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Sasquatch in the Outback (Oz) Desert
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 6:31 pm
by Mick
G'day guys,
This post has been delayed by life, so please accept our apologies.
In April this year, I was a very lucky man and married a most beautiful woman. Let me introduce the very lovely Mrs Evie Webb.
For our honeymoon we decided on a trip to Queensland's Outback and of course, we just had to take our beloved Sas' with us.
Also accompanying us was our little "girl" , Rosie
and accommodation was camping in our Kimberley Kamper Trailer
These are an iconic Aussie camper and open up a bit like a tardis. Very robust design and will go wherever a four wheel drive is capable of going.
Re: Sasquatch in the Outback (Oz) Desert
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 6:43 pm
by Mick
Our first stop 0n the way was near Kilkivan and not the outback at all, but a lovely spot nonetheless,
Our first morning on the road.
a few shots from around the camp site,
After a couple of days here, it was time to head west.
Next stop was an overniter beside the Chinchilla wier ...
Re: Sasquatch in the Outback (Oz) Desert
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 6:54 pm
by Mick
A couple of shots from Chinchilla,
A couple of early morning paddlers
An early start and then on to Miles where we had morning tea beside Dogwood Creek (Definitely coming back here)
Then heading further west to Mitchell (Definitely coming back here too) where we camped for a few days beside this little river,
More soon
Re: Sasquatch in the Outback (Oz) Desert
Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 3:48 am
by PiratePete
Congratulations
& top trip. That something I would love to do in the future.
Re: Sasquatch in the Outback (Oz) Desert
Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 5:42 am
by zeb
CONGRATULATIONS ! So pleased for both of you.
Great report so far,looking forward to rest!
Re: Sasquatch in the Outback (Oz) Desert
Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 5:50 am
by OnkaBob
Married!
Congratulations - You wild and crazy kids!
Going to enjoy reading all of this Mick. Looks like you found some interesting stretches of water to paddle on. My paddling destination wish list is growing already.
Re: Sasquatch in the Outback (Oz) Desert
Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 6:02 am
by Mick
Thanks Pete, Zeb and Bob
After a few days in Mitchell, exploring the area, we continued west to Charleville, The heart of Queensland's Central West and the start of the outback. and the biggest town. Population about 5,000 I think.
A couple of shots in and around Charleville.
Main Street.
Ward River, (comin back here too)
We spent another 4 or 5 days at Charleville, resting and exploring and restocking food and fuel and checking the car and trailer before venturing further west. We both really liked this town with its genuine country hospitality. An example - I had a minor electrical problem in my mighty little Nissan. I called in to the local Ford/Nissan/Hyundai/Great Wall dealership and the guru there came out, had a look and fixed the problem in a few minutes. When I asked about the cost, the reply was a casual "no worries mate. I couldn't charge you for that"
If I buy another new car, it will be off this bloke.
Still no paddling as yet. To be honest we were just too busy enjoying the place and the freedom.
Next stop,
Lake Houdraman near Quilpie....
Re: Sasquatch in the Outback (Oz) Desert
Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 6:29 am
by Mick
Charleville is 800 kilometres (500 miles) west from the coast where we live and not quite half way across the state. Our plan was to continue west and basically, see what we could see.
The countryside was getting progressively harder and we saw our first live emu of this trip.
There were hundreds of them as road kill along the way.
"Lake Houdraman" is actually a largish billabong about 7 kilometres from Quilpie. Quilpie is a little over a couple of hndred klms west of Charleville. It is on a privately owned cattle station and the owner has very kindly fenced off about 200 acres of this vast property beside part of the lake and allowed free public access. All that is asked in return is that the place be left clean and his cattle not disturbed.
The countryside out here is mostly flat and dry and for those in a hurry, uninteresting. For us however, travelling at geezer warp speed, we just loved every kilometre of it,
We pulled in to Lake Houdreman just on sunset and set up camp by the lake in the dark. We woke the next morning to this view
With not another camper in sight.
16 coffees and a quick brekky later, I just had to get out onto the water
Ahhhh! this is more like it!
I even found time to set some traps for our western crayfish
Which we all enjoyed very much
Re: Sasquatch in the Outback (Oz) Desert
Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 6:46 am
by Mick
We spent a few more days here and were really sad to leave this place. Quilpie is also heart of Queensland's boulder opal country. Befere we leave, a quick look around the place,
Main Street,
Post office
and on the way out of town we had a bit of a scratch in the dirt for some opal.
Did I mention the flies were pretty bad here too.
Re: Sasquatch in the Outback (Oz) Desert
Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 7:07 am
by Mick
Next stop was Windorah, where we refuelled, re watered and spent a quick overnighter in the local camping ground. We were on the edge of the desert now and keen to get into it.
The following morning, we set off bright and early (for us), with the morning sun at our back and headed off into the desert towards Birdsville, some 400 kilometres away with very little to nothing in between. Our plan was pretty simple, take it slow and easy, get as far as we got, set up camp in the desert for the night and make Birdsville to following day with lots of roadside cuppa breaks along the way.
About every 100 klms or so, we came across a little shelter like this to make a cuppa and the first stop soon enough came along.
We barely had time to boil the water and make tea before the flies nearly drove us insane and we had to get back into the airconditioned comfort of the car.
The flies got progressively worse each time we stopped and the miles were covered more quickly than we had hoped.
Then, out of nowhere, we came across a mesa (in the middle of bloody nowhere) with this made on the side
and we just had to stop, have a cupper and try to understand the significance of this. The serpent was several hundred metres long, about 4 to 5 metres wide and was made entirely by placing coloured rocks in the appropriate places.