6 members met at the servo in Karragullen on Friday morning. Andrew wanted to avoid using Great Eastern Highway so we travelled the back road and stopped in Narembeen for lunch. Michael T rode the metal horse. From there we visited the Vaultee Vengance plane wreck site from 1944. Amazingly one pilot survived and walked for 4 days without food or water to get out. From there we collected wood to camp in a roadside quarry.
On Saturday we met some members of the Southside 4WD Group in Marvel Loch who advised that they had not been able to access the Gus Luck Track from the north a few days earlier. James and Theresa joined us in Southern Cross and then we headed out on the Gus Luck track near Yellowdine. The Track was muddy and everyone enjoyed splashing through the puddles. Alan found some softer ground near one of the rocks and the Lego Brick pulled him out. After that Davy nicknamed him Boggy. We camped on the edge of Lake Evie. Sarah J and Michael T walked out about 50 metres and sank in mud. It stuck to their shoes making Sarah a little taller. There was a colourful sunset over the lake as a backdrop for the fire that night.
On Sunday Michael T put up a drone which pictured the camp and followed us through the bush and across the water crossing. The Lego Brick did a big splash through the river. The rocks alongside the water had eroded and looked like a town. We stopped along the track to find wells and climb on the rocks. James and Theresa got stuck in some deep mud and Davy winched them out with Michael S anchoring Davey’s vehicle. Sarah J had a flat and it was great how everyone stepped in to help change it. We camped beside the track. There was lots of satellites that night and the milky way was bright.
On Monday Andrew did a good job of putting a branch through the side wall of a front tyre and it was flat in 3 seconds. We climbed up Turtudine Rock and could see for miles then followed the track past outback graves and hidden wells. That night Thomas dug a big circle firepit and we decided that with limited spares that we would not do the last section of the track which is less travelled.
On our way out on Tuesday Boggy also had a flat. In Davyhurst we visited some more outback graves of young children before heading to lake Ballard – wow! Over 50 weird statues scattered across the lake which are based on scans of local people. Some of us climbed the hill including a few in their safety (not ) boots. Lunch was at Menzies and was our first phone coverage since southern cross. That night we camped at Niagra dam and Thomas and Julia walked around the dam whilst James found his tyre tool. Once again great team spirit was shown as Andrew, both Michaels, Sarah and James all worked together standing on the tyre and pulling on levers to get the tyre off and patch it. Sarah found a pink vacuum to clean the inside of the tyre. That night Thomas had a field mouse trying to get into his swag with him. In the morning Davey discovered he had some nighttime visitors too who had helped themselves to brazil nuts and babywipes.
On Wednesday after a brief look at the living ghost town of Kookynie, we headed to Leonora for supplies and cake and then on to Gwalia. We visited the Gwalia museum and saw the huge motors and winches which pulled the cages of ore, miners and even horses up and down the shaft. The mine is still active and is 1.8km deep. After exploring the miners tin hut cottages, we said goodbye to Sarah J and Aria as she left for Koorda. Then we headed out of town to camp between Leonora and Leinster near ruins.
We woke on Thursday to the threat of rain, so we quickly packed and made our way to Leinster for supplies. Next stop was Sandstone where we visited the old brewery site and London bridge. Sandstone had brightly painted water tanks by the Mural Nomad Patrycia Hannagan in August 2023. From here we headed to Mount Magnet and booked in for a welcome shower and dinner at the pub.
We were up early on Friday, being Anzac day, to attend the dawn service. It was a lovely service as day broke with many references to local miners lost in WWI. After enjoying the gunfire breakfast, we packed up camp and headed to Paynes find for morning tea. We then stopped at Fields Find Cemetery on our way to Thundelarra station to explore the old buildings and shearing shed. We then drove to Warriedar station to enjoy our final night under the stars. A roast lamb was cooked in the camp oven to celebrate Andrew’s birthday.
On Saturday day we packed early and headed home. Stopping for fuel in Dalwallinu we said farewell to James and Theresa. Next stop was Bindoon for lunch and final farewells.
Thank you to all for making it a memorable and enjoyable trip.
Thomas & Julia.