Day 13 04/08/11

Exit Alice via the Ross Hwy, Binn’s Track takes a right hand turn but we decide to proceed along the Ross hwy to Trephina Gorge……….. Glad we did! We take the short walk down to the gorge bottom, besides not enough time for the Big Hikes, but Billy’s legs just don’t carry him that far and he’s getting too big to carry these days!! But an idea for years to come! Back on the road again and we soon pick up with Binn’s Track again. In the afternoon Ron needed to top up with some Diesel, so we made a quick spot in a place called Atitjere, an Aboriginal Community. Toby got out to get us some ice creams from the shop, he entered to find about 20-30 locals pointing and laughing at his bald head!! Was the highlight of their day ………. We have since found out that the do find bald heads very amusing!! Continued on and found a bush camp for the night.

Day 14 05/08/11
Today we’ll complete Binns Track, and only about 10 minutes into the start of our day we find the track changing quite rapidly. Single track over about 3-5 sandy river crossings, then rocky hills…… true 4wd country. Binn’s Track has been fairly wide and well maintained up until now. Even Billy was concerned on the change of conditions…….. “Daddy be very careful, very dangerous up there & you have Trailer on ….. Be Careful” But the countryside views were so worth the change in conditions. Soon the road widened and we made a morning tea stop, not long after we were on the move we came across a broken down vehicle they had run out of petrol. Was a Father, Mother and Baby boy probably about 1 & 1/2 from the local community – they had been there over night and only had a tin of Baked Beans & Tomatoes to eat. As we are both Diesel vehicle the only help we were able to offer was food and water which we did and told them we would drive into the next community and let someone know they were there! But just before our departure other car (EB Falcon) from a community drove by, so we flagged them down. They piled in with them; off they drove with 6 Adults and 4 children inside. Ron was worried about the car’s muffler but Carol was more concerned about the suspension!! We continued on our Journey, soon spotting another broken down community driven car but no help required here so we pressed on……. Spotted fires in the distance! Before we knew it we were passing them, it was not intense and not jumping the road with the wind direction blowing back on themselves. We later found out at out lunch stop (a local station) that it was a burn off gone wrong!! Upset property owners as they have had to round up the cattle. The next Binn’s Track intersection was the entry into Davenport Ranges but the Track was closed so sadly we were unable to continue this way! That afternoon we landed on the Black top, aired the tyres back up and headed for the Devil’s Marbles. Many campers had already arrived and set up; actually the place looked like Caravan City – Jayco display centre! But was a good night relaxing around our camp fire and enjoying the Sunset over the Marbles.