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

Gidday all,

While waiting for the roads to dry out I thought I’d put some info out there about the amazing wagon we have been following for the past five weeks.

 

Amazingly it is over 100 years old, and was saved from the scrap heap by Deb who restored and modified it in 2000, by herself, in Alice Springs.

Originally it was owned by E +? SCOBIES which was painted on a side board. It was called the Overlander. In its first life it delivered stores and mail up the Oodnadatta track, the Strzelecki track, and the Birdsville track, before Tom Cruise had the mail run, as well as all through the flinders ranges.

 

Often was pulled by camels or donkies, or horses, or a combination of all the above, whatever they could catch on the day. What a sight that would have been.

Today, in its second life, it’s retracing some of its steps of years gone by, led by a remarkable woman, Deb, who has a love and affinity with the Australian outback and her beautiful camels.

                                                  The first flat tyre it has had in 16 years.

 

Coco and Ziggy who have the honour of taking the wagon back to its roots.

 

We also consider it an honour to be part of this journey.

 

Gidday all,

Camped up the end of Copley, went for a walk to check out town, a very short walk, but pleasant. Called into the pub and the publican was very welcoming and helpful. He offered a place to put the camels if needed and best of all, the use of the showers

Talking to other people around town, Deb has had offers of work and other opportunities in the communities to the east of here. We will go out there in the next days to check it out. Iga Warta and Nepabunna, we passed through there on our way down last September. Interesting country.

The rain has stopped for now but the tracks are still to wet to travel on so will wait here till all dries out. The road past Lyndhurst is closed anyway

 

A mob of emus strolled by this morning, they were more interested in the camels than us.  

                                                           another day in paradise

Gidday all,

The weather finally cleared up enough to move on. Did the last 20ks to Leigh Creek and decided to move up to Coply, just 5ks up the road as it would be more camel friendly than the larger township. For these last 20or30ks we have had to stick to the bitumen road as the dirt tracks have turned to mud with the rain we have been having.

Traveling along the bitumen is slower going if you can believe it. Every so often you get people pulling up for a chat and photos. Deb can get a bit frustrated with this as the camels like to keep going once they start, rather than stopping and starting, and so does Deb. We have had some pull up in between the wagon and us, as we were out front with hazard lights on to warn oncoming vehicles, and pull up for a chat, on a climb up a hill !  Some people have no idea.

Anyway, pulled into Coply in the late arvo and found a block round the back of town to pull up. Settled the camels down for the night and started to cook tea. Next thing there was someone at the door, I called a greeting and he angrily told us we were ignorant freeloaders for not calling in to his place before stopping, to ask permission to stop on his land. I and Deb tried to explain that we intended to seek someone out in the morning to inquire about the land, but he continued to rave on, we apologized but it didn’t seem to satisfy him. He left without introducing himself or where he lived, then came back to say sorry for being angry, had another rant then left. Still don’t know who he is or where he came from. He was right, but could have approached the situation better. Think he owned the caravan park down the road.

Packed up next morning and moved to the other end of town. The rain started again so we might be here for a few more days. Will look for some more friendly locals today.

Gidday all,

Another day of up hills and down into washouts for the camels. By about three o’clock and another two or three long climes ahead it was decided to pull up for the day. Found a level patch beside a dry river bed and set up.

Woke to overcast sky and the rumble of thunder in the distance. Rain started to fall and it showered for most of the morning. Stayed put in camp and waited it out. Din noticed the camels were restless and called to Deb, she said they were nervous about the sound of water flowing down the once dry river bed.

 

 We went out to look and the river was a raging torrent. As we were close to the bank, it was decided to shift camp.

Only just in time, as the ground was getting pretty soft. Drove up to high ground then attached long ropes to the wagon and pulled it free of the mud with the truck.

 

Being on high ground and next to their wagon the camels settled down. The rain also stopped and we sighed with relief and had a cup of tea.

 

 

Gidday all,

Today was a bit of a hard slog for the camels, the track was rough and we had a lot of washouts with some steep climbs out of a few.

 

The country was looking green after the rain they have had, although still sparce, which is normal.

 

Bush tomatoes were flowering and other wildflowers were here and there.

 

Had an early day because the camels were buggered, but they had done 13ks even so. Gave them a treat of an orange each, they chewed them up whole without spilling a drop of juice.

 

Made camp a few ks out of Beltana, south of Leigh Creek. Beautiful star lit night.

Leigh Creek in a day or two.