit on Kennedy Creek and put slider cam into action:<br />
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Giving the CSR the pajero salute as I gained some air time.<br />
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From there I made Windich Springs, one of those things on my bucket list. A beautiful spot, a wetland of national significance. Named By John Forrest after his Aboriginal helper, Tommy Windich.<br />
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Windich" target="_blank">wiki: Tommy_Windich</a><br />
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But well 6 lures and I push on. Reaching the restored well 5 at 1445. A quick look here and I'm on the move once again. And I start to hear some scratchy radio coms. I call out "solo vehicle, northbound from well 5" and I hear a reply, it is Steve. What a rush that was. Not able to establish reliable coms, I push on and at the top of a rise call again. We have now made contact, they are at well 6, about 15 Km's away, waiting for me to arrive. I call them a pack of bastards, they are a day early and I wanted a rest day at well 6. But in all reality, I was just overjoyed to re-aquaint with my long lost party. Corrugations - what corrugations, I was now on a mission to catch up with the party, I never even felt them.<br />
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I arrive at well 6 at 1530. This will be a day to remember. 125Km's done and back with familiar company. The drama's since I left, now long forgotten.<br />
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Well 31 - Newman:<br />
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Newman - Well 3:<br />
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<br />sharkcaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720991759240408915noreply@blogger.com9