Day Four ... The Dig Tree? Why go to some of the remotest parts of this country at considerable effort and expense to see a lake and tree? Well the lake was covered in the write-up of Day 3 and I think the photos explain why it was worth it. But it's not just about the photos; it's the memories that mean the most. Flying back and forth over Lake Eyre was simply outstanding. Appreciating the size, beauty and phenomenon that nature was responsible for cannot ever be appreciated with just photos and words. If you're hearing what I'm saying, then you'll be hearing me say "Go there. Fly there. Experience it." A final tip before I move on... don't fly point A to B and then land. Fly back and forth over the whole lake from one end to the other. It's the only way you'll see and experience the changing spectacle. .jpg) And why go see a tree? Well it's about famous Australian history. A fellow pilot (Jack) on this website wrote: On the 20th of August 1860 a huge bunch of men with 21 tons of supplies and 26 camels left Melbourne. In command was one Robert O'Hara Bourke and his mission was to be the first man to cross Australia south to north and return. At stake was a 10,000 pound prize with certain fame and fortune to follow. 65 odd days later a breakaway forward group of men arrived at the banks of Cooper Creek where the now famous camp 65 was located. At this point the group split further and Robert Bourke, William Wills, John King and Charlie Grey made a dash for the gulf leaving some others behind in camp 65 to "hold fort" and await their return. The instructions were to wait at least three months. Four gruelling months later Bourke, Wills and King arrived back at camp 65 to find it abandoned just ... hours earlier. Charlie Grey had died on the trek. The just departed party had inscribed "DIG" on a Coolabah Tree where some supplies had been cached. Australian history knows this place as "The Dig Tree". Bourke and Wills perished near here and the sole survivor and first known man to successfully cross Australia south to north and return survived by befriending local aborigines. John King was eventually found by a rescue party and it is he who lived to tell the sad and sorry tale of adventure, hardship, death and survival. So we had to plan to go there seeing it's on the way. Knowing there had been immense amounts of rain falling over the past weeks, breaking records in some outback areas, and having seen over the past few days the effects over of the deluge, I checked the Dig Tree strip condition with Innamincka Hotel - located a few miles away from the Dig Tree. The report was the Dig Tree strip was too wet and therefore unserviceable, however Innamincka Township was accessible. So I arranged an arrival time and was offered a free pickup from the strip to the Hotel. Before departing Birdsvile another refuel at $2.60 per litre saw over $600 go into the tanks. Gus was a great but I felt like a fifth wheel, as it's been years since anyone's refuelled my aircraft for me! Meanwhile my passengers enjoyed a walk around town (below). The Birdsville Caravan Park is located right on a billabong, and one night plus and an hour or two didn't do Birdsville justice. They said they could easily spend a day there. I'd also like to go back and see Big Red, a huge 30m sand dune that marks the eastern side of the Simpson Desert - a short flight west of Birdsville. .jpg) Another note of caution: if you're happy to spend $10 on the most basic white bread toast with one egg and some simple ham, then go to the Birdsville Bakery. If you want value for money, of prefer more for less, then consider breakfast elsewhere. That aside, and the weather and flight plan sorted, we headed off to Innamincka. Flying south out of Birdsville the Diamantina River continued to provide great scenery - rivers and roads flooded, many roads cut too, homesteads and cattle yards isolated by water. The colour of the landscape changed with more reds and browns evident. When flying to Innamincka area be sure which airfield you're going to. There's "Innamincka" to the north and then there's "Innamincka Township". The main strip is "Innamincka Township" (below). There we were greeted by Leon in the 4x4, and was also offered fuel just in case, even though I hadn't booked in. I thought that was very considerate - looking out for pilots just in case. Flight time 1.7 hours. .jpg) Even though we were disappointed not to see the Dig Tree, we were pleasantly surprised by the hospitality and great lunch available from the Innamincka Hotel. The OBE Burger and Caesar Salad options were great for a really good price. I highly recommend lunch there and would make it a stopover if ever in the region again. Considering last light and a couple more hours flying to go, unfortunately we had to continue on to our destination - Comeroo Camel Station. We passed many of the oil and gas fields in the area - I never knew there were so many dotted around the place. While the scenery wasn't dazzling us like the day before over Lake Eyre, what put me in awe me many times over was simply how big this country is. When the land passing beneath you looks the same for hours, and you look as far as you can either side of your track and it still looks the same, and there's only one or to homesteads or airstrips that you can find, you then begin to imagine what Bourke and Wills had to endure on foot in a previously undiscovered country. This area is just so harsh and remote. Like Lake Eyre, you have to fly it to understand it. Preferably low-level. .jpg) .jpg) Arriving at Comeroo 2.4 hours later there was more significant flooding in the region and the homestead had been cut-off just 3 months earlier. There's great stories to tell about Comeroo, but if you just want to read about the flying and skip the tractor museum, 44 degree artesian hot tub, camels, canoeing, great company, great hospitality and food that's makes Comeroo Camel Station a must-visit fly-in destination, then skip to Day 6. Day 5 will be about Comeroo and will include my experience of Bruce's aerial goat mustering. See you then. The highlights: - Innamincka Township and Innamincka Hotel - great airstrip, great food at a good price, nice people and good service. See http://theoutback.com.au/
- The scenery - ever-changing landscape that astounds me by its remoteness and the immense country that we live in.
Fuel per litre: Airfields: - Birdsville - see ERSA.
- Innamincka Township - see ERSA
- Comeroo Camel Station - 1000m hard clay. See Pilots Touring Guide or www.comeroo.com
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