Simpson Sojourn 2011: Day 9. Sunday October 9th. Just past Poeppel's to ?????

Sunday October 9^th – JUST PAST POEPPEL’S TO ????

Awoke really early about 4.45, decided to get up to update blog and appreciate our very excellent toilet architecture – saw the MOST amazing shooting star, maybe it was a comet or something it had a magnificent tail.

Also managed to beat Reve out of bed, so was able to watch the fire lighting queen at her best.

Reve getting the fire going, she is amazing.

Our second attempt at toilet tent erection...looks like
Milani has the fires burning and we have a queue.

time to top up, thanks Ro you make that 20kgs look easy.

Steve offered to help, but Dad can manage.

Always someone willing to stand around and watch a bloke work.

Steve provided Meg and I with his toilet tent report card...some very useful feedback and constructive criticism.

Chugged along reasonably well early in the day, with a bit of car swapping happening, Kerri went into the Pajero with Mike for a drive, and Cathy with Nicola to test out the Suzuki, Mike jumped in a little while later.

A tree on top of some harder sand, being eroded and dug into.

Cathy and I took the lead for a while and saw lots of critters, a rather large goanna, compared to others we had seen out here and finally one of the little‘skittery’ lizards stopped still long enough to get a few photos.

Here is the skittery lizard who stopped still long enough to shoot.

They were usually running across the track so fast, with their tail
held high, that they looked like a leaf or stick blowing across.

the colors were quite a surprise

He was checking us out too.

stunning colour and pattern

I could have watched him all day.

One of the kites that followed us everywhere...I think.

A grevillea

another plant, just showing some color

Saw a single camel some way off. Unable to grab a decent photo.

more grevillea

yellow flower

and again

pea of some sort I guess, great colour.

We drove out the Approdinna Attora Knolls, a rare and scientifically important limestone outcrops, it was pretty damn hot, so a walk to top was done and some great all around views purveyed. Then back to the turn off for lunch where there was a little shade and a stiff breeze.

What was even more amazing about the Knolls track area, was the bloke – David Lindsay – who found then, was exploring out here in January 1886. He was at the site of the knolls at Midday on January 11 – had to imagine just how hot it would have been.

a plate marking the presence of explorer David Lindsay on January first 1886
the first white man to cross the Simpson.

View from top of 'knolls'

and looking the other way.

a mistletoe at the base of the 'knolls'

lunch under the Foxwing

Lunch in the sparse shade of trees.

After lunch Mike jumped into the Suzuki and Cathy took back control of the Pajero from Kerri, unfortunately some issues developed with the vehicle, with a lot of‘missing’ and kangaroo hopping, Cathy managed to coax it over a few dunes, before the boys looked into it, vaporisation of fuel or a vacumn were the verdict, so some more fuel, release the build up in the tank and hope for the best. Mike back into the driver seat, as this was proving a little stressful for Cathy.

After not very much further, it was determined that things were far from OK, maybe a change of fuel filter...so a flat spot was found and the foxwing erected for some shade for those not stuck in and under the hot vehicle. The manual was required and the changeover was not a straightforward one, but as always Stef, Steve and the boys managed the repair. So packed up the foxwing and off we go...nup, there was fuel leaking from under the Pajero, luckily this was a quick fix.

Stef consults the manual, Steve having a look. Strange place for the
fuel filter.

Thank goodness for the foxwing, there was not a tree or shade
in sight... and it was HOT, I think our cars were saying around 40
degrees

Don't let that bag drop out Ro.

A comfy pillow for Stef, thanks to Kerri.

Mike's lily whites were turning pink, so Dad provided some shade.

Something to amuse the girls...and Milani - bubbles to be blown
and popped.

Not much space under there, keep your finger in it Mike.

Taking over the claypan.

Things didn’t really improve unfortunately, so we a found a camp site pretty soon after, for a well earned drink to cool off and think some more about the Pajero.

There was a fair bit of consensus that the issue was heat related, so the answer was to take the bonnet off and test it again whilst we still had some heat in the day. Off went Stef and Mike, while we all had the well earned drink...of course the foxwing had already been erected for shade etc.

Bonnet off

ready for a run

Off goes Stef and Mike

This bar of choccy was feeling the heat as well - oops

Here they come - the verdict?

The faces are giving nothing away.

Upon return from the test run, Stef gave us one of those ‘not so good’ shakes of the head, then proceeded to report good news and bad news...uh oh! The good news– the car went well – phew, the bad news a much better campsite just down the track...very funny Stef.