Strzlecki Track #2 Oops!

I have to admit that the wish to travel up one of these exotic tracks has a lot to do with bragging rites. One can just let it out of the side of the mouth with a casual air "went up the Birdsville last year" and "did the Strzlecki this year". To be able to add "got bogged" greatly increases the impact. To have been brave (or foolhardy) enough to travel in dangerous conditions clearly cuts one above the rest. Well, not quite, as we will see.

The second day of travelling started much as the first. Corrugations and dust.

Jan Bates kindly let me show some of her photos. I will mark her's with an *

That is Maggie up in front.

We were aiming for the second (and last) suitable spot for camping on the track. The Montecollina Bore is only about 60 Kms further on. When we arrived it was quite a surprise. Fine white sand making sand-dunes with coastal bushes and grass. You would swear that the sea was just on the other side of the dunes.

There was water alright. The bore formed a small but quite beautiful pond *.

We settled in quickly and had a cup of tea. That is Maggie in front and the Bates' Toyota Coaster behind*.

After tea Peter Bates decided to move to another spot about 20 metres away and we decided to turn Maggie around. Peter B, an old hand at sandy parking spots, accomplished his task without trouble,................but Peter R..........

OOPS!!!!! Down to the hubcaps in fine sand*.

Pete kindly brought his Coaster over and we attached our snatch strap*.

And he pulled us out.

What a mess!

Once we settled into a safer spot we decided to have a campfire. The lady in the middle of the picture is Paula, the chap behind her is Hans, her husband. There were driving and almost identical Mazda as Maggie. You can pick the difference because their's has a blue stripe on the roof. Peter Bates is sitting down and Mare is bringing her chair in*.

Paula cooked a damper in our camp oven *.

Which was a great success*.

Hans and Paula were born in Germany and settled in Australia in the early 80's. I promised to let you all know that they are selling their Mazda in case you want to buy one (grin). They are selling because it is time to get their boat ready to sail from Mooloolabar to Cairns for the winter. It is a 32ft Catalina with winged keel. Cor........some people.