Vikings in Australia - Víkingar í Ástralíu: July 2014

Tuesday 29 July 2014

15/7 To Rig Road campsite via the French Line

We woke up hoping it would not rain today, but our hopes were dashed with a bit of a drizzle! However it only lasted for a short time and by lunch it had stopped raining.

We packed up and headed along the Rig Road until we hit the Rig Road/WAA junction. We did want to go back to the French line, so we drove the extra 2km along the WAA line to the Colston junction. There we turned north back to the French line. When driving north or south you are not traversing the the sand dunes, apart from the occasional one. The road is more level, but can also be more corrugated.
It was interesting to note that the further east we went the drier and fewer flowers we saw, to the point of no flowers at all at our next campsite.

After driving for ca 53km on the French line we hit the Erabena junction and turned down the Erabena track. We drove south around 42km until we came onto the Rig Road again. There we turn east and started looking for a campsite.

After a few sand dunes and finding a great campsite, which we realized was teeming with ants, we moved to another one and camped. At least no ants about with a bit of wind shelter.

It had stopped raining, but there were still a fair few clouds about. Thus we had a great sunset with deep red colors. After sunset it went completely dark until the Moon crawled over the horizon like a second sun. It was still hidden behind some patchy clouds. This gave us another great view!

Of course we had another great campfire!

At the Rig Road/WAA junction

At the WAA/Colson Track Junction

Only 19km to the French Line

On the Colston Track heading for the French line

French line junction, looking west

Back on the French Line

Lunch between Sand Dunes on the French Line

Camping along the Rig Road

Pretty Sunset

The Moon is rising, just behind a big black cloud

Moon with some stars showing through as well

14/7 Rest Day in the Desert

We decided not to go anywhere today. We simply wanted to rest a bit and take it easy for a day. It continued to drizzle rain on and off throughout the day, but we were hoping it would stop.

We took some walks up onto the sand dunes to see what was on the other side, plus also checking out the flowers that were visible everywhere, growing in the sand.

We notices these holes that seemed to be dug into the sand just about everywhere. Initially I thought it might be some native animal, but had my doubts. Later as I walked atop one of the sand dunes I saw the culprit. A grey rabbit. They are very shy and scuttle into their holes at the least disturbance. Rabbits are not native to Australia and are considered a pest. They somehow manage to survive and breed. Throughout our trip these rabbit holes were everywhere. Pity the Dingo population is so low, otherwise the Rabbits wouldn't have a chance!
We also did see some Dingo tracks, but no Dingos.

Later in the evening we started another camp fire and had a pleasant evening.

Tim and Annika went to the top of the sand dune

We camped among some trees to get shelter from the wind

The campsite is just under a large Sand Dune

The road ahead for when we leave tomorrow

Between the sand dunes are these lovely camp sites

The flowers in this area were blooming

A daisy variety

Even some violet colors were represented

Can't miss the yellow either

Pretty white flowers

Rabbit hole

More flowers

Monday 28 July 2014

13/7 Purni Bore to Rig Road Campsite

We woke up to a pretty cloudy sky and sure enough, later in the day it started to rain. Thankfully it was only a light drizzle that came and went.

I went to inspect the hot water oasis and the actual Purni Bore hole.

After packing up we left and continued on the French line until we got to the Wonga junction. There we turned right down the Rig Road. The idea was not to only drive the French line, but go down to the Rig Road as well. We drove all the way down to the Mokari airstrip and then on-wards on Rig Road.

We started to look for camping early afternoon and eventually found a nice spot just behind a large sand dune. It had some trees, which we planted our self next to to get shelter from the southern gale that was blowing on top of the rain!

After setting up camp we also started a camp fire and had a great evening. Towards dusk three Emu's came along for the party, but decided not to stay!

The Purni Bore Oasis

The Purnie Bore Hole

View to the overflow campsite at Purni Bore

On the French Line

The French Line stretches ahead

More Sand dunes!

At the Colston Intersection on the French Line

Approaching the Mokari Airstrip

The Campfire getting ready!

Our EMU visitors!

Saturday 26 July 2014

12/7 From Mt Dare to Purni Bore

Finally our journey over the Simpson Desert has arrived! We packed up and then filled the tanks at Mt Dare before leaving. Thankfully they still had plenty of Diesel fuel. We then drove the 11km to the Dalhousie turn off and drive towards Dalhousie.

The first stop was at the Opossum Waterhole. It has some significant meaning in Aboriginal dream time stories. We had a quick look at the Waterhole as it's next to the road. There is still quite a lot of water there at this time of year. The road was pretty corrugated which made it slower going than normal.

The next stop was at the Crispe Bore. There they have a water tank and camping facilities as well. From there we drove to Dalhousie springs. We checked out the camp site and facilities before parking the cars in the visitor car park and walking to the Dalhousie spring. There were quite a number of people there already, but thankfully the spring is huge in size. So there is plenty of space. The water was quite warm or around body temperature so it was great to relax after all the driving. The spring also has thousands of small Goby fish that nibble at your dead skin and hair. Nothing you can do about it. Just have to bear having a beauty treatment for free with a grin!
We took some photos and then had lunch back at the visitor car park. There we met a couple heading home with some excess firewood, which the happily offloaded onto us. Annika and Tim took the logs in their car.
Then it was decided to head on-wards and check out the campsite at Purni bore. As you leave Dalhousie Springs you drive some flat sections and claypans until you start hitting some small sand dunes. Just prior to that I stopped and reduced the tire pressure in my wheels so it would be easier to drive in the sand.

When we arrived at Purni bore there was a swag of campers in the overflow campsite, but no one in the normal campsite. After some discussions we decided to camp in the normal campsite and drove just past the facilities. There is both a toilet and a shower there, but the shower is cold.

The Purni bore was sunk back in 1963 by a French petrolium company. It is about 1,880 meters deep. It produces about 18 liters per second of 85 degree hot water. At the time it was capped and sealed, but the seal corroded away and the water eventually flowed freely. This created this hot oasis of water which attracted lots of animal life. Later it was realized that this free flowing water had reduced the water in Dalhousie Springs. To reduce the impact the bore was capped again in 1987, but rather than a complete cap they still allow some reduced water to run into the Oasis plus provide water for the facilities.

As it was late in the day we set up camp and had our dinner and then got a very nice sunset.