16 Adventures in Aus deserts 7 August 2011

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16 Adventures in Australian Deserts

The last entry was in Darwin. Since that we have had lots of adventures, so here's a brief outline:

Firstly we left Darwin and flew to Adelaide on 6th July. This was mostly to leave our camping gear there while we had a brief trip back to NZ. We had hoped to catch up with
Leigh and Janet Gawith of Mollydooker Wines, but they were away.

We cuddled the grandchildren (and the children), renewed the drugs one of us needs, and had a meeting or two.

We then flew back to Adelaide on 15th July to join Paddy McHugh for our desert adventure in South Australia. There were 12 of us and Paddy had himself and two driver/helpers, making 15 in all. We had three 4WD vehicles and all of us were packed in or on them.

We left Adelaide and traveled over three days up to Coober Pedy, where our camping changed to being underground. We then embarked on over 2000km of gravel and dirt road, firstly to the Oodnadata Track, then up the Birdsville Track to Birdsville and then down the Strezlecki Track through Innamucka to the Flinders Ranges. Finally two nights R & R in houseboats on the Murray River and back to Adelaide on the 30th. The tour was the “Paddy McHugh Unforgettable Tour”. (An insider joke).

A really great desert trip, very cold at night, but great days. There's 11 photos with this.

On our return managed to catch up and have dinner with Leigh and Janet.

We came back to Darwin and collected our caravan which had been stored with Tanya, Peter Carr’s daughter. A couple of days later we took it in to Coromal to get the awning frame repaired. (See the Longreach entry.)

John & Jenny Henley are in Darwin so we had a close week with them. We’ve finally left Darwin today and are at Batchelor which is the jumping off point for the Litchfield National Park. Soon we will be heading west again, so more later!!

P n D
7 August 2011

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Photos

North of Adelaide
Mayber related to Jenny & Rhys?

First Camp
This was nearly wet, in the depths of the Remarkable Nat Park, north of Adelaide

Loading the car
Paddy strapping down the load

On the road
We've got us a convoy! Enjoy the tarseal.

Coober Pedy
Strange town icons

Singalong
First time for underground camping.

Coward Springs
Shot of a pub interior.

Road ahead
These are corrugations. Luckily not too much of this.

Campfire
Typical fire in the morning. Note the toast.

THe leaders
Jenny - Camp Mother and Paddy - Camp Leader in conference.

The team
The group assembled on a sand dune in the Strezlecki Desert.