Across the Simpson Desert (Day 8)

In The Simpson to Gidgee Patch QAA Line, a dressing down, Ephemeral Lakes, hungry dingo and a dunny like none before.
~ A very windy night and everyone seemed to be packing up before brekky.
Last night's dunny crew were told they had to do it again but to make a better job of it. Also, there were a couple of group members grizzling about having to write today's group journal.Do it or you'll be writing it again the next night were the orders!! No holiday camp this!!  Our group leader tells it like it is, has a good sense of humour and treads a fine line of making sure everyone pulls their weight. 

We moved along the AAK Line (another of the tracks made by oil exploration companies from the 1960s -1980s), had a look at the Approdina Attora Knolls. They are fragile gypsum outcrops and are of great Aboriginal and scientific importance. They give a good view of the surrounding countryside from the top. They were important landmarks to the early explorers and settlers. It had been necessary to fence them off though, as some people were driving to the top, doing irrepairable damage. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos of the Knolls.

The water count is getting low, not many have much left - we had a fair bit so our contribution for the night will be about 40 litres. Fortunately, everyone can have a major refill at one of the cattle stations tomorrow where permission has been given to use their supply. Always have to conserve though because permissions, as we'd already experienced, can be withdrawn and for valid reasons.

The convoy across the Simpson - a treeless section

After a long stretch of pretty much treeless plains, a beautiful shady Gidgee patch was found for a lunchtime stop. Quite hot so it was welcome. Beautiful wattles and cassias all in yellow bloom - the effect was stunning.


Lots of sand dunes to conquer again. Spotted a white dingo but it was too far away to show up in a photo. Ha ha, when a lot of my photos were developed there'd be a tiny spot in a far corner - I'd barely remember, perhaps a camel, or maybe a dingo, so small it was unrecognisable. Whilst others I just couldn't, for the life of me, remember what they were!! 

Passed over about 6 lakes today, all dry and sparkly with their salty crusts on top. They're part of the Ephemeral Lake System. 


Stopped at Poeppel's Corner and took photos. They're the borders of SA, NT and Qld, it was funny actually standing with a foot and a hand in each State and, of course, we all made the obvious jokes. 


Re-dressed Tloml's cut which is healing up well, then it was off to gather around the campfire. Mostly, we all get along very easily with one another. It's funny, but we never really socialised as much back home as out there. It is nice to roll up to the fire and have a chat. Perhaps it's because we all have pretty much the same interests.

We were visited by a dingo whilst dinner was cooking. She came in closer and closer. One of the group gave her some chicken, vegies and water which she enjoyed (the peas and carrots were ignored however). Lots of photos were taken.  After we'd all gone to bed she re-visited and lapped up the remaining bit of soapy washing up water, only a short distance from the group leader's swag!


The dunny rating was 10/10, the reasons for a perfect score were innumerable - far too many to list here. A condensed version included "beautifully positioned" "tucked away in sylvan solitude" "in perfect harmony with the environment" and "such comfort that when seated and gazing out the door, one can really feel comfort and peace of mind and have that inner feeling of minding ones own business".


Mileage for the day 113km