Dusty delivery to Onslow

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After 1,469km I arrived in Onslow around midday, having done the inland route with dirt roads all the way from Mullewa to Onslow (over 1,000km). Good trip, but still a bit warm to linger at the Kennedy Ranges, where I had intended to stop overnight last night.

Temp was still 43C and I abandoned the escarpment walk after 30 min because it was too hot (and risky) to do on my own, even with a 2ltr hydration pack. Nobody in the park - campground empty - so kept going and camped near a wind pump to get some star trail and moonrise photos (and some of the local wildlife coming in to drink.) New suspension worked well - got the car airborne twice over washaways and Mephisto took it in his stride!

After travelling more than 1,000km on public dirt roads, through more than 40 stations and over dozens of cattle grids, the ONLY closed gate on a grid was at the entrance to Minderoo station. Twiggy must be in residence because I've never seen it shut before.

If you are wondering about the inland route versus the black-track, I am writing a book on the history of Onslow at present and wanted to replicate as close as possible the inland route Edward Hooley took when he first drove a mob of sheep from Bow River (near Northampton) to the Ashburton district. I admired those early pioneers, because there is some bloody dry and tough country out there, especially between the Murchison and Gascoyne rivers.

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Photos

Silo sunset
Sunset on the first night, taken just north of Moora on the Midland Highway.

Murchison sunrise
Sunrise on the Murchison River, on the Mullewa-Carnarvon road.

Bloke and his dog country
... but where's MY dog??? (Sorry, Boags!)

All roads lead to Murchison
... stuff if I know why, though, there are only five buildings there!

Dry as a dead dingo's donga!
It's tough country out there, even for the top preditor.

Old fenceline
Part of an old 100-year plus fenceline.

Watch out!
Good to see they are not using the dairy cow silhouette we usually see!

Gascoyne Junction shop
Has about as much as the servo there ... the town has NO shop.

Gascoyne Junction servo
The old servo (got destroyed by floods a few years ago.) New servo is pretty useless. Paid $100 for fuel but the auto-serve machine only gave me $97 worth. No fresh milk products and don't try and clean your windscreen, they don't have a windscreen cleaner!

Cobbled road
This amazing cobbled section of road in the middle of bloody nowhere was part of a work scheme during the Great Depression. All done with hand tools!

Start of the day
Crested pigeons start their day with a drink from a cattle soak.

Lone dingo
A lone dingo heading for the cattle soak for a drink

Barradale Burger Bus
Run by the lovely Joyce (centre) from nearby Emu Creek Station. Great burger breakfast this morning

Minderoo
Turnoff to Twiggy's original homestead.

Shut gate
After more than 1,000km on public dirt roads, passing through more than 40 stations and dozens of cattle grids, the only shut gate on a cattle grid was at Minderoo.

Comments

[Trudy]

Admiration
Mick I am in awe of you. I can't wait until your book is out. Your photography is amazing as is your story (fact) telling. I can tell that you are just loving your life and living your dream.