b'Dec 2022 Trackwatch.qxp_Trackwatch Layout 17/12/202210:21 pmPage 27number of other stalwarts to do soand probably not From our camp we continued along the Hay River Trackrepeat! stopping at Dingo Well and crossing the Tropic ofMay 21st, 2022. Trip notes by Glen & Di Capricornone of the most ornate tropic of CapricornFederal Election Day. The day started a little later than signs any of us had seen.usual (9:30am) due to the clean up after the delicious Near this location was supposed to be a monumentgroup camp oven cook up the night before at Madigan (aluminium sign nailed to a tree) for Andrew Harper whoCamp 15. Today we commenced the run up the Hay River crossed Australia along the Tropic of Capricorn. As thistrack proper and what a huge change in the driving was on the other side of the river we decided it could stayconditions that was.there.In direct contrast to previous days travel along the This last section of the track was still scenic but becomingMadigan Lines multitude of dunes and swales, the track quite corrugated in spots. At one stage we passed a groupwas at most times along one of the many the riverbeds of three vehicles heading south. We stopped to let themproper with the occasional detour up one bank or another. pass but they also stopped -100m away until they hadThe track meandered along the riverbed mostly through grouped up. When they finally passed we realised whyshady trees, and it was evident that the river had been they had been so coy. The first and last vehicle wasrunning recently with stands of healthy trees and patches painted with the weird, chequered pattern used to disguiseof thick lush green vegetation. ,A bush banana vine was the outline of new models.Whilst it may be important foralso seen. The other major difference was the amount of the purists, they looked pretty much like any other Fordtraffic we encountered with a steady stream of vehicles Ranger to me.travelling in both directions. We hadnt seen another We continued on to Batten Hill where we had intended tovehicle since days before. There was a couple of camp for the night. With the passing of Lindsay Bookie, thecasualties today, one with a badly skun knee and one caretakers house appeared to be abandoned and thetesting positive for Covid.And so, the days drive went campground was a bare patch of earth with drop toiletswith the riverbed never too far away. After taking a detour and supposedly donkey heater showers. It was completelyfrom the track out to view Lake Caroline and its red and uninviting so we decided to continue on to either thepitch black pebbled bed, camp was made in a sandy Marshal River Rest Area or Jervois Station. The 75km roadsection of the Hay River not far from the Lake Caroline from Batten Hill to Jervois Station was atrociousveryaccess track. Another excellent camp was had with a light heavily corrugated with no way to escape it.wind seeing the wind break deployed for the first time for The Marshal River Rest Area had a drop toilet and lookedthe trip and so another great day ended. inviting, but we were all low on fuel and Jervois Station hadAs we travelled north along the Hay, we ended up playing proper toilets and hot showers, so we drove the extra 2kmtag with two other groups. A group of 6 on what appeared to Jervois, refuelled and set up camp for the night. Hotto be a tag along and a large 4WD truck/camper accompa- showers were enjoyed by all.nied by a 4WD towing a camper, one of which had fuel As it was Maureens birthday, we celebrated with a Stickyfilter problems. A third group was known to be en route, Ginger Pudding adorned with some glow sticks purchasedand with tight time constraints they were rushing to do the at the Pink Roadhouse and ice-cream. Maureen wasHay in one daya bit of a why bother. We heard them presented with a fluffy pink stubby cooler donated by thepass after we had set up camp for the night. new operators of the Pink Roadhouse.May 22nd, 2022. Trip notes by RobinWe continued on to Batten Hill where we had intended toOur camp at Lake Caroline was just off the main riverbed camp for the night. With the passing of Lindsay Bookie, theand a mixture of hard and soft sand with soft clay near the caretakers house appeared to be abandoned and theedges. After packing up and preparing to leave, Glen campground was a bare patch of earth with drop toiletsdrove a short distance from his campsite into the riverbed. and supposedly donkey heater showers. It was completelyUnfortunately, he had stopped in a spot of soft sand and uninviting so we decided to continue on to either theenjoyed it so much he decided to stay a bit longer. Most of Marshal River Rest Area or Jervois Station. The 75km roadthe rest of us drove straight from our camp and onto firmer from Batten Hill to Jervois Station was atrociousveryground.Dr Phil unsuccessfully attempted to snatch Glen heavily corrugated with no way to escape it.out of his resting place. He then deployed his roll-up The Marshal River Rest Area had a drop toilet and lookedtracks, which again proved to be useless in soft sand. After inviting, but we were all low on fuel and Jervois Station hadnearly joining Glen in the bog, he abandoned the snatch proper toilets and hot showers, so we drove the extra 2kmand drove on to firmer ground. In the end 4 Maxtraxs were to Jervois, refuelled and set up camp for the night. Hotdeployed allowing Glen to easily drive out of the sand. showers were enjoyed by all.TRACKWATCHDECEMBER 2022 25'