Bluedome

Sorry we've been out of touch for so long, but to say weíve had problems would be an understatement, however it looks like we're now back on track. Let me tell you whatís been happening, and where we are.

We started expedition plan B leaving Tibooburra on 26th May with pack camels Chewie and Munro jumping and bucking and breaking both girth straps on Tibooburra High Street, breaking half our supply of eggs all over the road. Apparently we're quite famous for that now.

Day 2 was our spare girth straps breaking for the same bucking reasons. So Steve and I are not too happy with the saddle maker. As for the rest of the trip we now have our saddles held together by rope, not to be recommended, but that's expeditions for you!

The rest of Leg 1 went successfully, completing the journey to Innaminka arriving on Sunday 13th June, only being held up one day by heavy thunderstorms turning all the small clay pans between the dunes into small boggy lakes.

We were expecting to leave Innamincka and head north for Birdsville: but those plans have been thwarted by further heavy rain in the north and by National Park Rangers, who are not allowing us to use that route because we have feral camels with us, despite the fact that feral camels roam freely in the area anyway !!!!. no, we didn't understand that either!

So due to the detour we have to take we are unable to make Glenormiston in our time left so we are now passing 150 kms south of Birdsville and heading across the Simpson Desert to Alice Springs. Although this is a longer route, it is easier going underfoot which will hopefully allow us to reach Alice in time. We have exactly 6 weeks in which to cover 1013 ks. Some of this journey will be quite difficult. We are forced to cross the Warburton Creek, which we are told is about 15 ft wide and 3ft to 4 ft deep, at Clifton Hills - camels absolutely hate water, so this should be an interesting exercise in persuasion, gentle or otherwise! We shall have our support team with us at this point and I shall be hoping the winch on it is in good working order! Once we leave the - hopefully successful - crossing of the Warburton creek we shall have no water for 750 ks, and we shall be totally reliant on the support team for the supply of water and rations for us and the camels.

Our e-mail facilities have collapsed due to various technical reasons and we won't be passing any civilisation between now and the end of the journey, so my parents will very kindly be passing on information to you all as and when they speak to me on the sat phone.