Underground Campsite as the shenagigans continues

Day 13 Continued:

This was a very strenuous day due to the rain the night before. We slid and hung on for dear life for some 240kms. The bikes actually got heavier as we went, due to mud sticking to them.

Gerhard decided that he would exercise his culinary skills and proceeded to feed us mega amounts of protein and a very small salad to balance things out!

  

  

Trevor dressed for the occasion

One of us got no sleep because the one on the top bunk kept climbing up and down and doing what, only he knew. Eventually we put the kid railing in-place and this prevented him from getting down until morning!

Day 14 Leigh Creek to William Creek (Lake Eyre)

We got an early start, fearing more rain and damaged roads.

  

Stopped in at the Lake Eyre Yacht Club…..

There where two small cats for sail.

Some modern art – Outback style

That’s not water. It’s just a mirage caused by the reflection of the sun off stones.

World class hotel.

5 star accommodation at William Creek. The water is so salty that not even shampoo foams.

A parking meter in William Creek

Just a reminder of how far away we are from home.

  

Our pilot, Alison for the flight over Lake Eyre. Trust us when we say she is one very, very good pilot.

Lake Eyre from the air.

When the lake was at 50% capacity (a couple of months ago), the fish thrived and the birds flocked in the thousands. At the moment the lake is about 30% full. It is a very shallow lake +- 2ft of water and dries up very quickly.  The birds have departed and the remaining fish have died due to high salinity.

Spot the camel track. The poor thing walk some 150kms in search of water that kept on receding until it eventually got bogged down and the rangers euthanized it.

  

Day 15 William Creek to Coober Pedy

Talk about feeling isolated. This place is like a moonscape.

 Entrance to the underground campsite in Cooper Pedy

  

See the bike in the background.

Camping underground in Cooper Pedy. That’s a bike under all the stuff.

One of our guys prefers to do things in style. Guess you?

Tomorrow we leave for Kulgera Roadhouse.

Fun times in the sand and sun

Day 10 Tibooburra to Cameron Corner

A “parcel”for Australia Post. One the guys decided to send his tent and mattress as well!

  

First casualty –Gerhards water bottle

Arriving at the 3 borders - South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.

  

Cameron Corner

  

Camping for the night at Cameron Corner (not 5 * Andre style) Remember the tent and mattress that was sent to Perth. Now what? One of the tents had to accommodate 2!

  

The ceiling of the bar has many $5 notes pinned to it in aid of the R.F.D.S. A special trick is used to place notes on the ceiling. The person doing the pinning must keep both feet on the ground while pinning onto ceiling. You will have to go to the pub at Cameron Corner to discover the secret.

   

This was a very challenging day due to very strong winds, bulldust holes and dust.

   

Day 11 Cameron Corner to Montecollina Bore (via Bollards Lagoon, Merty Merty & Strzelecki Crossing - Strzelecki Desert

We got going early to avoid the wind.

  

How did the bus get here?

  

 A bulldust hole. (The sand is like powder)

  

In the “spa” at Monte - Unbelievable.

 Only one of the guys erected a tent. The other two are tough – until the dingos arrived sometime during the night!

Dingo tracks the next morning. One of us slept through all of this.

Sunset at the bore.

  

This is where the guy who sent his tent and mattress home, ended up sleeping. Very comfortable – not

Day 12 Montecollina Bore to Arkaroola Village (Flinders Ranges) via Balcanoona including Vulktahuna - Gammon Ranges National Park

One of the guys hit a massive bulldust hole. Broke the back of the bike!

  

   

Repairing the bike. Note the fly net. What do the flies eat out here?

  

No kids and it’s impossible to do more than 10km/h – Why the road sign?

  

Trevor recovering from his run-in with an Emu.

  

Day 13 Arkaroola Village to Leigh Creek

It rained all night. Can you believe it? The creeks are flowing and the road is as slippery as glass.

  

Almost through….

 Tomorrow we go onto Coward Springs

Trouble on the dirt...

Day 8 Broken Hill to Packsaddle

We decided to take a leisurely ride of some 170km to a place called Packsaddle instead of staying the extra day in Broken Hill.

The bikes loaded up.

Bought supplies. Where must we pack the stuff?

Taking a short break. 

Arriving at Packsaddle. We have just driven through another 170 km’s of wind!

One of the many Packsaddle Motel cats.

Sunset at Packsaddle. The sand is still trying to settle.

Running repair on a very sore bursa!

Day 9 Packsaddle to Tibooburra (rendezvous point with the guys from Newcastle)

Packsaddle different before the wind starts.

We got going early to beat the wind. Good move.

Only one of the guys arrived. Unfortunately Puffy had a split second lapse of concentration, which diminished his driving skills by 95 % as a result of which he hit sand, 95 Km’s out of Bourke at a speed of 95 Km/h on the road to Wanaaring. The upshot of this was that his helmet hit the sand with a 95 Kg projectile propelling it at 95 Km/hr with his head still inside his helmet. This naturally caused an indented cheekbone, cracked eye socket and 5 broken ribs with a leak into his sinuous cavity. Sadly for us all, his trip is over!

Puffy’s bike loaded onto a passing UTE.

Puffy was flown to Broken Hill hospital. The Medical system is absolutely superb.

Gerhard with a bottle of Klippies! We will have a couple on you Puffy!

Tomorrow we leave for Cameron Corner.

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