16th May 2019

Casuarina Camp to Savory Creek Camp 32kms

After the coldest night so far, it was tough for me to get going. Will and Max had risen before 6:30am, and made coffee. They eat breakfast of oats, dried fruit and nuts, with milk. I have coffee. Will isn’t doing any more dunes, but Max is pushing on. His right knee is giving him a bit of jip, so we are working on a short day. One reason Max wanted to come out here, is to get to Lake Disappointment, and search for Tektites. So that is our aim for today. He took off with a positive attitude about 7:45am, and Will and I did the morning pottering together. It was a nice change, and we both enjoyed it.

Around nine we were heading off, slowly, in Max’s tyre prints. I’ve handed the wheel to Will today, to have a break from driving.  Only two kays in, and Max called us to tell us about a south bound vehicle. We radioed said vehicle, and then spotted their orange dune flag. We were on the track, so they pulled off. Kevin and Bronwyn, from Perth, were on a big circuit and heading south. It was lovely chatting to them, and we spent a little too long. Kevin had some Diff oil, which Will paid him for, and he also gave Will a home made fly net. Another great couple, newly retired, and fulfilling their dreams. It is really fantastic to see.

We carried on, and caught Max as we crossed Savory Creek. Luckily no water in this crossing, as it is salty, as you would imagine. Kevin and Bronwyn had informed us of a couple of camping options, and we agreed on the first one. With Savory Creek, coming off Lake Disappointment, it was an opportunity to get some drone footage. Perfect conditions. So we sent out the Wiljen drone, following the car, and getting an amazing view of this huge inland lake. There was water in the creek, and the changing colours were beautiful.

The drone footage is incredible, but unfortunately you will have to wait for us to get home and process it. But, trust me, it is an incredible place in the centre of the Little Sandy Desert.

After spotting the campsite, we all deviated out to the mouth of the creek, and enjoyed the view with a ham wrap. Max hopped on the Troll, and went in search of the elusive Tektites, while we enjoyed the flies and a cool breeze. It really is a special place. Unfortunately, after cycling 2kms towards the lake centre, getting some amazing pictures and video, Max was not able to find any precious Tektites. 

Some great fun photos, video and imagined aliens. Camel poo, out on the Lake, flies galore, but no Tektites for our hunter.

17th May 2019

Savory Creek Camp – Georgia Bore 88kms

Max rode off (in the wrong direction) at 7:30am. We whistled, tooted and called to him, to turn around, but he just kept going. It wasn’t long, though, before he rode past us going the right way. At 8am, time for radio check, we hear, “Radio Freedom, Radio Freedom, do you copy Mother Load?” Yeah, we copy, and Max obviously didn’t see us watching him ride back and get on the right track. He told us to turn left on leaving camp, not right. Poor bugger, he has already ridden an extra couple of kays.

The little bush raisins were up early today, and annoying us as best they could. Will spent time putting our last jerry can of diesel in The Old Girl, and I did the usual pottering to pack up camp. Max had eaten the last of the oats and nuts, and I haven’t been having breakfast, so poor Will had to resort to a ham wrap. He was not amused. Especially because the ham was frozen, like a little pork popsicle.

Finally out on the track, at about 9:15am, we couldn’t quite get hold of Max. We could hear him a little, so we knew he was okay. He must have been smashing it on the track today. Lots of good track, twisting across the clay pans, and around Lake Disappointment. We drove through a pretty amazing area, that was burnt out, and had some pretty big Termite mounds. Views of the lake were stunning too.

It was absolutely NO disappointment to drive around this amazing “Lake”. 

When we finally got hold of Max, he was about 14kms ahead of us, and aiming for our selected camp spot at 34kms. Bloody hell, he’s cracking along today. The going was not difficult for the Pussy Wagon, but it was slow, due to burnt trees trying to scratch up her pristine paint job. A few corrugated sections too, and lots of photo opportunities.

Radio Freedom gave us a call to let us know he was waiting, shoes off, under a Mulga tree, eating his last orange, at the camp spot. Rodgie! We are five kays away. We rolled up, and spotted the Orange man, relaxed and happy. It was now 11am, so we decided to have lunch (another ham popsicle wrap, our supplies are low) and decide what next. It’s too early to stop, 60 kays to Georgia Bore, and good water. So Max decided, although he was loving the ride today, to jump in, and help us to reach the bore today. There was very little information on any possible camps between here and there.

Wells, and little critter foot prints. Don’t you just love the colours out here?

Lucky we did, the track became heavily corrugated, and we had about five high, steep, dunes to get over. It was a slow sixty, and as we rolled up to the bore, we were all ready to get out of the car and stretch, and play with the flies. At least we are all very proficient at setting up camp, so it was done real quick. Time for a nice bucket bath at the Well, before smashing out a lentil curry on our Mighty Mo (the old  Coleman duel fuel stove is being finicky). No fire tonight. No wood, nobody feeling like getting it together. Big day.

Team MaxWilJen team the camp up in record time. Notes have to be jotted down, water collected, bodies cleaned, all before dark. I don’t understand the pile of leaf springs, but I know there is either a child or fun loving person that has camped here. Who else would place camel, poo in that configuration?

18th – 20th May 2019

Georgia Bore to Newman 450kms

We had this spot to ourselves, and a fantastic little hand pump at the Bore. No winching buckets of water here. After all pitching in with the morning pottering pack up, filling up water, and breakfast of baked beans and bacon (thanks Will), we piled into the car, and headed west along the Talawana Track. I know, the CSR heads east, but we have a small issue with the Pussy Wagon, and our supplies. The Old Girl is leaking Diff oil, from a failing seal in the ARB rear Airlocker. This should not be happening, and is a concern for future needs. We have no beer, no wine, and no nuts and berries. Also, the Rudall River NP (now known as Karlamilyi) is a couple of hundred kays away, and a spot Will and I have thought about visiting for a long time. We figure we can fit that in, with a stop over in Newman to restock, then carry on. So plan A is to head to Pungurr community, get fuel and supplies at their store, head to Karlamilyi for two nights, then Newman, restock, sort car, then back to Georgia Bore to continue the CSR. Plan B is to get to Newman if the community store is closed (it is Federal Election Day, and a Saturday) restock, car, and then Karlamilyi.

It wasn’t the best camp spot, as far as shade, and wood went, but a great story, the best water, and some useful left overs to assist the poor bikes.

Plan B was the only option, as we reached the community where everything was closed and everyone was sick. We didn’t want to hang around. It was a long and arduous day in the car, Will drove the entire way, and we got to Newman on dusk. All of us exhausted, we checked into The Red Sands Hotel. It offers mining type accommodation, in the form of donger type caravans, with en-suits, and deals that include a room and three meals a day. Done!

The Talawana track was as slow as a wet week. Corrugations galore. It took us an hour to do 16kms. Suddenly we came to a brand new mine road, put in for Reward Minerals. Woo hoo, six miles wide, flat as a tack. We had to pump up our tyres.

We were so excited about Parngurr, but alas, we got nothing. We had to wait till Newman for our treats of ice cream, chips and ice coffee.

The Red Sands was pumping, had good food, so we lashed out, had a “few” drinks, and enjoyed ourselves. Max and Will played a few games of pool, and as we are all out of practice, it was a tight contest. Good times.

We showered, which was absolutely heaven on a stick, covered in chocolate! Hot water, good pressure, and soap. So bloody good. We ate dinner in the bistro, had a couple of drinks, then retired to our “Dongers”. It was nice to be in civilisation again. Family calls and business tomorrow.