A Sunday Morning Drive

Sunrise at Nairana

At 6am the sun was shining brightly through the bedroom window, the skies were clear, and the OGO decided it would be a good day for a Sunday drive. A bit worrying if you have read the blog entry detailing our Sunday drive in 2013!!! But, no ..... this was going to be a different adventure.

Breakfast Chef

The Kubota was loaded up - gas BBQ and bottle – picnic set – chairs – coffee bag – cameras – video – cooler with bacon, eggs, sausages and bread – and by 7.30am we were on a newly found track to Lake Eliza and Corduroy Crossing. 

Lillies at Lake Eliza

We expected there to be a few boggy/muddy sections along the way after trekking to Mistake Creek yesterday, and it was not long before we found them.  Undeterred the OGO bravely walked out a new route to bypass the bogs and we arrived at Lake Eliza at about 9.30am.

After coffee and a snack, we trekked on towards our goal with only slight trepidation. The closer we got to the CC turn-off the greater the feeling that we were not going to be able to get to the crossing today – or anytime in the next three weeks for that matter.

Avoiding the boggy patches

Walking the track

Flooded creek crossing

Navigating a few more ‘sticky’ areas we were finally brought to a halt in our journey by what looked like a small inland lake.  It would appear that the creek had broken its banks at CC and had flowed in over the tracks.  Despite doing a ‘foot recce’ there appeared no way to get around the water, so we accepted defeat and retired to the shade of the trees and set up our lunch cart with water all around us.

Squatter pigeon

The trek wasn’t a complete loss though as we actually saw some magnificent birdlife along the way, including striated pardalotes, red-back fairy wrens, brolgas, a Jabiru, a Nankeen Kestrel, a brown falcon, and three wedge-tail eagles.

Wedgetail eagle

No crossing here!

Brolga in Blacks Creek Paddock

Brolgas in flight

Striated pardalote

Of course, the adventure would not be complete without a little more drama on the return section of the journey.  Returning to the Homestead we trekked along our normal route, assuming, incorrectly of course, that there had been no rain in that area affecting the track.  Mmmmm! Think again. Two extremely ‘sticky’ bog holes blocked our way and there was no alternative area to go around them.  So, you guessed it – we went straight through them. The first one was not too bad but the second was deeper and wider and the Kubota almost ground to a halt as it splayed mud all over the driver and passenger. We did look a sight with mud splashes all over our faces, glasses, clothes – and unfortunately, our cameras.

But what a hoot – another little Sunday drive adventure!