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September 15, 2001
Overland Australia - Update 43
September 15, 2001
Day 54
A day in the life of Blue Dog- (support crew, outback tucker man, chief cook and bottle washer).
BANG! BANG! BANG! I opened one eye and peered out from beneath my swag cover- sure enough in the firelight I could make out the shadowy form of Mike preparing breakfast assisted by the ever-present Crister when there is work to be done. Dammed cold this morning again but maybe one or two degrees higher than it has been I decided as I struggled into a rare clean pair of jeans.
The porridge is excellent again- (it always has been since I showed everyone the trick of soaking the oats overnight)- the tea though is a little stewed, made a bit early (or am I a little late?) – no it’s only 5:30, have to tell them about that. Roll the swag, into the truck and receive the swags, tents, bags, food, cooking utensils, electronic and camera equipment for nine people and stack it all so the rough roads don’t turn the inside of the pantec into something that has just come out of a kitchen whiz.
Not bad, the truck is packed and ready to roll by 6:50 and Mike (our captain for the day) is briefing the troops on our route – possibly getting back on station tracks again, the first time for the last 5 road days. I felt like a headmaster when I pointed out the dangers of stopping on these roads for a break without considering the fact that a 4,W.D may be coming over a hill around a blind bend at 80km/hr but I didn’t want to feel responsible if something went wrong.
That over and done with, Blue Dog on the dash and I pulled out of camp at 6.55 bound for our first stop at 15km or the clearly marked turnoff at approximately 13 –whichever came first. The corrugations on the loose rocks climbing the first ridge soon had maps, torches, tapes, pens and anything else you would like to name soon came raining down out of the overhead compartments and Blue and I knew we were “back in the bush”. Next thing Blue was on the floor and has to be rescued while missing the potholes and listening to the fading news reception.
Noticing a few tracks leading off along the way we stopped at 15km and waited. “This is Mike calling Blue Dog- do we turn right at the 13 km mark or did you turn left?” “Blue Dog to Mike. I’m still on the road which goes straight ahead, waiting at 15k’s as ordered” “Blue Dog, I strongly suggest that we should take this turn as depicted on the “topo” map” God, the “topo” map, I’d been listening to the news and only referring to the “big picture” map- maybe I’d missed something! “Err, standby Mike” A quick consultation with the other map showed that he might be right. “Blue Dog is returning to your position”
Mike did indeed turn out to be right but after several hours checking this road that had not been used in many decades contrary to the map I called the Papunya Police Station and spoke with a very helpful officer as to the track to get through to Derwent Station. Armed with this info I called Derwent and received the O.K. from Ian to travel their station track so we proceeded another 15k’s to the turnoff at Stokes Bore. Cross the sandy creek and find a suitable tree to boil the billy under -light a fire, pull out the lunch gear (damper from last night, jam, etc, etc) and meet with Wade passing in a Land Cruiser who works on Derwent station.
The “Brave Soldiers” by this time are all looking a little weary to say the least as the temperature is rising to 30C and there is a high incidence of sand on this little used track. Pack the gear, pull out and head up the road for the most important job of the day- find a Blue Dog Approved 5 Star camp site in the shortest possible distance. Over a low rise, sand, rocks and low scrub – but worst of all, everywhere you look is heavily grassed which makes a campfire impossible. A small open flat on the right at 1.5k’s, maybe but no shade, 2.7k’s we cross a small sandy creek- turn off and do some “scrub bashing” and then jump out leaving Blue Dog to guard the truck against the flies while I check out a likely area on foot. No result in 5mins so on we go. Through some more sand, over a ridge and down to a small gum creek and Bingo! – a nicely trimmed grass area with shade and an ample supply of firewood suitable for the damper.
“Blue Dog to 360, do you read Mike?” “I copy you Blue Dog” “There is a campsite at 3.7k’s from your last position and it rates at 4 Blue Dog Stars” “Sounds good, Blue Dog, we look forward to getting there, Mike out.”
John
Posted on September 15, 2001 1:19 PM