The Dusty Diamantina

Brown Falcon ??

Birdsville Flags

Sand flags, hidden 4x4's

Thursday - What a fun day.  Little Red was easy but Big Red (Australia's biggest sand dune) was impossible, for us anyway!  I told Steve I would close my eyes and scream going up but after the fourth attempt all I was screaming was GO FASTER-:).  We had fun trying although I didn't much like going down backwards. 

Climbing 'Little Red'

Floodplains

A setting in the middle of nowhere

 A long 150 km drive in the heat followed before we reached one of our favorite bush camp sites at Cluny.  No one else there-:) 

Friday - It was too hot with a constant bombardment of flies.  Steve got in the river twice to cool off but it was very muddy and I didn't much fancy it so there were  a couple of cool showers for me.  We didn't do anything else.  I didn't even want to take bird photos!

Diamantina Bird life

A cat on the prowl

Pelican by the  'Jump Up'

Trying to Chill & get the washing dry

Saturday - After two nights at Kings Creek we re-provisioned with fuel and water at Bedourie and drove to Hunters Gorge in the Diamantina, a long dry hot and dusty trip.  we were within 50 kms when we first realised something was wrong with the truck.  It kept losing power.  At one point it stopped completely even though Steve had the accelerator pedal to the floor.  It was woorying to say the least.  We managed to kangaroo (appropriate terminology) our way to the Devenport Station, a property on almost 1,500.00 hectacres, (3.6 million acres)' and found an amazing guy called Phil.  He looked at the truck, climbing underneath it and eventually said he thought it was a fuel problem, did we have a spare fuel filter with us.  Steve carries a reasonable amount of spares but not a fuel filter.  This guy goes off and comes back with a filter, fits it and charges us $30!!  This was the only place in the whole of that area where we could get help, and he helped us without question.   We eventually got to the campsite but it was still not right.  We think it was dirty fuel bought at Bodourie and we are now worried how the hell we get out of the NP!!!  306km (about 180 miles) to the nearest garage-:(

Corellas

Sunrise

Camped with Trish & Iain

Sunday - We sat in the awning out of the sun and flies and shared some time with some fellow campers whilst we waited for Trish and Iain. They arrived mid-arvo, it was good to see them.  

Monday morning we were all up early and had a great time out on their inflatable boat.  It was really good fun.  Then came the moment of truth.  Would the truck start; would we make it out of the park? Hell yes!  It went like a dream and 5 hours later we were camped up just South of Windorah.  Hooray-:)

The' Cooper'