Durba Springs to Lake Disapointment

 

With a bit of reluctance, we packed up and left Durba Springs. It had been a nice rest and a beautiful setting, despite being overrun by campers for a day, we had enjoyed our stay.

 Retracing our route along the sandy path skirting the cliffs of the Durba Plateau to the main track, soon we were heading north again.

Calling into well 18 for a quick look, we continued on. The dunes appeared again, some chopped up on the approaches, but with gentle persuasion, Ned scaled them with the confidence we had come to expect of him. On one approach, we were starting to climb, and a 4wd appeared over the crest coming at us. Fortunately, with the slow pace, both of us stopped and I backed up and pulled off to let him pass. Sand flags, attached to warn of oncoming vehicles, prevent collisions in these circumstances.

On our way again, crossing dunes and trans versing spinifex planes, then amongst desert oak groves, and skirting around small salt lakes. Our days were filled with the diverse landscapes in this region. As the afternoon shadows grew longer we came to well 19, on the edge of a small dry salt pan. This, we decided, would be home for the night.

After a peaceful night on the edge of the salt pan, we continued on, across more desert oak flats, and occasional dune crossings, coming across more vehicle casualty along the way, finally coming to a small creek crossing.

Savory Creek runs into Lake Disappointment, named by early explorers, expressing their feelings when discovering it was dry, and if it held water, it would be so salty, it could not be consumed.

Not far from the crossing, indeed, there was water in the serpentine creek. On the far bank, Din spotted a group of seven camels. They had been drinking from the saline creek, their remarkable constitutions allow them to drink salty water, another reason why they thrive out here. Having disturbed them, they padded off away from the water into the dune country.

the blue waters of the small creek snaked along with white salt borders on each side, eventually spilling into the lake. Leaving the creek behind, we took the track which leads you to a spot on the edge of the lake to observe the great expanse.

Lake disappointment is a huge salt lake, standing on its shore, staring across the blinding white of its bed, you can’t see the other side. What a sight it would be to see it full of water.

being a special spot, we thought it was only fitting that we camp here and take in all the atmosphere of this place, so we did.