Some places we've been and some places we're going.

Day 63 Innamincka to Cameron Corner

August 20, 2023

Last night was cold, I was back to wearing a beanie and slipping down into my sleeping bag like a caterpillar in a cocoon. It was still cold this morning so my tracksuit pants and fleece jacket stayed on until our first stop….3 hrs later!

We went out the road to Moomba and the only other vehicles were big trucks and all coming towards us, there was even a giant mobile crane near the Della Mine. There were so many I gave up counting them. Pipes and structures could frequently be seen in the land near the road and must have been for gas but there was no way to know for sure.

There were drilling sites at different places but Moomba was by far the biggest and the chimneys indicate processing of something is happening on site. All the workers are FIFOs, they’re flown in for a set number of weeks then their shift changes and they’re flown out for their time off. There isn’t a town, only accommodation etc for the workers.

After Moomba the road was bitumen and we saw signs pointing to various places but only identified with numbers. One place that was identified was Rig 183 and there was a white tower clearly visible.

The first vehicles going our way were people who camped at Innamincka last night. 118 kms out from Cameron Corner we turned east and started crossing Sand Dunes rather than travelling parallel with them. Apparently there are 161 dunes from the old Strezeleki Track to Cameron Corner.

The last section was called Reicks Road which was a laugh! Rough track really with teeth jarring corrugations and some whopping potholes just over the dune tops. When we reached the top of many the road dropped away so quickly I felt like there was nothing under us. Real Whoopty Doos!

The vegetation kept changing. The red sand, bright yellow flowers, blue sky and dark bushes created an amazing scene.

We arrived at Cameron Corner at a good time because there is only a The Cameron Corner Store/Pub with 4 powered campsites. Unpowered and Bush Camping is available but we needed power to recharge camera batteries and to warm us up. Now that we’re in desert areas the days are nice and warm but the nights and mornings are chilly. Another couple came in when we were enjoying a drink and snack and they booked a powered site so we quickly did the same.

After we’d set up camp we went to look at the spot marking the meeting of the three States. The Cameron Corner Store/Pub is actually in Queensland, we came in from South Australia and across the road is New South Wales. The Dingo Fence runs along the NSW and SA border.

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Uncategorized, Winter Migration 2023

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Day 62 Innamincka

August 19, 2023

I started the day with a $2 shower up in the “Town Square” and it was nice and hot. It was a good way to start the day which has tested us. The flies and wind are relentless and to make things worse the zip on one canvas “door” has busted so we can’t keep it closed. The flyscreen keeps the flies out but the wind is buffetting us, the car is the best place to be so we’ve done a bit of gadding.

Firstly up to “the town” where I was able to get a GF Toastie at The Trading Post, Alex had a Toastie as well. Fergus was allowed into the shop because he wasn’t grumpy. Under the big table was a dog’s bed for the owner’s little hound, a truly Dog Friendly place.

There was a sign to Cullyamurra Waterhole and we expected to find some wildlife there but it was a big disappointment. We were curious though, we’ve never seen an “Exclosure” before but presume it was excluding us from particular areas. We didn’t see any waterhole nor wildlife.

Not far from the nonexistent waterhole was the site of Burke’s first grave, apparently he and Wills were both disinterred to be taken for a State funeral in Melbourne. Depending on whose report you read Burke was either a hero or a very disagreeable character who led his men to their graves.

King survived because of his attitude and the local Aboriginal people. We also drove to the place where he was found by a rescue party sent out to find Burke and Wills….the “important ones”.

We drove a little way out the Old Strzelecki Track just to see how rough it is, we won’t be going down that way.

Tomorrow we’re intending to go to Cameron Corner, it’s where Queensland, NSW and SA borders all meet.

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Uncategorized, Winter Migration 2023

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Day 61 Betoota to Innamincka

Because we haven’t had internet or 240v power things have become more difficult and I’m now behind with posts so the next couple will be short! Only our small power bank is making it possible for me to use my laptop.

Our night at Betoota was spoilt by an absolute Bug Blitz!!!! Even when we’d retreated to the Camper bugs were still getting on to us, some were minute and others maybe a couple of cms long. They weren’t deterred by any bug lights, incense or Mozzie coils, the only solution was to put out all the lights and go to bed.

Maybe to compensate in the morning there was a beautiful sunrise, then we left Betoota to make our way to Innamincka. Before leaving the area though we picked up some Gibbers, I’m sure a few won’t be missed! My plan is to put them in the garden at home.

Apart from big areas of Gibbers we went through a variety of landscapes and had a wonderful view from Deon’s Lookout.

The Santa Anna Range was a complete surprise.

We called in at “The Dig Tree”, it’s where members of Burke and Wills expedition had been left behind with instructions to wait. The party waited for as long as they could after the due return date then left after leaving supplies hidden at the base of a tree.

Innamincka is only a very small place and really serves as a refueling spot for travelers. There’s a bank of showers and toilets in the “main street” …I think you might need a 4WD when it was wet….$2 in the slot for a 3 min shower. Our campsite is near the Cooper Creek but there has been a lot of damage done by floods and there is no access to the Creek from our spot.

It’s a shame the winds aren’t driving away the flies!

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Winter Migration 2023

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