27 June - Whining Windmill Camp to Innamincka.

The Whining Windmill Behaved very well overnight. I did hear it q couple of times but nowhere near as eerily as it had sounded earlier in the evening. 

There was however the pitter patter of rain throughout the early morning. Having just awoken for the early morning ablutions it's not terribly wet underfoot yet and it was only a sprinkle, but it will add an extra degree of difficulty for the pack up this morning. Having said that it's one of those mesmerising sounds akin to rain on corrugated iron roof. 

Sun is due to rise in a little over half an hour so an attempt for some more shuteye is calling. 

Up to a light rain which had wet things nicely but was nowhere near as heavy as it sounded from the tent. I dried out the stove top and got the kettle boiling for the pot of tea and thermos, then begin the process of breaky and pack up. 

I was growing taller by the second as the wet dirt stuck to the bottom of the shoes, which adds an extra dimension of NOT getting mud in the tent and everywhere. 

The Whining Windmill

The rain eased off and we all got packed and did the communal washing up before choofing off past the windmill with Innamincka on our mind, rain is forecast and we want to be somewhere in case we get stuck for a day or two. The plan is to meet Mary, Phil and Kate at Innamincka tonight, Steve got in touch before we left this morning and we've guessed they are half an hour behind us all day. 

Stef decided to take a side road detour at one point.

and then still had to wait his turn to get back onto the road.

 We stopped for fuel at Tibooburra, then onto Cameron Corner (entered QLD for a wee break at the Cameron Corner Store) for lunch after crossing the dog fence and leaving NSW and entering South Australia, where our youngest team member forgot all about gate protocol. 

A great entrance to Tibooburra, note the wet road.

Stef going for a dink.

The Gate and border fence at Cameron Corner.

The signs looking back into NSW. 

Lined up fixing our stuck fridge slide at Cameron Corner.

 On through the red sand country with sand dunes growing taller. 

With many kms to get under the belt we were pushing along at a pace that was easy for the cars and a tad more challenging for the 'Fat Arse' van. 

Front vehicles using radios to communicate particular road conditions and places to take caution, one sand hill had Meg a tad stumped for descriptive words - it was "a bit …messed up" on the left side, so stay right. We were not left wondering for too long exactly what messed up meant. It was pot holey and filled with light sand which meant rough and worth avoiding. Since the use of the term "messed up" it's been used to describe a few things around camp. 

A stop at a gum tree at Merti Merti turn off for a discussion about which track to take, hereafter known as the Merti Merti Discussion tree. 

Our track took us through the oil fields with many many 'oil nodders' with names like Moe, Affogato, Bugito, Jenna - to name a few. 

Quite a few rough bits and corrugations along the way today. 

Also saw bikes up trees, lots of critters including emus, roos, goats, cattle, horses, eagles, (all of which I failed to get pics of.) I actually unearthed the camera today and have a few snaps after lazily relying on phone pics (both mine and others) to date. 

Innamincka mud camp

Arrived at Innamincka just on dark, about 5.30ish. As we pulled in there was very sketchy phone service, enough for a text from the bank and one shortly after from Mary. They were now about 15 minutes behind us, so by the time we toiletted and plotted our plan their lights were pulling into town. 

The plans were as follows. Booked into pub for tea in about an hour. Head over to town common or coach parking and set up camp then walk back for tea. 

It was starting to rain as we picked our way between a lot of other camps to find space beside a bloke named Hendry that Steve knows with the same van as his. 

We wandered over about 1/2 a kilometre like browns cows. Sarah drove Carmel and the Willshire Morgans drove too- they were ready for a shower after a long day in the car. There is a public ablutions block at Innamincka with good showers $2 for 3 minutes. 

Tea was nice, the place was very busy, lots hiding from the weather and also many bound for the Big Red Bash. 

Walked back to camp about 8.15 - it feels like midnight - we are now on SA time again so 8.15 is REALLY 8.45. 

Time to peg the tent out a bit more,  sort out my bed - which gets folded up holistic bolus and plonked in the bed in Dads van - this is an upgrade from packing and rolling everything up every morning and the reverse each night. 

Some phaffing around to get organised for a shower in the morning and then into bed to write the last of the blog. 

Great to have everyone together now and hopefully we can really chill into the trip. Depending on weather and rainfall around here and towards Coongie, we MAY find ourselves stranded due to road conditions or we MAY head off for a couple of days at Coongie. Only time and weather conditions will tell. 

Goodnight, sleep tight.