Montkeleary Creek

Wednesday 19 August 2015

The boys were a bit excited today as they had the option to drive through the creek or go back to the main road the way we had come. All except the 3 on motorcycles and their father chose to tackle the creek crossing. The bottom of the creek was rocky and not very deep so everyone made it across safely and without incident. Lots of photo taking.

 

Another day of just 131kms over black top, corrugation, sand and gibber rock to Montkeleary Creek Cordillo Downs Station.   The area we are travelling through at the moment is very barren. There are no trees, except in the creek beds, and  just desert grasses. We were  told that if there had been recent rains we might see some camels in the valley, but everything looked dry and all we saw were a couple of donkeys. Red sandhills are becoming part of the landscape and there are sand drifts over the road.  Cordillo Downs is on the main route from Innamincka to Birdsville. The station runs about 7,000 head of  Poll Hereford cattle on the 7,900 square kilometres of property.

 

We took an alternative route via Arrabury and at times we were driving in Queensland before returning to South Australia.   In the last couple of days we have farewelled some of our convoy members due to mechanical or medical  problems. We have enjoyed their company and are sorry they were unable to continue the journey with us. We hope they make it safely home. Another vehicle has had to divert to try and get some mechanical repairs done so that it can rejoin the convoy. By the way did I mention it was 29 degrees today?

 

As I type Gary Schluter and Hugh Tomlinson have joined us in their Landrovers.  They have driven from Western Australia to join us for the remainder of the trip. Good to see they're well enough to travel with us for the rest of the trek.

 

Unfortunately in the outback if you sit still for too long the flies carry you away. They're so bad and the insect repellents are useless.