Change of Plan

Sunday - 21st April 2019

Early morning rising today and we witnessed the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen. Such a brilliant colour.

Sunrise

We had planned a trip out to Camerons Corner but after discussing the road condition with the locals we decided not go. Instead our foray today would lead us to Mount Wood. What a great decision.

Mount Wood is located in the Sturt NP with the entrance about 27km east of Tibooburra. Another stage of our 'Mystery Adventure'!.

First stop was the Pastoral Outdoor Museum. One place not to miss if travelling in this area and are interested in history. Fascinating history of the local sheep station and the techniques and equipment used for scouring the wool in the early days of settlement at Mount Cook.

Walking Beam

Whim

 Of course a sheep station must have a Shearing Shed and Shearer's Quarters. So that was our next port of call. Fabulous photo opportunities here. Although camping is allowed in the Quarters, it was obvious from the amount of dust covering everything that they had not been occupied for awhile.

Shearing Shed

Inside Shearing Shed

Shearer's Quarters

Further along the track is the main homestead, now occupied by Parks & Wildlife staff in season. There is also a campground here.

The road through the Park is a 71km loop road to Tibooburra. It's a dirt road and is closed in wet weather. There are a few interesting historical spots along the way, including the original old Horton Park Homestead, unfortunately in poor condition. When the lease ran out in 1949 this became an Outstation of Mt Wood.

Horton Park Homestead

This is traditionally sheep country and there really is nothing here. It is rough, rocky and very, very dry - even the wildlife is struggling to survive.

Rough Country

  Evidence can be seen with the enormous number of kangaroo carcasses found in the stony paddocks and dry dams.

 It was an interesting drive and a good decision to make! As we drove back into town we could see the rain clouds building in the west (towards Camerons Corner!) and around 1pm the rain started.

Back at camp we watched the dry creek bed beside us become a flowing stream.

Once dry creekbed

 Strong gusts of wind shook our 'Ada' and within 10 mins the campground changed from a dry dust bowl to a muddy mire! Thunderstorms continued most of the afternoon.

Campground

We had planned a drive to Sunset Lookout but after the rain decided there would be too much cloud and no sunset. Wrong!! Mother Nature really shone through with the most amazing sunset we have ever seen - matching the morning sunrise!!

Tibooburra Sunset