Sunday 30 May: Participants gather near the wharf at Bourke for a Show and Tell.
There were plenty of heritage vehicles on show and also a fine range of Defenders.
The Show and Tell gave us an opportunity to meet our fellow travellers.
At the Show and Tell, we were treated to a demo of the Crossley engine ...
which attracted lots of interest.
Monday 31 May: the Wades (alias Tail End Charlie) leave Kidman's Camp for the start of the drive at Bourke Wharf.
A participant arrives to join the convoy.
There were a handful of well-wishers at the wharf to see us on our way, including the LRC's Sue Alexander, seen talking here with Peter Mercer, the convener of the Drive.
And so the adventure begins!
Ooops ... water over the road to Wanaaring.
The floods transformed the landscape with numerous billabongs and swamps.
At Wanaaring, some chose to camp near the pub ...
while others headed for the banks of the mighty Paroo.
What a gorgeous spot!
Tuesday 1June: the 101 comes unstuck en route to Tibooburra.
Lunch before loading is the order of the day.
Spider tries to hide in the sand.
Thank goodness for Rick's trailer.
One last check and we're ready to roll.
Stormy skies east of Tibooburra.
Each night before dinner there was a briefing on the next day's program. Here are David, Kevin, Denis and Peter preparing for the second night's briefing in Tibooburra.
Wednesday 2 June: early morning reflections on the outskirts of town.
From Tibooburra we headed north to Olive Downs. Here's the water tank not far from the homestead.
After an excellent ranger-guided tour of the Station, we headed kind of west, south and north-west again, past Fort Grey to Cameron Corner.
At Fort Grey, we stopped for a while to view the lake that hardly ever fills. It was full to the brim.
Road signs at Cameron Corner show we're really in the outback now!
That night in Cameron Corner, the weather still didn't look too promising ...
but next morning we were treated to a cloudless sky.
It was at Cameron Corner that the Connolly brothers caught up with us, after some initial problems with their vehicle.
Thursday, 3 June: a beautiful sand dune near Merty Merty homestead.
Flood damage at the Merty Merty causeway.
There was lots to see as we made our way to Innamincka, including the Moomba gas field, albeit from a distance.
Cheeky finch at the Moomba lookout.
Flooded dunes beside the Strezlecki.
While we were at Innamincka, we'd hoped to visit Coongie Lakes but it wasn't to be!
Nevertheless, on our rest day in Innamincka, many decided to cross the causeway and explore the country on the other side, as far as it was possible.
There was plenty to see at Innamincka, though, including the wildlife in and around Cooper Creek. Here's a catfish plucked by hand from a pool near the causeway.
There were also a great variety of waterbirds, obviously attracted by the easy pickings!
By the time we reached Innamincka, the weather was perfect, both by day and night.
Saturday, 5 June: we head east again along the Adventure Way, crossing the Cooper near the Dig Tree at the Nappa Merrie bridge. Repairs to the approaches, washed away in the floods, were completed only the day before.
The Adventure Way was a mass of vegetation - unbelievable!
I think this is what's known as a pussy tail.
Noccundra Pub - big green frogs in the loos ... eeeew!
The Drive attracted 50 vehicles ...
and more than 80 participants.
Relics spotted by the road to Hungerford.
Kevin, David and Mervyn reckon they can get her going again.
At Hungerford, we camped at the Showground. The facilities were very good indeed.
Our campsite in Hungerford.
Old house at Hungerford.
Final briefing outside the Hungerford Pub.
Rick receives an award for outstanding service.
Contenders for the Participants' Award.
A happy time was had by all.
