Canning Stock Route 2004

Wednesday 25^th August.

This is a rest day from travelling. After breakfast we went for a walk along the gorge, then a climb up the cliff for a scramble along the top back to camp. Other jobs needed to be done. We  cleaned  our fridge, Alan  moved  the aerials on the car and pumped up the tyres. Colin checked the axle bearings on his car.  Alan tried to fix Joy's video camera, which unfortunately had been dropped. There were 19 vehicles in camp at night. We went for an afternoon walk along the gorge to another rock pool where the sun on the cliff face and the reflections  on the water were  absolutely  stunning. Both  nights the   8 pm plane  has  flown  overhead.

Thursday 26^th August.

This morning we left Durba Springs and had a flat tyre about 6 km along the track. It was quickly changed and we went on to Well 18 (Frog Well), which had been reconstructed in 1999. There were hundreds of frogs living in the well between the timbers. We met two south bound vehicles and one north bound German tourist passed us. Many red sand hills confronted us and the track twisted and turned. One ginormous sand hill meant we needed a second go. Following this was  Onegunya Rockhole and Terrace Hills where finches and wasps abounded. Crossing the Tropic of Capricorn here was indicated by a sign erected in 1992 by a family from Narrabri. Next stop was Well 19 (Kunanaggi) This was the first well given its aboriginal name. The water was black and foul. A steel tyre was here from a wagon abandoned in 1938.We looked for a shady spot under the desert oaks for our lunch stop, as it was a hot day. We came to Savory Creek, which we had been warned about. Fellow travellers thought it was bad, but really it was quite easy. Our flat tyre was checked in the creek for a leak, but none was found. It was realised that Colin had lost a number plate, but it couldn’t be found in the water. Continuing on, we came across a thorny devil on the track. We crossed the lake area quite easily but previous wheel ruts were very deep. Our campsite had excellent views of Lake Disappointment. Dingo calls were heard at night. The moonlight on the lake at night was beautiful. The German tourist was the only other camper in the area.

Friday 27^th August.

  The track continued north toward Well 21 on a glorious day. Many animal tracks can be seen and plenty of budgies I the area. On the track was a sign which offered real estate for sale. Business card were  put into a bottle, so we added ours as well. This area was carpeted with pink and white flowers. A short detour took us to a very dead trailer. The salt encrusted sand was very soft and damp underneath.. The claypan that we crossed was OK on the track, but wet and slippery off it. Previous travellers had left very deep wheel ruts. Well 21 had water in it but it was derelict. A black snake was in residence. We took the “new” bypass track, built in 1988 and it was very cccorrrugggattted and twisty. The next turn off was to Well 22, which was a large hole in the ground. There  was  a  corrugated  iron  tank in  the bottom of this well which had been reconstructed in 1954, but was now in ruins again. Georgia Bore, on the junction of the Canning Stock Route and the Talawana Track was our destination for the night. This bore was constructed in 1991 by CRA. The water was  beautiful and clear and was easily pumped. One lonely shoe said, “Don’t leave shoes out at night or dingoes take them!!!” It was shower time again today. We had beautiful hot water and a two sided shower screen with excellent camp views over the top. Feeling clean again is great. We lent our bead breaker to the Oztent travellers who also camped here. This was a relaxing afternoon. We refilled water cans  from  the bore  and Warren  fixed our  fridge plug. Colin  washed  half  his  car. It was hard  work to find much firewood, but Alan and Colin did find enough for a good fire. We baked  and shared around the best damper that we have ever done (in Ann’s camp oven).

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