Day 14 - Adel's Grove to KFC
Today was an adventure to say the least. They say the destination is not
what it's all about, that it's the journey as well. Apart from every pun given
our caravan is a Journey, today's journey was mostly more than we bargained
for.
The day started pleasantly enough with percolated coffee before sunup,
followed by breakfast and pack up. Eventually we were on the move, with a stop
at the shop (and fuel bowser - for unleaded for our jerry can, at $2.01 per
litre!) and then the dump point. While I took care of business there (the dump
point being located at the airstrip - because why wouldn't it be?!), Greg got
to listen to a helicopter pilot who landed not 10 metres from him to refuel.
Turns out he was mustering.
By 10:45am we were on the road. The 10km out the Adel's Grove road was as
corrugated as it had been on the way in so we were hoping for roads less
travelled when we turned left after that, whereas 99% of traffic turns right to
head back to bitumen. The road started well enough, with plenty of gates for
Greg to open and then our first creek crossing. Signs on the gates kept showing
the way to KFC. Who would have thought you'd find a KFC thousands of kilometres
from the nearest city? Turns out the signs were showing us the way to
KingFisher Camp!. That all went well and soon we were even motoring along at
50km/hour - a great rate for this part of the world. In between gates, (dry) creek crossings and
some rocky bits, by 1pm we were facing our second creek crossing and were about
half way to Kingfisher Camp.
Having completed this creek crossing, we pulled over for lunch, which was
most enjoyable inside the van. Soon we were on the way again and by the 70km
mark, when we turned left towards Bowthorn Station, we were going OK. As soon
as we entered Bowthorn Station, the whole ball game changed. The road turned to
sh!t with rough bits, rocks, bulldust, sand, loose gravel and everything else
you could think of. By now, having had my first experience of putting the car
into Low 4 4WD, I was doing my best to cope with what was thrown at me, but it
kept coming. Thrown into the mix was even more gates to be opened and then lo
and behold, our third river crossing. This one threw me at first as there were
three stakes through the water marking the way, but they weren't necessarily
logical. So I donned my gumboots (to protect against the cros?!) and waded
through to suss it out and planned the best path.
Eventually, more than 5 hours after we left Adel's Grove (a mere 130km
away), we arrived at Kingfisher Camp. When the lady on "reception"
asked how I was, I told her I was better for being here. My answer to her
question of which way we came elicited a knowing "aarrgghh" and her
agreement that that road was a "challenge". Apparently the government
looks after the road until Bowthorn Station but after that it is private and
according to her, the Station is more worried about their cattle than the road.
She assures me the road out tomorrow (back to the Savannah Way, and then Hell's
Gate Roadhouse) is better than what we travelled.
This campground is very basic, but quite the oasis in the outback with lush
green sites on the river banks. After setting up camp I was doing a stocktake
of the dust on our vehicles (in places, centimetres thick!) and this photo
doesn't do it justice. I eventually got the hose out and cleaned it off the car
at least.
Our beer was well deserved tonight, and then we even had the novelty of a
few rain showers. Dinner was beef stroganoff in the camp oven, and it was
great. Now, we are looking forward to a shower to hose that dust off ourselves
as well.
posted by Tracey @ 9:10 pm
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