Sun, 28th May, 2023 Bush camp by Oakover River, east of Nullagine to Bush camp by Lake Dora, west of Pumnu Community, WA

10.5 degrees at 6.15am, heater on so it was a nice 20 degrees at 7.15 when we got up.

Packed up and headed across the river gravel - all good with the tight turn in the gravel. Reached the Woodie Woodie Road (goes south to the mine) which is bitumen back up to where we will turn off onto the Telfer-Punmu Road.

We are travelling on open land between two ranges - to the west, flat topped hills and to the right, rolling spinifex covered hills which are part of the Gregory Range (according to Hema).

Along here we saw our first camels in the wild in 2016 - was very thrilling. We have seen so many since then.

Looking across to Upper Carawine Gorge according to Hema. We followed a track in to try and find it but just found lots of wide gullies of river sand instead!

The Two Sisters came into view. Steve had a few comments about their shapes!!

Passed the turn off into Carawine Gorge - nice spot but we will skip it this time.

Turned on the gravel road to head to Punmu (248km), an aboriginal community where we can get diesel. We went there in 2018 when we had to do the big detour because the Canning Stock Route was flooded at Well 25 and we couldn’t get through.

We haven’t driven this section before so another black line I can mark on my map. Through the hills of Gregory Range then running parallel with long sand ridges (we are on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert.

Stopped for a cuppa at the site of where the No. 1 Rabbit Proof Fence would have run. We have been to the southern and northern points of the fence and a few spots in between now.

There was an old windmill and tank here and now big waterholes and water points for the road maintenance crews. The wind is cold and strong which we are driving into at the moment unfortunately.

Tried to get some photos of the sand ridges as we travelled beside them.

The road is quite good. Passed a couple of gravel pits with some machinery there and then a water truck. He called us up as he had just passed some cattle and with the dust behind him we won’t see them. Lucky he did as this guy walked out as we drove up.

Found the roller then grader further along. They said they work for Telfer Mine.

At the 64k Bore Site marked on Wikicamps we found two big waterholes and more pumps and generators etc for the road crews. Not much further we were onto bitumen. Open country now with two long hills ahead of us (Lamil Hills). 5km on we are back in between the sand ridges again. Not much traffic and luckily the two road trains came towards us when we were on the bitumen.

The road took us closer to one of the Lamil Hills and on the other side were piles of granite boulders that look like they have been just piled up there by the giants.

Found the next road crew working just before the turn off to Telfer Mine (gold). We continued on the track to Punmu. We had come up past the gold mine back in 2018 and turned onto this track then too.

No road crews on this road though, just signs and witches hats to mark the washed out sections on the road. Over a rise and we look across to the man made hills of Telfer Mine which seemed to be topped with white and lots of dust coming off them.

Wound our way through rocky and sand hills - lots of other tracks on Hema and a few marked here with mine signs so we just keep to the main track.

Through a rocky area with a sand ridge on one side. Great view from the top looking down on the sand ridge with the road beside it.

Lots of broken branches off the gums through here, probably from the cyclone. Wikicamps marked a spot to camp which was off the road so we pulled in for lunch. Great view but very windy.

It must be a landing spot for helicopters as there were a few Avgas 44 gallon drums clustered here too - maybe the pastoralist when they muster.

Back onto the track. No traffic since we left the mine area. Continued beside the long sand ridges then zig zag across the flats to get around the end of one ridge to go up the middle of two again. Reminds us of the CSR but this is a formed road not a two wheel track like that was.

Entered the Rudall River National Park (north section). As we approached Lake Dora we were greeted with a Punmu is Open sign which is good so we can get fuel there tomorrow. Sadly there was a camel carcass on the side of the road too. I know they are feral but its a bit sad so see them just rot there.

Turned onto a track down to the lake side and parked up for the night. Still very windy and lots of flies. Steve went for a wander with the camera for me while I put dinner on in the Ecopot.

He found some camel pad prints in the salt.

Four vehicles pulled in for a quick walk down to the edge of the lake then off they went again (two were ranger vehicles).

After a cuppa we heard some more vehicles and 3 more pulled in for a quick visit but no one stopped to chat.

I wrote up my blog and looked up our visit here in 2018 (12^th May). We came and took photos but as it was very windy and no wood to burn we drove back a bit to an old windmill (I did comment on it as we passed) and up onto a ridge nearby for the night. No inside shower or toilet on that trip so this trip is luxury!!

I went for a walk with the ‘flies’ to the lake and onto it for a photo of the lake and then looking back at the camper.

Played cards while we had our drinks inside - too many flies outside and too windy.

Thin cloud coming over as the sun set. Took a quick photo as the sun set before I let in too many flies.

Then another one through our dusty window.

The temperature dropped quickly so we put the heater on and had early showers then ate our yummy chicken casserole I had prepared earlier in the Ecopot.