Our Trip

Day Sixteen

Alas, the end of the Canning is in sight.

Day sixteen found the temperature at

2 degrees. We had had a good nights sleep 

though, and were ready to see how far we'd

go on this brand new day. 

(we managed from Well 6 to Well 2A)

Heading out we were all in good 

spirits and eager to see new sights.

We made it to Well 5 by 9am. This well

was very fancy with a picnic area

and a colourful fence around the well itself. 

After looking around and reading 

some history on this particular area,

we travelled on, over rocky terrain

and more sand. 

We actually came across our first

puddle, left over from recent rain. 

Exciting stuff that needed photographing

as we went by!

Down the track we came to Cunyu Station

boundary fence and gate,

and came across some signs along the way

directing us to stay on the CSR,

amongst other random signage.

There is no camping allowed between

certain parts of the track because of being

on station property, but that didn't bother us as we weren't ready 

to stop yet, being mid morning. So we kept on. 

Windich Springs was the next stop.

This is a long waterway filled with

gum trees. There wasn't a lot of water in it

while we were there, but it was still pretty. It was discovered

and named by John Forrest and his exploration 

party in 1874. 

Leaving the springs, and a bit further

down the track,

you had to drive down quite a steep embankment.

Dave got out and spotted for Emilee,

then we made our way down. 

We stopped at Well 4A for lunch

and took some time exploring.

I found an old horse bit. 

The logs covering the well had such

perfect little round holes in them,

not made by any Makita power drill. 

The track was always changing.

From wide open plains and corrugates,

to twisting tracks through trees that

left lovely bush pinstripes down the side

of your vehicle. Then you'd come to 

rocky sections of track and little

ledges and washouts. 

It was always interesting and always

challenging for the very capable drivers. 

At one point we passed 7 vehicles

going north. They were a self-drive 

guided tour group, 5 of which were Toyotas,

(which was the most popular vehicle on the Canning)

and the other 2 were an Isuzu and a Nissan.

Along the way, we bumped over

a LOT of rocks that seemed like it would 

never end. A very long section of

this days travel was over very rocky 

terrain, but thankfully, no flat tyres. 

We began to see, quite frequently,

rock formations and sayings from

past travellers, made from the white rocks

of the track. Nobody wanted to join me in 

making our own mark to leave on the track.

After photographing the first few, I realised

that they were just going to keep coming,

so I gave up and just read them as we went by. 

We turned off the track to follow

the road into Well 3A and 

had a look at the ruins there. 

We heard our old friends 

(the ones we were playing chase with)

on the radio, so they were just ahead of us somewhere. 

Coming to Well 3, we found 

our game players  there and setting up

to camp there for the night.

As much as we could, we tried to 

stop for the night where no one else was, so we were

happy to take the lead in the game once more.  

I loved these red trees. Some of it

is Mulga I think. I'm not so sure of my 

tree names, but I enjoyed them anyway. 

As we left the well, we came across

two fellas on Dirt bikes, taking on the Canning

from Well 1 to Geogia Bore (Well 23) and return.

They had with them 2 support vehicles and 

both of the motorcyclists were 60 years old!

Good on 'em! They called themselves
"Seenagers". Friendly fellas. 

I didn't envy them the bumpy ride

they were enduring over all those rocks. 

After the rocky section,

we once more came out on open plains

and some more corrugates, but it was 

a break from the rocks for the time being. 

And then, it was back to the rocks

and washouts all the way to our stop 

for the night at the Granites at Well 2A.

We were all VERY tired after a long

day of bumping along over the rocks. 

It was definitely our roughest day on the

track and the 3 drivers I think were worn out! 

We had managed 150km that day and 

the majority of it was rocks!

We were all very ready to set up camp,

get a fire going, boil the billy, get some 

food into us, and lie down flat, with 

no jolting, bumping or movement. 

The night was cool once more and 

as it was our fellow travellers daughters 3rd 

birthday, we had a cake (thanks to

a chocolate cake from Sara Lee, 

bought back at one of the communities

especially for the occasion).

Not having any candles, I offered our

long matches, which worked great, except

for the fright they gave the birthday girl

on igniting and flaring up very quickly. 

So, we all enjoyed birthday cake

with our warm cuppas,

then all that sugar must have invigorated

the weary campers, as a game of hide and seek

in the dark ensued, with a lot of sh sh shushing,

and squealing after being found and pounced upon. 

(yeah so, with the photos below, you get the idea anyway?)

Well, we were at the end of Day sixteen,

and sad to say, we only had one more day

left on the actual Canning Stock Route Track,

and then it was the long trip back home.

But don't worry, I have pictures of all that too! 

To be continued...………….