Post 235 – The Dig Tree.

iancollard
October 5, 2020

The Dig Tree

 

The entrance to the Dig Tree site. There is quite a deal of good information on the boards in here.

Dig Tree

There are three trees with blazes here and not just from the Burke and Wills' expedition.

Brahe who was waiting here for Burke and Wills to return blazed two trees. People coming later looking for Burke and Wills also left blazes. Some time after King was rescued and the bodies of Burke and Wills recovered some one carved a likeness of Burke in yet another blaze. Not all these blazes are still visible as they have closed over.

Dig Tree

The one blaze from Brahe that is still visible. It states the number of the camp in roman numerals.

Dig Tree

This is the original dig tree. Brahe carved the word dig on this horizontal branch and  buried supplies underneath. The blaze has grown over.

Dig Tree

The carving of Burke is still visible.

Dig Tree

I was surprised to see that the Cooper was flowing as well.

We camped here for the night.

There is a $20 dollar fee per vehicle to enter the site. Which seeing we were camping is pretty good.

Yes the site is remote - a long way from anywhere but it is not inaccessible - it is only the last 10 - 15 km that is not bitumen.

Post 236 – SA Border

iancollard
October 5, 2020

Border Crossing

 

We stopped and talked to the Queensland Cop at the border. He really wasn't much interested in what we were up to. He was there to quiz people entering Queensland. We do have a SA pass but haven't had to show it to anyone yet.

I don't expect this truckie had any trouble coming through either.

Burke's Grave

Not far from Innamincka is Burke's Grave. Strictly speaking it is not his grave as his body is not there but there is a monument marking the spot where he died.

We didn't get to the other two sites Wills's tree or the spot where King was rescued on the other side of Innamincka as the roads are closed.

 

Post 237 – Innamincka Cordillo Downs

iancollard
October 5, 2020

Cordillo Downs Road

 

We inquired at the Innamincka Trading Post. The Cordillo Downs road still had a few wet patches but there were drive arounds for all of them and the road was open. We topped up with fuel and headed off.

Cordillo Downs Road

We stopped at this abandoned bore for lunch. The bore is still visible along with this tank and some old cattle troughs but the only operational trough is getting its water from somewhere else.

Having driven some of the road I can see why it takes awhile to dry out. The road has been graded so that it is now lower than the surrounding land.

Cordillo Downs Shearing Shed

Our destination the Cordillo Downs Shearing shed.

Cordillo Downs Shearing Shed

Cordillo Downs Shearing Shed

Cordillo Downs Shearing Shed

Cordillo Downs road back to Innamincka

The moon rising over the sand dune at our campsite on the way back.

Lots of budgies nesting here too.

Also lots of mossies, so difficult to sit outside and enjoy the full moon.

Post 238 Moomba

iancollard
October 5, 2020

Moomba

 

Moomba is really in the middle of nowhere. Just before I took this photo the plane took off. All the workforce is fly in fly out. I really had no idea how large in area the oil and gas field out here was. There are oil wells all the way from inside Queensland near Noccundra to here and and beyond.

Moomba

The Strzelecki Track is no longer a track, it is a gravel highway able to cope with heaving road trains carrying fuel and heavy mobile plant. There are a lot of small scale oil and gas projects going on with small camps scattered throughout the "desert".

Post 239 Merty Merty

iancollard
October 5, 2020

Merty Merty

 

The campground is right next to this large sand dune.

Merty Merty Campsite

There is a lot of green and flowers about.

Merty Merty Campsite

I got a bit arty on top of the dune in the morning.

Merty Merty Campsite

There is a lot of small scale "mining" stuff going on out here. I don't know what this small camp is for but it not the only one. There are road trains carrying all sorts of mobile plant on the roads. Yes they are gravel roads no longer befitting names like the Strzelecki Track.