Post 435 Madigan Track

Ian Collard
June 5, 2022

Madigan Track

Well this is a sign so it must be the start of the Madigan Track proper.

Left to Right

Ann Collard, Cedrick Dudgeon, Deb Mahoney, Jen dudgeon, Bruce Mahoney, Ian Collard, Leanne Laundess, Mark Laundess.

 

Madigan Camp Track

Budgies on the way to camp 5.

Madigan Track

I was fascinated to see that on this dry barren rock outcrop  some of the stones had green lichen growing on them.

Madigan Track

Lots of large spider webs and of course spiders along the track.

Madigan Track

I wonder how many explorer motorhomes have been on the Madigan Track?

Post 436 Madigan Track Camp 5

Ian Collard
June 6, 2022

Madigan Track Camp 5

I was pretty happy with this night shot.

We had a fire every night. There is no collecting of firewood along the Madigan but we had stocked up with wood on the way in.

The nightly fire was also used as the days rubbish disposal. The ashes were buried the next morning.

Here I am by myself after everyone else had gone to bed.

Madigan Camp 5

I decided I had better get some photos of the flora. I already have a dozen sunset photos.

This is a "Bush Tomato" I had seen it in flower but I don't recall seeing the fruit before.

Madigan Camp 5

This small tree/bush doesn't seem to have traditional leaves just these green stems.

Madigan Camp 5

This is the bird flower.

Madigan Camp 5

See the flower does look like a bird.

Madigan Camp 5

Camel Poo.

While not fresh Camel Poo is very dry and small compared to Cow Poo. They retain as much moisture as possible.

Madigan Camp 5

The full moon rising at the end of the day.

Post 437 Madigan Track Camp 8

Ian Collard
June 8, 2022

Madigan Track Camp 8

Heading towards Madigan's Camp 8.

The spinifex is really dominating now, even the swales between the dunes are covered almost exclusively by spinifex grass.

 

Madigan Camp 8

Camp 8 was amongst a grove of "Georgina Gidgee". I have done some  googling at home and yes Georgina Gidgee - Acacia Georginae appears to be different to plan old Gidgee - Acacia Cambagei.

Madigan Camp 8

Not the most welcome visitor to camp. Particularly as Cedric who spotted him was wearing thongs at the time.

No one was hurt in the encounter, not even the snake. Turns out it is called a Ringed Brown Snake. This is about as big as it gets and yes it is venomous.

 

Madigan Camp 8

The gibbers on this clay pan near camp are almost black.

Madigan Camp 8

The camels have been here before us. (Camel Footprints)

Madigan Camp 8

It must have rained here in the past!

Madigan Camp 8

Post 438 Madigan Track Camp 13

Ian Collard
June 8, 2022

Madigan Track Camp 10

"Clifford" amongst the spinifex. - a lunch break at Madigan's camp number 10.

Madigan Camp 10

There were these lizards living in the spinifex. Some form of dragon?

Madigan Track

Not sure why but some-one had been dropping matches all along the track. Usually just one patch of spinifex had been burnt but here the fire had managed to get away.

Madigan Camp 13

A nice photo of the spinifex grass in seed.

 

Madigan Camp 13

Yes Tony it is a nice sunset.

No I think I have enough sunrise sunset photos this trip.

Oh alright.

Madigan Camp 13

We have camped overnight at Madigan's Camp 13.

The well dressed gentlemen we met yesterday  - ("Stubby" shorts only no shirt and not even a pair of thongs barefoot) are camped near by . I don't think they are going to let us get too far away as they know we have a satellite phone Tony is intending call the Birdsville cop to find out road conditions before heading south to Eyre Creek and Birdsville.

Post 439 Madigan Track Between Camps 18 and 19

Ian Collard
June 9, 2022

Madigan Track Camel

So perhaps all those camel foot prints were not just previous travellers with a stamp after all.

This is the only camel we saw on the complete double crossing. He was also very wary and stayed as far away from us as possible.

Somewhere between camps 18 and 19.

ABS - Another Bloody Sunrise.

Madigan Track camped between Madigan's camps 18 and 19

I took a lot of shots of Clifford in the morning light. I think I will make Clifford the hero of this photo gallery.