2017 Caravan Trip to Somewhere Warm – Update 2

Hi everyone

We have had a quiet few days since our last update. As we left Birdsville we used the local wash down bay to clean the mud off the caravan and car from the muddy track that we had been on a few days ago. It was very thick mud and needed the strong, hot water direct from the Artesian Basin.

The caravan looks clean but it had been covered in mud.

The road east from Birdsville passes over vast gibber plains and countless creeks, currently all dry. During, and long after rains, these creeks flow into either the Diamantina River or Coopers Creek and eventually into Lake Eyre. This is Queensland’s Channel Country, currently dry but occasionally a sea of brown water. After 280 km of rough, corrugated road we stopped at a rest area in the middle of nowhere, with no-one else nearby. Next morning we awoke to see that 3 road trains had pulled in after we had gone to bed but they had not caused a problem.
Next morning we drove to the tiny but pleasant town of Windorah, then camped 10 km away, beside Coopers Creek. Although lots of people camped on the eastern side of the creek we camped on the western side without anyone within 100m. Today the Creek had little water flowing but at times a raging current floods the banks and the dry, flat land to the horizon. (There was supposed to be a photo here but it wouldn’t download.)

Further east we arrived at Quilpie, a really nice town of about 800 inhabitants. With a couple of hotels, a bakery a good coffee shop and a reasonable caravan park, it is worth a couple of days.

The hot baths at Quilpie, with water from the Great Artesian Basin

We will be moving on soon, not sure where so you’ll have to wait for the next instalment

Keep safe. Love from Ted and Jo

2017 Caravan Trip to Somewhere Warm – Update 1

Hi everyone

At the end of last year’s caravan trip we suggested that we might update our caravan ; well we did. The old caravan had served us well but rough roads in the outback wore it out so we now have an Evernew E1000I which we hope will allow us to be even more independent. It has better water, electricity and suspension systems than the old caravan.

This year we left Adelaide on 11 May, intending to be away for about 3 months. We might not last that long because we will miss family, friends, our home and the beach. We do have a rough plan to head for the tip of Cape York but the weather could easily change our plans.

First we had a night in Melrose and caught up with friends, then had a really nice few days in the Flinders Ranges.

Here is our new rig, at Yanyaka ruins, Flinders Ranges.

This is Willow Springs sheep station at sunset. Our caravan is the white dot at the far left.

Next was a couple of nights at Farina, the ruins of an old town that existed from 1878 to 1967 and at its peak had 350 inhabitants. Now it is just the remains of a few stone buildings and is gradually being restored by volunteers who work for a few weeks each year.

This old underground bakery at Farina is now being used again for 2 months each winter.

While travelling along the rough Birdsville Track we were stranded overnight by rain causing mud and flooding on the road – that was very interesting.

Remote camping along the Birdsville Track, 150 km from the nearest town and possibly the same distance from other campers.

Jo checking the depth of water across the road, to see if it was safe for us to drive though – what a woman!

Now we are in Birdsville, Qld for a few days, 1200 km from Adelaide, relaxing and housekeeping after 600 km of rough road. Tomorrow we will head east to Windorah, along a rough dirt road at first then a narrow one lane sealed road. It will take 2 or 3 days to go 400 km. It might be hard to believe but we enjoy this remote part of Australia: interesting scenery and meeting interesting people.

Keep safe everyone. Love from Ted and Jo