Day 28 - Dulhunty to Canal Creek

On this special day for Uncle Chris, we farewelled Dulhunty Creek today, it was a great few days but time to move onto another camp that people coming south had talked about, Canal Creek.  We returned to the development road via the Gunshot Bypass and made our way to where the Telegraph Track intersects about 100 kms south of Seisa.

The pickup went well but we for some reason still manage to leave around 9:00 or 9:30 no matter what time we start the packup.  Must have been the second cup of tea but the fire that was still lit from last night that slowed us down.

Just 5kms south of our camp site we came across a crossing that made us think twice.  About 100 mtres long , muddy We were following a landcrpuiser but got chatting to people that we met in Lakefield national park.  They were the ones with army land drovers that wanted to drive them across the Jardine river like the old days.  Well they didn't make it through the Jardine, got bogged in less than a metre of water and a tree was blocking the exit at the other end.  They also lost a car in Nolans Brook, the last creek of the track.  This was said very casually as if they just describing a trip to the shops.  

We heard that the count of cars lost in Nolans is up to 40.  These are the write-off numbers only, god knows what the tow away numbers are.  And yet people still go through them, just crazy and more money than sense!

Anyway back to the story,whilst we were chatting the cruiser in front of us went through and we didn't see how deep it was or which route he took.  Mmm, to walk or not to walk, is it crocodile red or not.  It looked to too long to be unsure.

 Dad checking it out.

 The south entry

 The south entry just before mum nearly slipped after saying how slippery it was to the kids.

 Another view

Of course it took some time to wait to see what the crossing was lie.  Another car finally arrived, a KIA Sorrento with a lovely couple originally from South Africa/Johannesburg now Perth based wanted to cross to go to their Elliot falls campsite.  Sharing some recovery gear, we prepared to help each other out, them going first and I wouldn't be able to snatching out if he got stuck as we still had the trailer.

dad and the gentlemen did a walk across after they assured us the creek was croc free.  Came to Dad's upper thigh at its deepest part so certainly doable but it would be both Charlie and Ernie's deepest swim yet.

He cruised across at a slow pace and then called us through.  We wanted to put a tarp across the front just to make sure we created abow wave to protect Ernie somewhat.  We cruised through as well, with a little more pace than them.  Ernie came through with flying colours.  Not even the dust of the back was washed away.

(Insert link to video of crossing)

We cruised into camp and there was just us and one other camper.  We picked the best spot to setup, right near the creek and with a view of the crossing. For entertainment during the day.

 Our camp at Canal Creek

 The view from the lounge room, tough I know.

After setup we headed to the creek, a deep in parts clear flowing creek that is narrows with rocks either side in parts, hence the name Canal.  We spent the best part of an hour exploring and mucking about.  Sorry no pictures, we were too busy enjoying ourselves.  I am sure that there will be other opportunities.

With fire wood required, the boys headed off in Charlie whilst Mum pulled together a lovely tuna Monday for the birthday meal.  It has been a somewhat low key affair for the birthday boy, it's a dry ken as well as we have run out of beer and wine ... Shock horror I know but we have promised to make it up to him when we get to Seisa.

The boys also caught up on journal writing before dinner.

After dinner Chris and the boys played a new counting games they've learnt, you have to get cards adding up to 21!!  Helps the maths no end, Andy being quite adept at picking up the game, winning several hands outright! We have a future card shark on our hands.

Other news included the official naming of the loo tent and loo.  Yes everything has a name.  We would like to introduce Giles (tent) and Desire (Portaloo).  Here is Andy in demonstration mode playing picaboo.

Dust and repair update :

The red dust is gathering, a swipe past the spare tyre or garbage bag on Ernie is sure to gather a smear, something to avoid.

Repair wise,the inner guard of Charile left front tyre has rattled loose with all the corrugations, a smack with the tyre yesterday was too much.  A temporary repair with tape was a dart but more temporary fixes were applied today in the form of a cable tyre.  Let's see how we go.