Sun, 27th Oct, 2024 Victoria Rock Nature Reserve, south of Coolgardie to Bush camp at Cat Camp on Holland 4WD Track, south-west of Coolgardie, WA (The Holland Track)

10 degree min at 5am but up to 20 by 7.30am with the camper closed up. Clear sky and cool breeze outside. No phone reception here even with the aerial.

Packed up and continued along the John Holland Way. This is the brochure I downloaded.

Out of the trees to open plain. Pretty flowers by the track.

Sandy ground, black boys and low shrubs. Long straight track but this is the new one not the original according to the map in the shelter.

Passing lots of dead trees then nice lush ones.

Reached an intersection. Original Holland Track (4WD) to the right and the John Holland Way (2wd gravel) straight on. Steve let some air out of the tyres, put the truck in high 4WD and put the UHF on 28. We are heading south-west towards Hyden.

The country isn’t too different from where we meander detecting. Arrived at the first bog hole. One grey kangaroo bounded off the track.

Shots of the countryside as we meander along. Would have been harder blazing a trail through here. Lots of shallow dry bog holes. This one is very deep so we went around it.

Stopped to let a goanna cross the track.

This one still has plenty of water and is probably what I saw on the internet with crazy people driving through it. Shall we do it - NAH! Plenty of bypass tracks so no need to stress out the wife!

Then we have to avoid the trees. Glad we weren’t under this one when it fell.

These areas we can just roll through as long as we can keep the camper level we are all good.

We are looking for Thursday Rock which should be near here. Found a track off to the right so took that. Nasty bog hole but we found a detour track.

Came to a better track (we turned too early) that took us up to a big open area with bollards, fence and picnic table! Two vehicles are here too.

Walked through the trees to the rock.

Up the rock to a cairn - Steve’s turn to place a rock. View around from the cairn.

We didn’t see anyone but as we were walking back down we heard their vehicles start up. They were gone when we got back. We drove back out the ‘good’ track which was actually worse than the one we drove in on. Heard the chaps chatting on the UHF - heading to Coolgardie.

Found the sign for Thursday Rock!

Continued on the original track now. The track gets very narrow in places giving the camper a lot more pin stripes. Slow roll through an eroded section though all the holes are dry. Would hate to do this when it was all wet. Shots of the landscape as we crawl along.

Stopped at open area near the walk to Diamond Rock (someone likes Neil Diamond music too). We are at the top of it.

Walked down the slope and around to the left. It covers a huge area. The wind is quite cool still.

Had lunch then continued on through open low foliage so we can see a long way. Just crawling along slowly as it is corrugated and narrow.

Onto a big rock flat where Agnes Gnamma Hole is (named after John Holland’s wife - 1^st woman to travel the track). It had one fat tadpole in it.

Continue on slowly coming down off a plateau.

Steve decided it was easier to go through this dry hole so we stay level. I got out to get some ‘action’ photos. Doesn’t look as bad in the photos.

Through an avenue of tall thin trees. Steve doing well missing the ones leaning over.

Back to the shrubs. Wouldn’t want to do this in school holidays or earlier when it is wet and boggy. Hope we don’t meet anyone as there isn’t much room to pull off. Maybe they should make it one way only. Through another red clay area with dug out tracks everywhere.

Slowly ticking off the kilometres. Reached a flat rock area near Krakouer Rock sign. Tracks going off in all directions and up the rock too.

Walked up the rock. Someone left a rock message.

Interesting plants, rock veins and eroded boulders.

Up to the top - nice view. The flies are still very friendly too.

Back down for a cuppa then over the rocks. Avoided the bog hole then back into the shrubs.

No other rocks for a long while now to look at.

Wide open area that appears to have been burnt though there is green shoots coming back. Corrugated track so still pottering along.

End of the burnt section and we found a big bog hole that some one went through recently as you can see where they dragged their diff. We took the bypass of course.

Through another rutted track section. A break then another long section of holes but Steve and the Truck have got it under control. I just hold my breath. It’s the leaning that undoes me and Steve tries to keep it as level as possible. Some of the bypasses are too tight for us to get around.

Next section was better. The wind is still blowing strongly.

Big pool which we detoured around then a couple of puddles we had to go through.

More eroded track though there was a good detour around it. Now I am thinking we should have taken the 2WD track of the John Holland Way! Too late to turn back now my darling husband says!

Someone has just put this detour in around this boggy area.

Spotted a sign, Cat Camp - named after a Black Cat seen here. Crossed the wet tracks and drove onto a flat rock area.

Set up for the night as it is 4pm. I was looking for Centenary Rock which is marked on the map around here but we must have missed it.

Kept the camper closed up as it is going to another cool night. I made pizza for dinner and ice cream after to reward Steve for his great driving.

The wind picked up when we went to bed. There isn’t any rain forecast for the next week - we definitely don’t want any here!