Gidday all,

Well, after a long, three month visit home, we are on the road again. As the weather heated up again in the far north we headed south.

After saying our goodbyes to family and friends and six days on the road we pulled into Notch Point, south of Mackay, we don’t hurry, and selected a camp spot. Turtle tracks up the beach in a few spots, a cool sea light wind, beautiful.

First two days were glorious, then the rain and wind started. For the next three days it was gloomy and wet, not that we minded as we hadn’t seen rain for it seemed so long, and the air was cool.

After 200mm or more of rain it cleared up and the sun came out again. Next day we decided to move on, the track out was wet and muddy but not a problem. Top up water and off south again.

Here we sit on a camp spot near the river outside Rockhampton. The Bruce Highway is getting busy so we may get off it to avoid the traffic, we’ll see.

 

Gidday all,

On the road again, after a tearful goodbye to our new camel herd, and Deb and Thackeray the dog, we headed out the gate to the camp for the last time for this season.

Was hard leaving, but will catch up on our way back south next trip.

First stop, Talc Alf, just outside Lyndhurst on the Strzelecki track. He is a bit of an eccentric talc carver, with his own take on the meaning of words and their origin. Had a look around at his carvings and a good chat. Very interesting, has his own version of the Australian flag, more appropriate I think.

 

Then off to Marree,  then up the Birdsville track. The difference after the rain was striking. Green everywhere and the wildflowers were starting to bloom.

 

Yellow daisies everywhere and ones we know as poached eggs, as well as others in different colours.

 

Up the track a bit, came across a dingo, sitting in the middle of the road. It wasn’t afraid of the truck and just hung around, looking, which is unusual, after a lot of photos we moved on leaving her to it.

 

 

 

 

 

In places they covered large areas, as well as small patches here and there, what a change from the parched, desert landscape of some eleven months ago, when we passed through on our way south.

 

 

 

Cool days and cold nights with spectacular sunsets and sunrises, how lucky we are to see the contrasts of this vast brown land.

Gidday all,

Plan B, the day of departure from here has been put back, due to having got word that the camel Deb has been waiting for was due to arrive on the weekend. Couldn’t leave without welcoming her into the herd.

 

She arrived on Saturday, a bit worn out from the trip, but in good condition.

 

 

 

She was promptly tethered around camp and given a welcomed feed. Then slowly introduced to her new herd.

 

 

 

Coco accepted the newcomer quickly, which was unusual for her, she normally doesn’t like strangers. Ziggy was next and he quickly informed her he was head rooster around here then with a few more sniffs, promptly ignored her. I think they will get along well.

 

 

We will hang around for another few days to see all is well and there is no problem with Deb and her new family. Still looking forward to the slow trip home and the greenery and hopefully wildflowers up the Birdsville track. At the top end, the inside track, which we came down, is closed at the moment with all the rain they have had, so will see what it’s like when we get that far.

 

Gidday all,

Things have been happening for Deb in the last couple of weeks here in Copley. The Community here have welcomed us all and said Deb can camp down at the old yards just out of town and make it her own as long as she likes. They want her to take on a position as teaching office skills to the younger ones a few days a week.

The camel road train moving camp to the old yards at Copley

 

 

 

We have been busy setting up camp and fixing up an existing shelter at the yards for her.

Also Deb has been networking with various government departments about setting up a small business idea and working livestock museum (camels, donkies, horses, ect ) in the area. They have been interested and supportive so far, with the closure of the coal mine, they are looking for future development of the area.

 What an extraordinary experience we have had, trekking the old ghan line with two magnificent gentle, yet powerful and faithful camels, Coco and Ziggy

and Deb, a resourceful, determined outback legend.

 

. Not to forget Thac the dog.  

 

 

 

 

.  It took six weeks on the ground to cover the one hundred and seventy ks. But we wouldn’t have done it any other way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So she is excited about her prospects and so are we. Will hang about for another week or so, help with a few things, then leave her to it, probably go back up the Birdsville track and the Diamantina River Road to Winton, the way we came last September. Will be interesting to see the difference in the countryside as the rains have come in the last few months. We have already seen a difference in the landscape around here.

 

Looking forward to catching up with them all next year, on our annual southern migration.

Now looking toward our next adventure, heading home.

 

After lots of enquiries and meeting most of the elders of the Copley community, Deb has been offered a position teaching the young people in the place office skills, to help with administration duties.
This would be a great base for her to get some of the things she wants to achieve happening, like a camel museum and setting up some kind of short paying trips with the camels and wagon.

                                                            Emus saying hello to ziggy.

 The weather has turned colder, minus 1 last night, but still warm enough in the camper.

                                The frost covered everything, a winter wonderland in the morning.

Gidday all,

Decided to park up the camels and wagon in the yards at Copley and go for a drive to Lyndhurst, Farina and Marree, as there was the camel cup on at Marree on Saturday.

 

First stop Farina, there are a mob of volunteers restoring the ruins of the old Ghan town. They work there for two months every year, doing a great job. They have restored the old underground bakery and sell pies, cakes, rolls and bread during that time, all made in the old wood fired oven.

 

Camped at Farina and headed to Marree the next day. Pulled into the racecourse, a small crowd were there and some donkies were racing.

Spent the day there and camped overnight. During the night it started raining, only light but enough to make us pack up early in the morning and get on the road back to Copley as most of the way is dirt and if it rained much more the roads might be closed.

Got back to Copley Sunday arvo and greeted the camels who were happy to see us.

Gidday all,

Still in Copley, have met most of the locals and most of the kids have been over for a look and to see if we have any bickies or milo, or anything really. Having had a pat and feed they disappear for a couple of hours then return.

One of the men dropped off a roo back the other day and we roasted it with all the vegies and gravy, was wonderful.

 

Deb has an appointment in Leigh Creek late next week so will hang around till then then off to Lyndhurst and Marree.

 

Gidday all,

Had a day of sunshine, the ground dried out enough to move from the yards the camels were in to the bush just out of town.

 

Set up camp and lit a fire, the weather is still cold, but it’s great in the sun.

 

Everyone relaxed and enjoyed the good weather even the camels and duck had a lie down in the sun after a munch on the good feed.

 

Will stick around for a couple of days to let the roads dry out more.

Gidday all,

Travelled the 60ks out to Iga Wata, the sun was out and the weather cool, arrived and looked about for someone. No one about so just wandered about, there is a little shop and campground all owned and managed by the local community.

 

We made a cuppa and had smoko, still no one. Then aunty Gladis and uncle Mick rolled up and introduced themselves. Had a good chat and they looked about for someone but came up empty to.

 

Hung around for most of the day, met Sharpy when he popped in and another one or two. Came back to Coply in time to check on the camels before dark. Deb will catch up with the person she wanted to talk to at Iga Wata later. Was a nice day anyway.

 

Rained again all yesterday, roads closed again, unusual weather for this time of year we are told.

 

The sun is shining but the temp got down to 2 degrees overnight. Still it's starting to warm up.
Today we get into the trusty winnafargo and head out to Iga Warta, looking forward to meeting the locals.

                                                               our trek so far