BarbaraTVan: Our Desert Adventure

BROUGHTONS WATER HOLE - LITTLE DESERT VICTORIA

It seems forever since we took Barbara out for a play. Easter in fact, and after GM spent a month away at work, we decided to head off to the desert for a 4 day session.

Little Desert is in Western Victoria just near the South Australian border in the Wimmera. We chose Broughtons Waterhole, as it was only accessible by 4WD, and didn't have all of the features that would make it a busy place for a long weekend.

We could have gone to Ackle Bend, which is on the Eastern border of the Little Desert, on the banks of the Wimmera River, with toilets and water sport facilities.

We headed off on a very warm and windy Friday afternoon.....a poets day for me!! We were really looking forward to just getting away and relaxing.

We made it to the other side of Ballarat at around 7 that night. The trip through Melbourne took about an hour more than planned due to road works and traffic congestion, but we weren't in a hurry, so it wasn't the least bit stressful.

We bypassed Ballarat and decided to find somewhere to pull up for the night, without having to pay! There aren't too many spots left where you can camp for the night without having to use a caravan park, but we were lucky. We found a little dirt track near Lake Burrumbeet, that took us right up to the Lake. By this time, it was blowing a gale, but was still quite warm. We set Barbara up in no time at all

and heated up our leftovers from the night before. It would have been a great place if not for the wind!!!

We woke the next morning to even stronger wind and rain blowing in sideways from the west. I don't think we've ever packed up camp so quickly :-) We didn't even have a cuppa!!!

We drove for about 1/2 an hour or so and pulled in at Beaufort, where we had the best coffee and breakfast :-) It's the little café on the right on the way out of town. They do sensational scrambled eggs!!

Back on the road, and turned off at Horsham. It was a pleasant, easy drive, and the rain had long since cleared, but it was still blowing a gale. We turned off at Natimuk and drove through Goroke, passed Mitre Lake and then onto the dirt and into Little Desert. As soon as we entered the National Park we sank straight into soft sand, so we stopped and let the air out of the tyres.

It took another 1/2 hour to travel 12km's and then we pulled into Broughton's Waterhole.

Well, they aren't joking, it's a puddle!!!!

I imagined it to be slightly larger, but it probably was in the middle of winter. We had a bit of a laugh, and found a spot near the waterhole to set up. We set up camp using Barbara as a wind break.

It was still so windy, and by the time we had set up, we had sand in places sand should never get in to!!!!!

We spent the rest of the day checking out our surrounds, sitting by the campfire and sipping on wine and beer while trying not to ingest too much sand. Camping can be pretty damn tough at times!!

GMs head full of sand, but it didn't stop him from relaxing :-)

The next morning was quite nice, with a much calmer breeze, so we decided to check the place out properly. We went for a drive to Sister Hills. There aren't too many hills around here, and it wasn't really what we'd call a hill where we come from, but we could see for miles in all directions when we reached the lookout. Surprise!!!! Desert as far as the eye could see :-)

We headed off again, and nearly ran over a stumpy-tailed lizard. We must have just touched it though, for there was a touch of blood on its mouth. It tried to play dead when I went up to it. I think it was hoping I'd mistake it for a stick, but it kept winking at me, and then stuck its big fat blue tongue out at me when I got too close.

We chased an emu down the road for about 1km, but couldn't get a pic as I was bouncing all over the place. We finally came to the MacDonald Highway.....hysterical.......a deep sandy road that runs directly through the central part of the desert.

I had a turn at driving. I'd never driven in sand before, and only ran off the road twice, and got bogged once. GM taught me how to get out of the bog, a piece of cake....I'm a pro!!!!!

Back to camp and the busy afternoon of sitting back, reading and drinking cold beers......we were definitely starting to unwind :-)

Monday saw us take a trip into Kaniva to stock up on essentials and empty the portaloo. Kaniva is on the Western Highway and is a pretty place. We bought our beer, bread and chocolate, then toodled back to camp.

I decided it would be a good idea to learn how to use the chainsaw.....you just never know!!! I might have to do this one day. Chainsaws have always terrified me, but GM, bless his little heart, sketched me instructions on how to cut wood, then showed me the rest. I cut two big branches, and am now a pro chainsawer :-)

There was plenty of firewood available, and we had cut enough to last a week!!!!

My first pile of firewood :-) Yellow gum!!!!

The weather was glorious by this time, and we were very relaxed. No pressures!!! No stress!!!! This is what it's all about :-)

We awoke on our last morning to a huge clap of thunder. We lay in bed watching the sheet lightning through the skylight above us. It was fantastic, and a wonderful way to wake up :-) When it had finished, we got up and had breakfast, packed up camp and went for a final wander around taking pics.

The MacDonald Highway

We saw a lot of big red kangaroos on the drive out, but didn't manage to get good pics. They were too fast!!!

We stopped for a cuppa while the tyres were inflating, then hit the road again. We stopped at Mitre Hill for a little climb,

Lunatics!!!

then stopped again and again and again so that I could take some pics. Luckily for me GM is patient :-) It took about 2 hours longer than planned to get home!!

The trip home was uneventful, which was nice. I love long drives and music. The weather was beautiful, but windy again.

The Wimmera River

The most amazing thing about this trip, I didn't get bitten by anything!!!! GM on the other hand had copped a few huge bites from some massive bullants. Luckily for him, we had stopped in Ararat on the way in so that I could buy some lavender oil and a stove lighter. The lavender oil worked a treat (thanks to nurse Suzy), and took the sting straight out of them, but the lumps left behind were enormous.

Maybe I'm beginning to lose my animal/insect/spider magnetism??? Fingers crossed ;-)

We are strong, people came and went.....we stayed.....could be because we drank too much champers.....thanks BTW Kathleen and Alan Beckwith :-) it was delish!!!! And thanks to Cadbury for the Marvellous Creations popping candy chocolate....I am a true addict!!!

The Little Desert National Park costs money to stay in, Broughtons Waterhole was $13 per night and Ackle Bend $39 per night. Broughtons Waterhole was a very quiet and restful place, with only the odd overnight campers sharing our spot. It's away from the hustle and bustle of the world, with lovely clean air and nature at it's finest. Just not the place for the keen fisherman or adventurer, but it certainly did for us what we wanted it to do.......relax :-)