Paddy and Tom with a grinding stone and some smaller pieces
We arrived at Noccundra Pub just in time to catch the grand final (Storm v Eels) for Paddy
Tom, Jim and Bill watching the game
Moonrise and the youngsters near camp beside a Wilson River waterhole at Noccundra, Qld
Bill and Jim
Camp beside the Cooper
Heading north past Browns Creek
Lake Toontoonawarrie
The birdwatchers get going...
Camp where Ellar Creek flows into Lake Goyder
Moonrise over Ellar Creek. About the time the waterbirds disappeared and the owls came out.
Lake Goyder camp
Spear making
Bread baking
The Boltons with Lake Goyder behind
Oops...
In a (seemingly) dry creek bed west of Lake Goyder
It looked solid enough (and on tentative exploration it seemed okay) but the surface went from firm to "glue" in one vehicle length and down we went.
After a bit of digging to clear the sticky stuff from the diffs, fuel tanks and axles we were able to snatch it out backwards. Half way out courtesy of the Prado.
After that bit of entertainment we stayed on the sloping bank instead.
First vehicles across the Kudremitchie crossing over the Cooper for the season.
Walking east from Coongie towards Lake Marroocoolcannie
One of many Aboriginal shell middens around the lakes.
At the channel that joins Lake Coongie to Lake Marroocoolcannie
At our basecamp near the channel.
Damper making
An Aboriginal grinding stone near the lake
Lunch break on the day walk we did around the shore of Lake Marroocoolcannie
Looking back to Lake Marroocoochanie, the scene of an earlier walk a few years ago where we walked in from the north east.
Another grinding stone we found on the walk back to base camp.
Sunset over Coongie Lake
A beautiful translucent gecko that came out one night at base camp on Lake Marroocoolcannie
Waiting for breakfast
Casserole with dumplings for dinner back at the main Coongie camp site beside the Cooper.
Dust storm over Innamincka
Dust storm on the Coongie track
So we stayed at the salubrious "bunkhouse" out the back of the pub. But the pool table was free, yeehaa...
Breakfast stop south of Innamincka
The boys do some laps of a circuit in the red sand and time each other (!??)
Then have some fun.
The mean "sandhill puncture bush" (that's it's real name!).
The yellow bus near Merty Merty
Jim opening the Dingo Fence at Cameron's Corner
We followed some farm tracks south during a dust storm.
The dingo fence along the SA/NSW border at Hamilton Gate
Clever "dogs" to keep the sheep from wandering through these races along the road. The dust storm continues...
More dust storms so we slept at the shearers quarters at Theldarpa Station.
Sturt's cairn on Mt Poole north of Depot Glen.
"JP 1845" engraved into a tree near Depot Glen where James Poole is buried after dying of scurvy.
Poole's memorial
And here are a few of Donna's pics, this one is an Absalom-inspired camp-oven dessert of baked peach pie as a "lizard" served with cream.
More bread baking.
A dingo print in Ellar Creek
Donna's first loaf (but not burnt on top like mine...). Meanwhile Tom checks the oil and water in the Prado.
Jim checking for occupants
The digging...
For while there, the more we dug, the lower the Hilux sunk.
Donna getting all arty behind the camera ...
Crossing the Cooper at our shortcut.
Pad
Bill
Playing with "rear curtain sync" on the Nikon!!
The watermelon still going strong on day 8
