Simpson Desert - SOS

Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day! We started the day to a radio announcement from our tour guide that Tim had sent a love song dedication entitled "You've got to kiss the angel good morning" very funny - have not laughed so much in a long time! That was until we took a wrong turn and found our selves lost - no red sand dune flags anywhere. We had just left Poeppel Corner where we were inundated by biting ants when we found ourselves at the end of the 7 car chain. Thinking we were going back to the salt flat we came to, we weren't too worried until we could not see anyone. Tim radioed to check where we needed to go. No one answered sending me into a small panic. After a minute or two we heard from them and were met at the t intersection where we were able to see straight to the salt flat and could see the orange sand dune flags finally. What a good feeling that gave me! I had a real sigh of relief - just to know how huge the Simpson Desert is not a comforting thought to have when you think you are lost - imagine no radio contact, we didn't have telephone coverage and the sat phone was with another car. 

The morning drive to Poeppels Point was fun. A couple of times we had to change from 2/4 wheel drive to navigat our way up and down the dunes. The environment is phenomenal. The dunes are do red and covered with a variety of different plants. Generally there are treed areas where wattles and small mulga trees grow and then there are the contrasts. The low flat areas where there is just grass, dune crests, Spinefex hummocks and Sandhills cane grass. As I said earlier at Poeppels Corner we were unindatd by huge biting ants - it pretty much defeatd the purpose of posing for photos but we managed to get a few. The Poepels Point was interesting we all signed the visitors book and took all the relevant memorable photos. It is hard to understand how survey markers can stand there for so long unseen for long periods of time in the past. It was named after surveyor Augustus Poeppel marked this as the location of the tri state boarder beaten NT, QLD and SA with a coolabah tree post that was carried from Eyre creek. His surveying chain had stretched which resulted in a 100m error which is still amazing considering this was before modern technology existed. Tqhen the car convey met to decide what track to take next on the way to the Hay River track. 

Last night was the first official night with no amenities. I succeeded in having a shower in our ensuite tent and loved the luxury of cool fresh water. Dinner was lovely, I set a table complete with tablecloth and matching coloured napkins where we enjoyed reheated spaghetti bolognase in style. Tim surprised me with a lovely bottle of Mumm champagne and I can say that I am now officially a survivor of the Simpson Desert.

Today we make our way onto the Hay River track a place of calcium beds to begin with, mud flats and flatter red earth covered with low shrubs and greyish plants intersected with spinefex grasses. It is currently 36° and we are expecting 40° each day until we get to Alice.

Interesting facts of the day

1. One lizard sighting

2. One antenna broken

3. One SOS call out 

4. Roughly 260km from Birdsville

5. 120km roughly today and it's only lunchtime

6. One snake slithering beside the car

7. One moth inside the car

8. 55million flies

Reminders for others who do this trip

1. You will find it easier to make lunch at breakfast time like we did as this saved the dreaded fly invasion

2. Pack snacks in the car so you don't get hungry

3. Keep checking your tyres

4. Make sure your camera is ready and not full like mine