Outback to The Rock

We set off, our outback tour began,
With the white line straight to Quilpie,
The East sun burned in the rear vision mirror,
Accepting for many hours that’s how it will be.

With Birdsville as the day’s end set in the Hemas,
We convoyed along the Cooper Creek catchment,
And arrived in time to sink a cold pub ale,
One rim down, to run over a rock was not meant.

A camel pie beckoned and the QAA line called,
With it’s hundreds of dunes like Big Red,
On with sand flags that The Simpson commands,
Deep breath, put down that foot full of lead.

The hearty FJ did help us get through,
As did Maxx Trax, a winch and some digging,
Poeppel’s Corner was a hot, fly-filled reward,
Then we drove till dusk had us free camping.

Right turn, the Hay River Track did unfold,
Twisty-turns and bumps made it fun,
Sunset with a camp fire and a birthday t-bone,
Sleeping in a desert is a feeling like none.

With a lost spare tyre swing door and bent tow hitch,
At Batton Hill, we camped and took stock,
After a game of Articulate, we couldn’t help but wonder,
If our vehicles would make it to The Rock.

Through Jervois and a community, the Plenty Highway we took,
Travelling South to a town like Alice,
With clouds and cool weather, was rain on the way?
It held out, this outback weather is callous.

Kings Canyon ahead and temperatures rising,
A sunburnt country can dish up some heat,
A canyon hike, cold swim and camel meat burger,
Were teamed with cooked Witchetty Grub meat.

Uluru, Uluru, we did find her next,
Her beauty did astound and amaze,
Photos at sunset, sunrise and from every angle,
And her girth we encircled by Segways.

The red rock was closed, so a drive was in order,
Kata Tjuta became the destination,
The Valley of the Winds was a marvellous walk,
But it certainly requires hydration.

With wind speed way down, the opportunity arose,
To tackle the chains and climb Ayers Rock,
We exerted ourselves to the limits we could,
And proudly marvelled, we’d made it atop!

We set off blazing down the Gunbarrel Highway,
To reach the centre of this wide brown nation,
The Lambert Centre achieved, celebrate with some beers,
Relax and soak up the experience of isolation.

Finke, a small community, made us see our white privilege,
But NT’s Birdsville, Mt Dare, was next on the platter,
After that, a warm swim at Dalhousie Springs,
Then we overnighted at Oodnadatta.

The Old Ghan Route took us to William Creek,
Where a fly-in captured our interest,
Hats, checked shirts and cow-cockie boots,
Could have inspired a collection on Pinterest.

Lake Eyre South was vast, but devoid of all water,
In flood it’d be impressive by far,
The board said inland taipans frequent the spot,
So I photo-ed it from the roof of the car!

A pop in to Coward Springs was next up,
Who’d have thunk a hot spa in the desert?
A look, no swim and onward to Marree,
Those outback pub people can be quite pleasant.

A good night was had, meeting locals and more,
‘The more’ sunk beers and beers and shouted,
Till three in the morning, with guns in their utes,
Men on guard, they were something to worry about.

Through Lyndhurst we went to the Strzelecki Track,
And right turned to Cameron Corner,
The NRL final, a steak and more beer,
Kept the menfolk happy sitting in the pub’s corner.

The Old Strez track took us in to Innamincka,
Then we ventured to Cordillo Downs for some way,
The abandoned woolshed was massive in size,
We could picture the life of a shearer in their day.

Burke and Wills’ grave sites informed us of their plight,
To conquer North to South was ambitious back then,
Their prejudice and attitude were to their demise,
Refusing to accept the help of the indigenous men.

After a tyre blowout, the Dig Tree was next,
The missed connection had the explorers left bereft,
The countryside dished up its harshest of conditions,
And now a historic story is all that is left.

Noccundra, a quick beer and sign the Bush Pubs book,
And a drive at dusk to Thargomindah,
With the girls on roo alert, scoping the landscape,
We got to the rudest pub you ever walked in ta!

Some maintenance sorted, we set off on the road,
Cunnamulla, St George, Nindigully Pub,
A magic little spot on the creek at sunset,
Free to camp, atmosphere and good grub.

We recounted our trip and adventures thus far,
And knew it couldn’t have been better,
Even though we glanced forward to the cleaning to come,
And the repairs we required to our campers.

We said our goodbyes to our best travel buddies,
And set off, homeward bound one way or another,
Reflecting each mile on experiences of three weeks,
Highlights? The comraderie and support of each other.