The trip official started at 11.00 in Ceduna
Some members headed off on Thursday, a few on Friday with most on Saturday there was one member left on Monday (2.00am) and arrived by 6 ish.
On Monday night we all meet up (expect one member who arrived Tuesday morning)
for dinner at the Ceduna Foreshore Hotel this was a great start to the trip I believe most trippers where in bed by 10.30 that night.
Day 1 started outside the Ceduna Foreshore Hotel at 11.00am we chatted and headed off to Jenny Denton’s home ( Jenny’s late husband Goog who cut the track )
We arrived at 11.30 to tea, coffee, home made cakes and various other home made treats. It was a tight squeeze in her kitchen and dining room but all 20 of us fitted in ok
Jenny talked to us for an hour, telling us stories of Goog, Jenny and kids living on their farm called ‘lone oak’ and Googs need to find the lake he knew was out there and then building the track up to the transcontinental train-way. We all had our fill of Jenny’s home cooking and we hit her little shop of Googs Track memorabilia and books. With shopping bags full and a photo on the front veranda with Jenny.
We all jumped in our vehicles and set off to Googs Lake for our first night on the track.
Due to me not realising how long it would take, I forgot to have a lunch break and we arrived at 1530. The campsite was very clean and there was more than enough camp spaces for everyone. While everyone was setting up Dale and Alex lit the fire and there were plenty of stories told around it.
Wednesday 14/6/23
After a quick briefing we headed off to the Mt Fink camp about 80 km over 300+ sand dunes. The track is quite narrow so most vehicles had a few more pinstripes by the time we got to the campground. Also to everyone’s surprise was the amount of corrugation between the dunes. The track is a sand flag destroyer with low trees over hanging the track. I don’t recall any flag not torn or ripped off the poles.
The Mt Fink camp had plenty of room and everyone set up, while Dale lit the fire again (Dale builds a good fire). I went for a drive around the Mt Fink camp areas and drove up a slight hill which had phone reception, I also followed a track which lead to the start of the foot track up Mt. Fink. I was gone for about 15-20 minutes and next thing over the radio G-off is calling me, as he thought that I was lost. I had my maps, and I knew where I was. I spotted G-off and followed him so he could be the vehicle at the front for a short period. It was another clear night with a beautiful night sky. For a true Aussie dessert we gathered the ingredients and made a sultana beer damper for everyone it must have been okay as people came back for seconds, and it was all gone.
Thursday 15/6/23
We moved off about 0930 to the end of the Googs track which ends at the transcontinental railway line, we put our ears to the rail but we didn’t hear any trains so we all crossed safely. We headed to Tarcoola an old mining town for lunch and looked around the abandon buildings. After about an hour and a half, we moved on and headed to the Kingoonya free camp, which is only a short walk from the pub, It’s a large flat area with toilet’s, fire drums, it is bound by the road at one side and railway line on the other
We all had a counter meal at the hotel and stayed on for the big fire out front of the pub. It was a cold night but with freight trains and the locals driving around with Slim Dusty music blaring, not everyone had a great night’s sleep.
Friday 16/6/23
The morning breeze was like ice as if it had snowed on the other side of the tracks
At about 8.30am, the Indian Pacific heading to Perth, rolled through with its bright, shiny, silver carriages. One of my bucket list items was to see trains travelling on the transcontinental railway. One thing crossed off the bucket list.
Today 5 vehicles headed off for home to be ready for work on Monday. Once we said our goodbyes the remaining 7 vehicles headed off to Mt Ive Station via the Gawler Ranges Rd, Skull Camp Rd and Mt Ive Rd about a 232 km on petty good gravel. The turn off to Mt Ive Rd is where the Submarine is surfacing you and drive on to the Mt Ive Station driveway. our next camp. We arrived about 1600 set up and headed over to the small store for drinks after a short while, we headed back to the fire, which Dale lit the fire again told tall stories about our events of the day, and headed into bed as it got colder and colder.
Saturday 17/6/23
This morning we drove out to Lake Gairdner looking at the old stockyards and a stop at car park for the walk to the Organ pipes rock formation..
At this stage most of us decided we would not form a bushwalking club.
The next stop was a retaining wall built in 1892 which dammed a natural gully.
We arrived at the lake about 1200 and we looked around and gathered some salt for home from the lake.
After lunch we headed back to the station this was the end of the trip we said our final goodbyes and we headed for home going various ways.
Thanks to everyone for a great Trip
Cheers
Allan
Steve + Jayne, Toyota
Brendan + Julie, Amarok
Mike and Andrew, Toyota
Dale, Toyota
Lee + Merrill, Isuzu
Geoff + Leanne, Isuzu
Monique, Isuzu
Dean + Shaun, Ranger
Alex, Patrol
Jim, Triton
Peter, Triton
Allan, Triton
