EXCEED OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 oct_dec_2017_emag | Page 17

TRIP REPORT

We were heading for Tibooburra via Cameron ’ s Corner . Road signs can be deceptive . Tibooburra was 254 and Cameron ’ s 249 , but from Cameron ’ s to Tib it would be another 106 . All roads were “ open , with caution ”.
The Woods stopped and Marie got out to take a photo and heard the hissing from the nearside rear tyre . How fortunate ! The tyre was quickly replaced but it was all nice and clean … somewhat the odd-man out !
Lunch was parked on the road , usual problem , finding some shade ! And you didn ’ t have to worry about traffic , there was none !
We passed through Orientos and Santos . Still quite a few gas fields out here and all part of the Moomba basin . Someone has been doing some rework on the roads as the GPS was simply not following the maps ! And pretty good roads they turned out to be !
We passed the turnoff to Omicon station and reached Cameron ’ s Corner around 2:30 . We crossed back and forth between SA , QLD and NSW at the marker pole .
A cool drink and ice cream at the store before opening the gate at the “ Dog Fence ” to enter NSW . The welcome sign explained that the next 22km was the “ Scenic Drive ” and Tibooburra was 106km .
Scenic Drive , what crap ! The worst corrugations ever experienced and an indictment to NSW Roads department . The road was windy and undulating and there was not a bit that wasn ’ t terribly corrugated . It took us over an hour to travel that 22km in which time I had to tighten the aerial 3 times , eventually locking it with tape , and tighten the light bar twice . Everything was just violently shaken to bits . No escape from the corrugations no matter where you drove on the road , and although I tried getting high on the bank all that achieved was to run off the road completely in the soft sand . No , an absolutely terrible piece of road which NSW should be ashamed of !
Some dark clouds again on the horizon . The lady at Cameron ’ s said they expected some rain ….
Along the way we were fortunate to see a number of wedge-tailed eagles feasting on roadkill and everyone was fortunate to get some good pics .
Those dark clouds were looking ominous , picturesque with rainbows forming in the sunlight . But that also meant rain was falling elsewhere .
We finally reached Tibooburra and navigated to the Aboriginal Land Council Camp Ground just out of town . We were the only ones there . Nice camp kitchen and hot showers . Beautiful peaceful location .
After setting up we were getting ready for fivesees and Simon had the roast leg of lamb cooking when there was quite a bit of thunder and lightning in the distance . Got closer and closer , darker and darker and before long the rain started to fall , the thunder louder and louder .
Picture this …. Graham & Marie had their tent set up and were in the ( steel ) showers . Simon & Liz in their van . Carol in the camper , all closed up . Ron was in the camp kitchen trying to get photos of the lightening . And then all hell broke loose . Rain drops the size of 50c pieces , thunder , lightning .. More lightning turning night into day ,. Loud thunder following . Wind blowing up into a gale and torrential rain .
The Woods tent had the fibreglass ribs broken and was flattened .
The poor person in the camp kitchen was blown against the back wall by 159km / hr winds and saturated from top to toe by horizontal rain . No escape without walking forward into it ! Camera saturated !
14 © Vol 35 No . 6 - Oct / Nov 2017