Tues, 30th May, 2023 Bush camp at Well 33, Canning Stock Route to Bush camp at quarry site, 20km west of Kiwirrkurra Community, WA

9.7 degrees when I got up so put on the heater to make breakfast more comfortable. Blue sky with a bit of thin cloud about.

Packed up and said safe travels to Manfred and Shane as they continued up the CSR.

Back down the road to the intersection where we turned onto the Jenkins Track heading east.

Got some info off Wikipedia. We haven’t been on these roads so I will have to colour it in on our map. We will travel across the top of the Gibson Desert towards Alice Springs.

Open spinifex country.

Fresh camel droppings and hoof prints on the road then a camel appeared crossing the track. Got a photo - not that we haven’t seen plenty of camels but its our first one in a while. He posed for a photo. He was all alone.

Up and down small sand ridges with view across the land that go on forever. The track is good except for a couple of gully washouts.

Another camel up against the sand ridge posed for a photo.

The land goes on forever.

The Jenkins Track ends and becomes the Gary Junction Road at the junction of the Gary Highway (named after Len’s only son) which comes up from the south (online maps and info from Wikipedia).

There was a pull over area so we stopped and made a cuppa. Looking back along the Jenkins Track then down the Gary Highway then our next adventure ahead on the Gary Junction Road.

A replica of Len Beadell’s plaque he made in 1963 (I read that people had stolen some of the plaques!) which is mounted on a 44 gallon drum with a box containing a visitors’ book which I wrote in.

Continued eastward on the Gary Junction Road. Traffic! 3 vehicles came towards us.

The view as we crest a rise.

After Punmu we have noticed parts of cement bags that have obviously fallen off a truck along the track - they are still falling off! Bet they were disappointed when they got to the job to find so many missing.

The road is good - easy driving for Steve. Wound our way around the end of a bunch of low sand ridges as we turned south for a bit. Back heading east again. Spotted 4 camels in the distance.

An old caravan didn’t make the distance. There have been a few abandoned vehicles left by the road - most have smashed windows and been burnt! We stopped and checked it out. Looks like it was a work van - even had a water dispensing machine!

Pretty flowers too.

The cement bags continue - a heap in a row. Another view from the top off the ridge and the straight road ahead. Hema says the ridges average height is 12 metres. Hard to imagine what it was like for Len and his team when they first pushed through the road, not formed like they are today. His books are an amazing read if you can get them.

Through some rocky hills in between the sand ridges then more of the endless views ahead.

Dust in the distance - a vehicle! He passed us as we entered a section that has recently been burnt. Through a forest of desert oaks as we near Jupiter Well and the road is white gravel which is a change from red.

Turned into Jupiter Well camp area where a group of Trakmaster vans and their owners are parked up for the night. We had a chat with a couple then had lunch. Much warmer today (max 28).

Went for a walk. Steve tried out the hand pump and got the water flowing.

Walked across the road, I love hearing the wind whisper through the oaks. Down the track to the original site of Jupiter Well, dug in 1961 by a Division of the National Mapping Survey Team. Another plaque said it was redug in October 1985 but it is all dry now.

Lots of pellets about from rabbits or is it Bilbys like they say on the sign.

Headed off again through the desert oaks and sand ridges. The next section has recently been burnt.

Further along we stopped to read the sign by the road about the original road that Len put through. I wonder how much of it we do actually travel on now they have put down gravel etc to make it better for the communities etc.

Turned down the two wheel track till we found another plaque. The tree’s bark is slowly growing back over it even though this is a replica (2004) of his original plaque of 5 Nov, 1960.

Hard to tell where the track had been.

Three kilometers on is a collection of huts, water tank etc that shows up on the Hema as Nyinmy but I couldn’t find out any info on it. There were drums of Avagas too with Balgoo Cultural Art on it that were full so maybe they bring them out for an artists retreat or something. All the rooms are empty but they are in good condition (except where the doors have been pulled off) with a shower/toilet area at the back of each one and a power plant area in the middle. The old tractor is a bit sad though.

Continued on and started Mr Bull Camel who was sitting on the road. He got up before I got my camera out and started walking back to his herd. He was in no rush though as we got closer he got a good wobble going as he started to trot.

Unfortunately they all like the road to run along too so we slowly drove behind them hoping they would get off to the side. They didn’t so Steve had to accelerate then to try and get past them. There was 11 of them. At last they moved to the side and we got past.

Continued on driving along the top of a sand ridge for a while then up and down them again. Pulled up on the side of the road for a cuppa as a band of mackerel clouds came over.

The long straight stretches continued. Out of the bush sprung a small kangaroo which took us by surprise as we haven’t seen one for a long time. More wattles as we zigzag across the sand ridges then alongside them again.

Hadn’t noticed any cement bags for a while then one appeared!

Long long hills start to appear in the distance. Two bustards flew off out of the bush as we passed them. Haven’t seen any of them for a long time either.

Our camp for the night is by a quarry at the base of this hill. As we turned off we spotted three camels so we might get visitors later or they have just been in for a drink.

Pulled in and parked up near the ‘waterhole’. Unfortunately the new actuator Steve put on the back right has failed so he had to disconnect it. I walked over to get a photo of our camp for the night.

The galahs are enjoying it and I noticed a stake and rope that the locals obviously use when they come here for a cool off as we are only 20km from the next community.

Got the roof up and set up our home. Got out the chairs to have our drinks outside as the sun set - no flies!! The setting sun lit up the rocks.

Walked down to the other end. Got a shot with the moon in it too.

The sun set at 4.45pm behind a hill. The galahs flew off and I managed to get a few in the photo.

The colour in the sky lingered for another half hour then by 5.30pm it was dark. No wood anywhere for a fire so we headed inside for a shower and a game of cards before dinner. Should have moved the clock forward as we are nearing NT as we have an hour and half change coming up.