28 June. Innamincka Coach Area Camp day #1.

6.20am. A wet night. It was raining at 10.00 and was still raining when I awoke at 3am but had stopped by 6am. Not super cold overnight, a good sleep with just a couple of drops on the face in the early hours. 

Who knows what the day holds. Might sneak in some washing if we are here for the day. 

Off for a quick wee, raining again at 6.30 and I am 2cm taller with the mud on the shoes. 

My guess is we are not going anywhere today. But only time will tell. 

The news from the folk in town at Innamincka is that all roads are closed most likely until Saturday. So we won't be getting out to Coongie Lakes.

Our choice of campsite is good but clay underfoot is getting more and more tiring as the day wears on. It sticks to the shoes then sticks to itself, which gets very heavy and slippery. Hard work! 

It kept raining. Dad put his shade sail up to shelter the T Van kitchen, which became a gathering place for a bit as we waited the news of road and weather conditions. 

Here we are gathered together under the sail. L-R, me, Kate, Dad, J, Mary, Phil, Michael and Sarah.

The tent in amongst the mud, with the Willshire Ultimate Camper in the background and Phil.

Some horses came for a sticky beak, very friendly, hobbled so they couldn't run away.

More of the crew with the horses.

An accident, shows the mud.

Our camp.

The Dundek's took the opportunity for a sleep in. Meg wasn't feeling well, so a good thing we were staying put for a while. 

Michael started to clear an area of mud, so we could move around more easily. Then Mary got into the shovel and cleared an area under the sail, we then decided we needed a bigger gathering area so tarps and poles at the ready.

Scraping mud off shoes, became a regular occurrence.

We extended out from Steve's Van awning and created a nice area to sit out of the rain. This required more clearing of top layer of clay/mud and some more tracks to cars and between tents. Thanks again to Mary, Michael and Stef and Jadon for shovelling. 

Then we moved up in the world, set up the Matrix awning, with extensions and windbreaks. Sitting around wiling away the day.

We broke out some nibbles and watched vehicles going to and fro wondering where they'd come from, more people now gathered here at coach camp and town common. 

Night fell, we are still sitting around. Sarah, Carmel and Michael.

Drinking and playing on devices, Steve and Kate.

Mary, Dad and Sarah. and nibbles, drinks etc.

Steve, Kate, Phil

Hot dogs for lunch for us. Phil has brought a mates 'gas bottle' fire brazier and wood so he fired that up as the day continued wet and miserable. A couple of breaks in clouds and once glimpse of the sun was all we got till 6pm when things began to clear. 

Mary and Phil with 'Walshies' gas bottle brazier, trying to light the fire.

Success.

Lots of sitting around today doing nothing much, but we are all stuffed from the moving around in mud and continual scraping of boots and ground. 

J and Meg.

The fire, with 'Mystic Fire' to create the colour.

 Glad to see it's cleared up and even gladder to hit the hay tonight. 

My muddy shoes on the floor of the tent...

Tomorrow - gotta get to shower and tackle some washing. Again, we will have to amuse ourselves with something tomorrow.