point to a trig marker. Has spectacular 360 degree view but very rough. Round stones up to 14 inches in diameter make up the climb.
These have been pushed and rutted to make it a 4 Wheel Drive low range 1st gear climb. Back on Sandy Blight Junction it continued
through the rocky area below the ranges then back into sand hills. The track runs between the sand hills through groves and forests of
desert oaks. Made the Great Central Road and headed for Docker River. Made it at 3. Fueled up and headed for Warburton. Made it to
the turn for the Old Gunbarrel and went down it to camp. Was late so had left overs and read before bed.
June 26, Saturday Headed down the Great Central Road to Warburton. Made it about 2 and fueled up. Did wash and cleaned out the
plastic 5 gallon water containers with bi-carb of soda. They had a plastic taste to the water. Worked. No more plastic taste. Refilled
containers. At about 4 went to see if Gary was able to go on the Old Gunbarrel. Unfortunately he was not so made other plans. This
section requires a minimum of 2 vehicles. Got back to the camp grounds about 7:30. Watched the Australian and Britain rugby match at
Gary's. Went to bed and read.
June 27, Sunday Trying to decide if I should chance the Old Gunbarrel by myself. Logic won out (I didn't) and I continued on to Giles
Meteorological station. I got there just as they released their balloon. This is done around the world at the same time twice a day from
various weather stations to help map the planets weather patterns. Took pictures and fueled up. Started for Sandy Blight Junction taking
pictures as I went. Stopped at Bungabilly Rockhole. This is a deep pool 20 feet in diameter of permanent water at the base of the Walter
James Range. Was something out of the movies. It just appears after following the creek to the base of the range. There is suppose to be
a larger and deeper pool above the first one. I wasn't about to swim across the pool and climb to the next. Continued on to the junction
where the track leaves the maintained road to the Tjukuria Community. Followed the track into the sand hills and desert oaks looking for a
camp spot. As I came around the 4th or 5th sand hill I saw what I first though to be about 25 camels in the road. As i got closer I realized
there were probably over a hundred. They moved off the track and stopped and massed together. I passed and stopped past them. They
just stood there so I got out the cameras and took pictures and video. There were a lot of young among them and the herd or mob looked to
be young. Continued on for about 5 K and made camp just off the track. Started fire and warmed some beans and made sausage
sandwiches. Was dark so to bed to read and work on web pages.
June 28, Monday Started out about 8:30 through the sand hills and desert oaks. Stopped for lunch beneath a desert oak. Was wondering
if the tracks of Len Bedall's Land Rover might still be visible. Started looking but was hard to focus as I was driving and watching the track.
Took the short cuts over the sand hills instead of going around. Then there in front of me in a recently burnt area were old single vehicle
tracks coming from the end of the sand hill I was short cutting going towards the track. Could this be one of his Land Rover tracks? I will
never know but just the thought that they may be is enough. I continued north and reached the Gary Junction Road at 3. Started down it
towards Alice. Wished I was back on the track. Road has little washout trenches, pot holes, wet patches and rocky corrugations. Was not
pleasant to drive on. Found camp 100 feet off road behind some mulga bushes. Made PBJ sandwiches, had apple and a beer. Continued
working on web page. Computer is only getting about 2 hours from the battery. Read after web work.
June 29, Tuesday Continued down track sometime good but mostly rough road to the Papunya Community where the road entered. There
were no signs so I drove around looking for the road. Finally found it and continued to the Tanami Road. This was a single lane of asphalt.
I traveled it to the Stuart Highway 20 K from Alice Springs. Made Alice at around 3. Went to the info center after driving around a while and
booked into a motel. Worked on web page and just rested.
June 30, Wednesday Up this morning late. Worked on the web page. Went to Macdonald's for lunch and shopping at Kmart. Bought film.
Went to Todd Mall and found a Kodak film developing store that will develop and put the pictures (16 rolls) on CDs. I will take them the film
tomorrow. Came back to motel and thought about wiring the inverter in the back of the vehicle. This is going to be a bigger task then I
thought. Decided to go to the Todd Hotel Pub for dinner. Had a porterhouse steak with mushroom gravy and chips. Returned to motel and
worked on web page.
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