Purni Bore is a result of oil exploration. The oil bore went straight through the artesian basin. Over time the bore casing corroded and the water flowed to the surface creating the bore. The bore is now capped but a smaller environmental flow is maintained to allow the artificially created wetlands to survive.

There were zebra finches everywhere.

This poor specimen of a dingo limped away as we approached.

No not suddenly transported to the alps. This is the salt left behind as the water puddle evaporates.

Red Mulga Creek. The water is saline. There are rumoured to be fossils in those rocks. Our group didn't find any.

More salt in the drying creek bed.

I am pretty sure Dalhousie Springs refers to the area, which has more than one mound spring. As a consequence I am not sure of the name of this - the main sprin. There is public access for a therapeutic soak in the hot artesian water, there is even a bundle of pool noodles to use. I found it much more pleasant in the early morning with the cooler ambient temperature than in the afternoon. The water is quite warm.

The nibbling fish are quite pleasant when nibbling your feet but can smart a bit when they take a bite from the more sensitive areas such as your back.

The mist rising from the warm water in the early morning light.

Just like so many of the plants out here we have not clue what this is called. Ann would love to find a book/app for the ipad similar to the bird app we have.

This smaller open spring (rainbow serpent spring) is a short walk from the main spring.

Taken from the jump up on the walk around Dalhousie Spring.

Did some one really have some cultivation here using the spring water?

Mt Dare.

Yep we all made it across the Simpson to Mt Dare.

Left to right.

Don and John in a Range Rover.

Bruce and Deb in a Land Cruiser.

Cedric and Jen in a Troop Carrier.

Lars travelling with Ian.

Leanne and Mark in a Ford Ranger (also red).

Ann and Ian in an Explorer Motorhome - Ford Ranger.

Janet and Bob in a Land Cruiser.

Ian in BT 50? Maybe isuzu sorry can't remember but ute with camper on the back.

And taking the photo team leader Tony Daveys in Toyota Land Cruiser.

Arriving at Mt Dare and lining up for fuel. We had travelled 590 kms and used 120 litres of fuel. Fuel was $2.70 a litre it had been $3.15 but with the lastest delivery and the government reducing the tax this load was $2.70 a litre.

We stopped at opossum water hole on the way to Mt Dare. I managed to capture some of the hundreds of zebra finches.

Some large spider webs and equally large spiders around the water hole.

This wind mill out the front of the Mt Dare Hotel isn't operational, but does make for stunning photos in the morning sunrise.

Mt Dare windmill

Mt Dare windmill

A melon tree borders the campground at Mt Dare.

The White Breasted Woodswallows overseeing movement in the Mt Dare carpark in the morning.

The vehicles getting ready for an 8:30 departure. Not all of us are heading back across the desert. Bob and Janet are taking the bitumen route. Ian and Lars are not risking doing any more damage to Ian's ute and are also following the bitumen back to Queensland. Don is not feeling well and will be heading south down the Stuart Highway for home. (When he got home he did a RAT and tested positive for COVID.)

Which way? Left or right?

We are now a smaller group. A few of the crew have decided to find the black top and take the more comfortable route home.

We didn't camp here but there was time for lunch and a look around.

The homestead is pretty much as it was when Molly Clarke walked off.

I hope I have the story correct. Molly's husband died from a heart attack in 1978 and then in 1979 her eldest son died in a truck accident. Molly then ran the property by herself. In 1984 Molly was forced to sell the property after all the cattle were destroyed as part of the Brucellosis and Turbeculosis eradication program. Molly was able to keep the homestead and the house paddock (45 square kilometres) She then ran the place as a tourist venture and set up the campground.

Ill health and age meant that Molly had to move to Alice Springs where she later died = 2012 ( I suspect that when she first went to Alice Springs she fully expected to come back and hence the house was never packed up). She is buried not far from the homestead.

Molly was unhappy with the Stockman's Hall of Fame when it was established in Longreach. She felt that it left out the stories of pioneering women. She founded the Women's Museum of Australia in Alice Springs. I will have to visit next time we are in Alice.

The verandah.

The heart of any house - the kitchen. Complete with wood stove - Summer!!

I suspect Molly's bedroom. In the centre of the house very dark but with a ceiling fan.

Some of the old machinery and out buildings. Tony capturing "The" shot.

Madigan made this northern crossing of the Simpson Desert in 1939. Our route follows his expedition. All his overnight camps are now marked by a star picket and a small engraved disc. We can't actually visit all of them as some are on private property.

We camped here at Madigan camp 1a. (I would have to do some research to find why it is 1a)

Climbing to the top of the dune gave a view of these mesas in the distance. I am sure they are not sand dunes.

As well as the full moon I managed to get some budgies in shot. You will have to trust me there are budgies.