12 May 2014
The morning was spent packing the food wagon, with the shopping purchased yesterday. Pete Dobré also travelled up yesterday and lent a hand in Port Augusta to load the shopping into the Paj.
Our guests arrived early and Pete came to the rescue once again taking them on an impromptu tour complete with some photographic tips. This gave Paul and I enough time to get the wagon out to the hut and allowed me to unpack and start dinner.
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| Fire lit, camels feeding, time for the humans to eat |
The salads and patties were made by the time Elizabeth and Steve (from Honolulu) arrived with the Dobré taxi. Karen, Paul and the kids along with Cheryl and Peter from the homestead completed the guest list, or so I thought....
Our final guest Tessa travelling from Canberra was driving up the highway and Karen and I organised to drive to Quorn to meet her and guide her to camp. This was achieved safely after I had a kip for 5 minutes in Quorn about 9pm before the homeward journey. We encountered the same group of 5 BIG kangaroos on the road and managed to avoid many others.
13 May 2014
My signature breakfast dish started the day, and yes you guested it Tessa is vegetarian so I needed to adapt the meals again!
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| Remains of Sheppards Hut |
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| Along the creek |
Trevor the lead camel is a girl (or cow as the girls are called), I haven't got to the bottom of her name yet though, she is a steady good lead camel, next there is Snowy (white of course) and Mumpy (the tea lady) who carries the food for the day, but doesn't carry riders. Mumpy is blind in one eye. Millie who used to be in third position is having a spell, after her skittishness on the first trek when I rode her, no I wasn't the cause! Next is Gundhi who I discovered today likes to take the steepest path down a hill, with some jolting about, who needs a chiropractor? Seriously it wasnt that bad. Lastly is Zaki who doesnt carry anything except a load of cuteness, being still a baby at 11 months.
I didn't manage to get any photography tips today, as the day was mainly devoted to giving the guests a feel for riding and the view atop the camels. It is quite amazing how the landscape opens up when you are 7 feet taller.
Elizabeth and Steve have elected to sleep out under the stars tonight after a night in the hut last night. They along with the first group who had not slept out does bring back to me how easily we take things for granted once we have done them a few times. I just love sleeping under the stars, haven't seen them for a few nights though as the moon is full.
14 May 2014
We moved camp after breakfast to a spot on a creek not to far from the families permanent camp. I was initially reluctant to drive through the sand, having visions of getting bogged again, later with no one about I managed a very competent drive through after checking the correct 4WD range to use.
The group took the "sky route" which I was not comfortable to drive up to deliver lunch, so Karen drove the paj while I walked.
The group had their first official photography workshop today and returned with chatter about the technicalities, I am already lost!
15 May 2014
The group set off and I made cold rolls for lunch, very tasty and economical! The only problem encountered was finding the group, who were trailblazing a new route. I was at the appointed lunch spot at 12.30, but the group was nowhere to be seen. They eventually arrived at 2.10 tired and hungry. Just as well Karen had taken a pack of biscuits.
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| Ron's Creek lunch spot |
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| Wide open spaces |
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| Dinner time at the new camp |
16 May 2014
I awoke earlier than usual, I thought I was home and had left the light on, but it was the full moon directly overhead, fully burning through my eyelids!
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| Morning |
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| Snowy |
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| Setting off for the final ride |
Today the group set off for a "half hour walk out and half hour back", somewhere I got muddled up and didn't get to say a proper farewell to Elizabeth and Steve. I also missed out on some action in the camel yards, Gundhi is in rut, yes I had to google. Apparently the male camel goes into season and this in turn gets the cows ready for mating, it was all action in the camel yard, Pete got some demure shots haha.
I have been investigating food delivery services and set off for a meeting in Hawker with Gordon the rep from PFD, Karen was also heading in, as Gordon was delayed I tried to radio Karen but was out of range. Long story short, I returned to the station, managed to reverse into an embankment and then the car wouldn't drive. 2hours later the RAA loaded the paj and drove away.
Tessa is staying on for a couple more days, the next trek starts Monday, it will be a drive to Port Augusta (Agutta!) for supplies on Sunday.
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