Mt Augustus trip 2001

          Our 2000

          Millennium

          HOLIDAY

17/7/000; Monday Left Pinjarra 4:30 both well and truly needing this holiday, crossed the Murchison River, stopped at the Murchison Road House for fuel, asked if there were any good camping spots along the way, they were of no assistance, believe the reason for this is they have a caravan site behind fuel station, however it’s not what camping is all about, PLUS I JUST LOVE FREE CAMPING - so we kept driving till right on dusk ,approached a sign saying Errabiddy Bluff, both Don and myself we’re of the point of just wanting to camp up, so we turned off on the track heading towards Errabiddy Bluff, found ourselves a great little camp site, and set about putting the camper up was while doing this, we realised that we’d lost our washing machine lid.

Sausages and onions cooking, the sun almost but disappeared small birds chirping, we were just settling in, getting very merry on a lovely bottle of Amberley Blanc wine all our worries drifting away, giving each other a bit of a cuddle – when all of a sudden I let out a scream, frightened the living day lights out of my poor hubby, an Emu had crept up and was standing right along side of us; it didn’t even budge all the while I was screaming my lungs out, it stood looking at us then wanted to come closer to us even more so, the more we shooed it the more it wanted contact with us one hell of a crazy bird, stayed around our camp receiving a few offerings, I mean what is one to do - when an Emu has it’s head in ones kitchen, pecking at containers containing food? This bird kept us intrigued through out the evening, also filmed it now have him on video, he thoughly enjoyed our bread, the other birds here are just lovely – great spot to stay, there are no bugs or insects to have to worry about, drove up to Errabiddy Bluff tis really a lovely place and is worth a look, I’d love to come back here some time, such relaxing atmosphere here – there’s plenty of fire wood in the area, souvenired a quartz rock and old used bullet shell – will definitely return here again some day.

Campsite at Errabiddy Bluff Errabiddy Bluff

18/7000;Tues Broke rear back window, did not let it ruin our trip, Don has taped the window up tight, souvenired a large quartz rock around this area where the window was broken, also saw many herds of goats along this stretch of road today, also a few Kangaroo’s. We were diverted off the roads quite a bit in and around Stations, stayed at the Lyon’s River near an old shearing shed, was very cold here, cooked pork chops and chips for tea tonight which went down well, had a few wines and went to bed early.

                 

The Old shearing Shed                                                           Starting to pack up Camper Trailer

19/7/000; Wed, Left the old shearing shed today, took a while drying the camper out this morning, was a very cold night we had here, Don made me the best cuppa I’ve ever had that morning, I just did not want to get up – quite happy to stay in bed till the sun was fully up. Walked around the old shearing shed before leaving, Don found an old horse shoe another souvenir for us, would stay here again if need be, we drove on to the Kennedy Range and walked a good way through, did a bit of videoing, got myself a nice rock to bring home, was a good way to spend a morning. Left Kennedy Range and nearly killed ourselves, an Emu ran out from nowhere, and almost into the side of our 4 month old 4x4. Also had wheel trouble today collapsed wheel bearings on Cavalier Camper (due to lack of servicing), we were lucky as for we were not to far from Minnie Creek Station, Don had been thinking to himself, that he may have to leave me alone out in the middle of nowhere, with the camper trailer while he went for help, GEE HE GETS SOME REALLY STUPID IDEAS SOMETIMES - I mean really how silly can one be? Although the same thought had crossed my mind also while we’d been stuck in such a situation. Staying the night at Minnie Creek Station, and then heading back to Gascoyne Junction in the morning and onto Carnarvon for the parts needed.

                             

Walk into Kennedy Range                                                           Videoing inside Kennedy Range

20/7/000; Thurs Spent the whole day waiting around at Gascoyne Junction, the people at the garage said they had someone already in Caravan so as to save us a trip, they’d have that someone pick up our parts and would be at Gascoyne Junction in 2 hrs; SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT’D BE TO GOOD TO BE TRUE…spent all day waiting around for the parts, we had our lunch at the Gascoyne River, cheese, olives, savoury sausage, pickled onions, and water cress crackers was a great snack. Got our parts and headed back to Minnie Creek Station when we arrived, found they had got us the wrong seals, but the station folk helped us out with one of theirs, stayed another night at Minnie Creek Station the people there were really nice, Pete, Jackie & Danny, Danny told us some great yarns, while we were there, also had a few drinks with them, the nights we spent there.

21/7/000; Fri Left Minnie Creek Station today, the boy’s were out fencing left Jackie with a bottle of Baileys she was over the moon, said her and the boys would save it for that night. Stopped to check trailer wheel, between Mini Creek Station and Cobra Station, got myself another rock here very black, think there could be gold in this area – found some fools gold here, ABOUT ALL THAT I WOULD FIND TO, would liked to have looked around a bit more if time permitted, have to keep going though, reached Mt Augustus, Don had to keep an eye on the trailer wheel, all the while as he drove here, was a bit of a slow drive but we survived it. Made corn fritters and pikelets for tea tonight and got drunk once again. Watched as our indigenous people yelled abuse at each other, while obtaining their alcohol 3oclock in the afternoon arrived in cars packed like sardines, no seat belts for the kiddies we noticed.

                                

Mt Augustus turn off                                                                                      Area called [The Pound]

                                                             

Area [Saddle Trail]                                                                         Our campsite [Mt Augustus in back ground]

22/7/000; Sat Climbed rocks at Mt Augustus with a sore ankle just to keep the hubby happy, went and had a look in at cattleman’s pool, it was absolutely lovely here, had lunch then walked up the river, an old river gum caught our eye it was huge just took our breath away, believe it could tell us a few stories if able, further along one very large spider web glinting in the sun, beyond some trees an old rusted out car upon a mound - now overgrown by weeds and bushes, made us wonder who had driven it to it’s resting place all those years ago, no number plates – commented about how Don’s work mate Mitch, may have beaten us to them, walking back towards the camper trailer, two beautiful black swans drifted by us, then headed back to camp, cooked a herb damper, fried tomatoes and onions tonight, was very tasty I got a little merry on beer tonight, again watched our indigenous people come in for their alcohol 3 o’clock on the dot…yelling swearing at each other, kept us amused if nothing else, though do feel for the kiddies.

Cattlemans Pool Picnic Spot at Cattlemans Pool

23/7/000; Sun Left Mt Augustus today, heading north (via Pingandy), saw a dingo and filmed it and just after seeing that one – we saw a dead one hanging from a tree, the biggest dingo I’ve ever seen it was HUGE videoed it a bit on the nose though. A great drive though this area, if it’d been later in the day, would have set up camp somewhere along this stretch. Couldn’t find a nice enough camp site when we needed one, so as for us both being as tired as we were, paid $100.00 to stay at the Tom Price caravan park really enjoyed the shower, though the unit was not worth the $100.00 have been in better for less, we left a note telling them so!! Example toilet door needs bottom hinge, 2 sheets would have been nicer instead of one, toilet dripped through out the night, and the bed we believe was made for midgets! Give me the camper van any day; though I must say shower was wonderful, had spaghetti bolognaise for tea.

24/7/000; Mon Left Tom Price, the drive was fantastic!! Seen some terrific views also some great camping spots along the way, just out of Tom Price we drove up a hill, where people had been a few weeks before hand to watch the moon eclipse they’d left their names on the rocks, also those of loved ones who had passed away, [A NICE TOUCH] we thought.

Stopped at the Auski Road House, will not sell beer unless you stay there, lucky we had plenty on board, looking for Rodger’s work camp, have entered Hooley Downs Station, it was in this area that I ended up receiving a Kangaroo tick “WARNING TO ALL WOMAN” if needing to go to the toilet, be ever so careful squatting, managed to acquire a Tick in the most embarrassing place – that any woman could ever imagine, and didn’t know that it was there, until late that evening while in bed, becoming very itchy in this area – I happened to feel a hard shelled like object – not having any idea what it was and having no light at the time, managed to get my finger nail under it - my reaction then was to flick it on the floor, god only knows where it ended up, however next morning, there was a terrible large red mark left, where the tick had been and was still very itchy, this mark stayed with me for a week after returning home, so ladies do be ever so careful when nature calls !! Have since found out better ways for removing ticks, though I don’t plan on getting anymore!! Soon arrived at our son Terry’s work site, Rodger’s Contract to fix the roads out from Wittenoom, stayed the night even though Terry wasn’t there – had a lovely meal, pea soup with lot’s ham, Station steak and followed by sweets jelly, fruit & custard BEAUTIFUL! Old “H” the cook did well, sat around campfire talking with Graham, Daryl & another chap, was the latest night we’d had on the trip. Think Don was tempted to ring Alcoa, and let them know he’d found a new life and job as well.

                 

Just arrived at Rodger’s Work Camp Camper almost set up

Rodger’s Work Camp 80 km from Wittenoom

25/7/000; Tues left Rodger’s work camp after doing a bit of videoing, checked out Wittenoom Gorge – nice drive, my father worked here many years ago. We arrived at Kumarina Road House saw our mate Trevor Batt, was good catching up on old times, worked out that it had been 10 yrs since we’d seen each other, Don shouted me a beautiful meal here, steak and salad and sweet’s, he really spoilt me that night, stayed in one of Trevor’s Dongas, he did us a deal…MATES ARE GREAT TO HAVE, guess it’ll be another 10 yrs before we see him again – how the years do fly by!

26/7/000; Wed Said our good – byes to Trevor as we left Kumarina Road House heading for home, visited Mt Magnet and videoed the Old Cue Hospital, while returning home a road train sent a stone flying, you guessed it a cracked window was the result, YES we had some rotten luck on our trip but were determined not to let it ruin our holiday – especially the short time that we had to do it all in, Reached Pinjarra 7:30 and got take –a –way chicken, it really was a great holiday; WARTS AND ALL!!

A few day’s after arriving home, Don went and bought a good bottle of whiskey and seals, to send back to John the boss of Minnie Creek Station – we were ever so indebted to him for letting us stay those couple of night’s, we’d like to meet up again, some time in the near future with John. Though certainly under different circumstances.

CAMP OVEN RECIPES;

Boko’s Herb Damper Bush Scones

3 Cups SR flour 2 Cups SR flour

1 ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon salt

3oz butter 1teaspoon sugar

½ Cups milk 1oz butter

1 ½ Cups soda water or just water ½ Cup milk

Extra flour for kneading dough ½ Cups Soda water

A tbl spoon of herbs

Slices a X along the top

Spray camp oven with olive oil Spray large camp oven with pure & simple

Place in pre dug hole, cover with coals Place ready cut scones inside the camp oven

Till cooked…Tap top of damper for hollow sound

Repeat cooking method same as damper ;

Press tops of scones, when they bounce back…

HEY PRESSTO!

Cattlemans Pool

Out Back Australia

Insight

Exquisite blue skies, fluffy clouds drifting by

Suns shinning, insects buzzing, small birds fly

Whispering breeze, swaying Ghost Gum trees

Black Swans swim by, forever to please

Ripples, Sparkling pristine water

Picnic lunch, pleasant stroll later

A spiders web ever so perfect

Ants busy an interesting insect

Peaceful now, only the odd bird to be heard

Kangaroo hops, was so rudely disturbed

Shag upon old log, spreads wings to dry

Dragonfly only just passed me by

Mesmerising this, ever lasting, enchanting dream

Cockatoo’s appear squawk, screech and scream

Wedge – Tail Eagle circling ever so high above

Out Back Australia, I cherish and love

Copyright2002 Brenda Boucaut