TRIP to CANNING STOCK ROUTE DAYS 28-29 CSR

9-10 July 2012

STAGE 3 CSR Days 7-8

DURBA SPRINGs

We decided to stay here for another two nights. So one day was washing, cleaning, car check, car fix and shower day. Harry fixed his hubs up whilst the others gave the cars a thorough check.

One of our group has ‚instant hot water‘ gadget so we were all able to have a warm shower with the water from pool at the base of the rocks. How glorious was that – clean and refreshed!

The first day flew past as we were all busy with our chores. Before long it was dinner and campfire time. Hubby played the accordion and we all just relaxed.

The second day we went exploring the surrounds.  We had intended to do the three hour walk but the rocks beat us. The guys went on ahead and said we wouldn’t reach the top of the rocks for hand holds to get ourselves over them.

A few more maintenance chores cropped up as a Garrys‘ fridge needed repairs, as did our our steps.

For afternoon tea we tried a recipe to make crumpets and decided it passed the test.

Another opportunity for a shower and our stay at this delightful place was coming to a close.

TRIP to CANNING STOCK ROUTE DAY 26

7 July 2012

STAGE 3 CSR Day 5

WellS 10 to 15 (114km)

Nice morning – no ice in the bucket. We no longer talk about the wind. Instead we comment on ‚moving air‘.

With some shake, rattle and roll we were on our way along a fairly flat section of countryside. Not far along the track we came across a group of dark, tall emus.

We nearly missed well 11 Goodwin Soak. It was not considered a successful well and was the shallowest of the wells. There is not much remaining of it.

We were appalled to find someone had camped here and not put out their fire or bothered to bury their waste and toilet paper. The lack of responsibility by some spoils it for everyone else and results in restrictions on access to places.

We were now in claypan and sand dune country interspersed with rocky outcrops.

We caught a view of White Lake through the break in the sand dunes.

As we went over the first bigger dune Oka 45 couldn’t lock in its 4WD. So a temporary fix to lock it in was made and all was well.

We started to refer to them as sand moguls as they were just like the moguls in the snow.

We really bounced over some dunes due to the dips left by those towing trailers.  

As we topped one dune a beautiful vista of Aerodrome Lake opened up. It was a beautiful drive along the edges of the lake.

In places it looked like water in the lake but it was only a mirage.

One dune beat us initially. Went up in third low but didn’t make it. So we dropped our tyres even further and all was right.

Well 12 amongst desert oaks is another well that has collapsed.

After having a good look at it we continued on crossing a number of dunes (13 according to our ‚bible‘) before the turn off to well 13.

The burnt out shell of a landrover was on the side of the track.

We gave well 13 a miss as we skirted around sand dunes.  There are just so many honey grevilleas, native fuchia, acacia and other wild flowers. The honey grevillea is looking spctacular with its yellow flowers. When touched – oh so sticky. It makes a nice sweet drink.

Ward Hills on both sides of the track provided another landscape through which we travelled as more sand dunes were crossed. They are not big but it is always with anticipation that I wait for us to reach the crest to see what lays ahead.

Sometimes open vistas, other times only the narrow track with vegetation on either side. This sure is spinifex country. There are so many varieties of it.

There is little left of Well 14.

We continued on to Well 15 to camp for the night. There is a lot of history associated with the track. As we drive we recap the stories associated with the places.

It was like Pitt St at Well 15. There were another 5 vehicles with trailers here for the night.

There were stunning low white flowers everywhere. Very little firewood here but the white gums and flowering shrubs provided a meadow effect.

TRIP to CANNING STOCK ROUTE DAY 25 - CSR

6 July 2012

STAGE 3 CSR Day 4

WELLS 7, 8, AND 10 (80KM)

Very cold this morning. There was 7mm thick ice covering the water in our bucket.

So I stayed in bed till the kettle boiled as the gas also heated up the cabin. Then by 9:00am it was already 12C and reached over 22C during the day but the strong wind meant that it felt cold. Before we left hubby changed the position of our red flag so that it would not be ripped.

After leaving the springs we stopped about 4.5km further north to explore Ingebong Hills.

They are named after the first aboriginal pastoral lessee in WA who had a station in the vicinity. He had a long association with the stock route. We followed the cairn route and climbed to the top – to the main cairn.

The Oka’s were barely visible from only one spot along our climb.

The rock formations are very striking. We are walking over rocks that are millions of years old that once formed an ancient sea bed. Amazing where plants grew amongst the rocks and crevices. Native White Cypress trees with their contorted trunks were found along the ridges.

The surrounding countryside stretched for miles.

We continued on thrrough mulga country, corrugations to Well 7. Along the way we zigzagged through the mulgas not knowing if we were on the track or not.

Well 7 is a collapsed well but still has some water in it. Lots of flowering shrubs around this well.

Slowly we made our way to Well 8.

The well has collapsed and it doesn’t appear that it will be restored.

Again lots of flowers. We have been surprised by the lushness of the landscape so far. It is also ever changing. We are taking the Explore oz driving guide with a grain of salt. The distances between the wells is accurate but not the time to travel the distance. We are, in all instances, doubling the travel time. They must have gone like rockets along the track to achieve those times.

Our ‚bible‘ described the next section ‚a pleasant drive‘. Well if you call shake, rattle and roll, then bouncy, bouncy followed by rough rock bits ‚ a pleasant drive‘ then it was. We are still going through pastoral country.

We sort of missed Well 9 – it appears to also be the current cattle drinking well on the station. Lots of cattle around.

We decided to stop by mid afternoon at Well 10 for the night.

A bit like Pitt street – another 5 vehicles with trailers were also camped here.

We collected firewood and had a campfire again to end the day.