Bush Camp - No 2 (not without incidence)

After the success of our first camp out by the Flinders River, we decided we would stay for two nights. Traveling out of Julia Creek heading up the Sudan Dip road we turned off approx 50kms out and headed the Flinders River on a property called Lara Downs. We traveled the road until we could follow the worn track to a camp site. Set up the swags and sat down to the serenity - I cooked a camp stew in the cast iron pot, just everything in together (it usually tastes better when all in one). Drew decided to throw his net into the river as the water holes were quite a lot deeper. We were told before we went to this site that not to swim there as a salt water croc was living in one of the water holes, he washed down in the last wet season and has not been able to get back out to the ocean (salt water) - so like fools we believed them!!!!!!!! 















On Saturday we explored the surrounding district and Flinders River which on the concrete bridge the McKinlay Shire Council have installed a a "River watch" camera for the wet season.  Hard to imagine that the rivers do come up so much, but they do.
That night we slept in our swags under a very starry night sky, once again I am amazed at the amount of stars (yes I know I say it everytime - but it is true - beautiful).

 

 

                                        

We had a restful nights sleep listening to the music from the radio in the car.  We woke up, I started to cook the breakfast while Drew started to pack up the swags etc, he tried to start the 4 x 4 only to find the battery dead.   Bloody radio.  We held a crisis meeting and Drew decided to walk to the homestead of Lara Station, we did see a sign to it when we came in, so armed with a bottle of water, hat he started off not knowing how far it is off the road. 
The waiting was very nerve racking, then at last I heard a 4 x 4 and sounded like it did not have a muffler - hoping it wasn't someone roo shooting.  But, it topped the rise and yes it was my wonderful husband.   I may add that it is not advisable to walk out in these parts as it is many many kilometers from roads and civilisation.
Drew had borrowed the old farm ute and a set of jumper leads to start our vehicle.  After finishing packing up we delivered the ute back to the farm.

                                                        

After saying our thanks to the owner's son we were on our way, what a lucky escape as Drew only had to walk 11 kms to the station homestead.

Trip to Artesian Bore - Punchbowl - Julia Creek Outback Queensland

Two weeks after we arrived in outback Queensland in the small town of Julia Creek we met a fellow McKinlay Shire Council worker Greg Sant and his lovely wife Bronwyn - but it was not the first time Drew had met Greg as they had both worked at Lismore City Council NSW. We started out to go to the artesian bore at Punchbowl which we did then took a circular trip around to hit the Flinders Highway (Overlanders Way) at Neila.

This is the road out of Julia Creek heading towards Punchbowl. We travelled 38kms till we hit the Flinders River, then 32kms from there on gravel road was the Punchbowl bore, very interesting as it is hot water from the earth which flows 24hrs a day, it is very hot when it comes out - after which the troughs are filled and from there water the cattle on the surrounding stations. The water is very clear when it comes from the ground as it will be evident with the photos. The drought still goes on after four wet seasons which did not rain at all. Two pictures above show the dust on the road after the bore. The land is black soil which is clay, very dangerous when wet. Cracks in the soil and sink holes, when prolonged dry season. The trip was wonderful we saw wild camels, wild pigs, kangaroos, wild goats & emus. We travelled onto view a capped bore which has so much pressure, this bore was situated on Glen More Station. After travelling along various dirt roads we finally come to the highway at Neila. Neila is a very small township of a handful of houses and one shop. They have several statues at the entrance. We came home and discovered that we had travelled nearly 200kms round trip, but the bore was worth it and I would recommend that a visit to this for any traveller.

Bush Camp in the Queensland outback

On the weekend of 25th & 27th July 2014 we decided to put our swags to good use camping along the Flinders River.  We were approx 45 kms out of Julia Creek but no phone coverage, in the middle of nowhere.

We purchased a yabbie net before taking off, thinking we would catch a nice feed of "Red Claw".  These are fresh water crayfish which populate water holes here in outback Queensland.  Very similar to Yabbies which are found in NSW.

It took no time to set up our swags when we had some visitors of the bovine variety (cattle), Drew took the yabbie pot down to the river and threw it in, hmmmm we are looking forward to breakfast tomorrow morning.

 My swag is up off the ground as
I don't want anything in my swag.          Drew throwing the yabbie pot in








Drew's swag is on the ground which we put a ground sheet under it.






The yabbie pot.                            

Cows - the only visitor on Saturday

While I was collecting rocks to make a fire ring (to contain the fire) Drew was collecting fire wood which was in abundance.

Drew collecting fire wood.

              Robyn's rocks around fire

Two photos of how good Drew is at making a fire.







As night fell we had already made a "bush stew" in the dutch oven.   We put our music on and if we sang out of key it did not matter as no-one was going to hear us.
Drew found a skeleton which we had a bit of fun with!!!!!

After a good night sleep we opened our eyes to a beautiful morning, but the birds just on sunrise made a hell of a racket which woke both Drew and I up, but boy it was the most lovely sounds, not the usual beep, beep beep of the alarm at 5.30am.
Even during the night I woke several times to hear the mopoke owl and some sort of screeching.  At 7am we heard "hullo, I am a surveyor and I will be crashing around the bush for awhile"  we then realised they were going to replace the culvert near where we were camping.
Our minds were on our feed of Redclaw, so Drew went down to pull up the pot, and to our amazement and frustration we had caught only one decent sized bream and a larger catfish, no redclaw at all.

It was the fishes lucky day as Drew let them go.  We made our way home after enjoying the peace and quiet.