b'Border Track by Elaine and Brent McCunnLake Albacutya was our first destina- soft sand and required some digging Before we set off, we took a shorttion for the day. The track went from a to get them on their way.We really detour to the historic salt mines thatfirm dirt track to deep sand within enjoyed the challenge of the deep could be found on the eastern shoreseconds and caught us a bit unawares. sandy tracks. of the lake. There was much toWhile some of the convoy was able to We made it to Underbool where capture the attention of the keenstop on firm ground to deflate tyres, Peter had arranged with the owner of photographers in the group, and ansome of us could not.Peter made it the local garage to open so we could informative notice board for those whoup the first dune while Paul and Brent refuel.We also reinflated our tyres. wanted to know the history of thestopped in the sand at the bottom to Lake Crosbie was our stop for the area.It was already starting to heatdeflate their tyres.Paul made it over, night, and it was busy.Most of us up and the arid landscape illustratedbut Brent had become bogged.With were able to squeeze into a section how hard life must have been for thesome digging he was up and over. together, Jeevan, Richard and Paul miners here entrusted with bringingEveryone else followed without secured the prime real estate with a the precious white mineral to the localincident.Other than a few stops for lake side position.Camp was set up population.photos, we all made it to the end of and the photographers went out for a Soon we hit the Mallee Highway andthe Lake for morning tea under the walk on the lake and took lots of sped towards the border town oflarge shady trees.photos as the sun was setting.After Murrayville.For those who spotted it,We proceeded to Wyperfeld National dinner we sat around talking and a highlight was a huge wedge-tailedPark along good gravel roads and marvelling at the brilliance of the stars eagle sitting in a tree.At Murrayvillethen a long section of sealed road to and the occasional satellite. we stopped for morning tea and theWonga Campground for lunch.After Saturday April 3rd :The sunrise coffee starved in the group were ablelunch, the sand was deep and soft over Lake Crosbie on the second to imbibe their tipple!Soon after-and made for some interesting but fun morning revealed pink pastel skies as wards we left the bitumen and turneddriving.This gave us the opportunity everyone tried to meet the 9:00am left at an inconspicuous road just priorfor those with little or no sand driving deadline that had been set by the trip to the South Australian border.Theskills to have a go and learn from the leader, who today was determined to road followed the Victorian side formore experienced drivers in the be ready before anyone else!He was the first 16 kilometres and wentgroup.There were a few stoppages ready well in advance and waiting to through a series of gates betweenas some had to have a second go at do the daily brief. paddocks before going through onea dune or were caught in the deepRed Bluff Trackby Chris HaywardTRACKWATCHJUNE 2021 17'