Clear skies at Two Mile (Bean)

I agree with Al that setting off straight from work on a camping trip has an odd 'flow'. That being said I had forgotten how scenic the drive to Finke Two Mile is. I suppose that's why it's signposted as a 'scenic route'.

Setting up camp was quite quick. Sandy ground so ground sheet pegs wanted to pop out a bit. Lots of flies that I'm pretty sure set a challenge of 'how many of us can sit on a human face'. Turns out quite a few.  (Having said that here is a happy camper with no flies on her ...hmm).


Al set up her painting stuff in the riverbed. I gather she was testing paint drying and stuff. (Yes, I was listening to what she had said. I just can't quite remember the technical details).


Flies seemed to appreciate the artistic approach.



I took TC out to get some shots. Realised I had left his memory card at home so had to use one from a camera.

Looking towards Glen Helen:


Looking back along the official scenic road we had come down:


Further down the track where some water still remained:


It was around this point that TC threw some crazy beeps my way. Turns out that direct sunlight shine into his camera makes him think it's an object - so he complains. At least I know that now.

Here's home for the night. You can see Al on the edge of the riverbed.


Landed TC due to an eagle taking too close an interest in him.

Evening arrived and the flies hid. (I wonder where they actually hide). Bats came out to do bat like stuff. Then, using only our bare hands and some rocks and some wood we had brought with us and a lighter, we created fire.


And then the stars came out. ( yes I know they were already out but you know what I mean).
And then the stars appeared:


Al was very patient as I tried to remember camera settings etc. The moon was also rather bright which made things a tad more confusing.


Slept quite well. In the morning Al went for a run. I thought about going for one too. And with that amusing thought in my head I checked the river bed for animal tracks as the sun came up. I spotted what looked like moose tracks but Al says we don't get them out here. Ah well.

The drive back was not surprisingly scenic.

Friday camping (Al)

It was a bit of an ask to leave work, pack up Oscar and then head off 90 mins up the road towards Glen Helen for a Friday night camp  . . . and yes, the initial bit was somewhat strugglesome (?)  but then . . . well , really . . . what a way  to end the working week.



So we arrived at Finke Two Mile, prepared for a gentle track . . . people with big caravans come here . . .



But it calmed down a bit, even though there was some 'in the river bed' stuff, which is always a bit freaky.



So, camp set up,  bit of riverbed wandering and painting not far from 'home' (worked out that acrylics, even with drying retarder are not my thing, so back to working out how to travel with oils and oils painted panels which will not dry overnight) . . .



Trail run of the stainless steel cook pot (much lighter and more capacity than the iron-enamel pot from home):  fab soup!



The next day . . . morning run as the sun came up.  Very pretty indeed, even if the run itself was a bit of a struggle (how comfortable was the thermarest and sleepingbag? That would be very very very very)





Homemade webbing straps got their trial run on the way home for the trax (post-bogging equipment) and later the emergency pop-up tent (that wouldn't really work in an emergency in its usual storage place of at the very bottom of everything in the back)



It seemed  shorter trip out and back to here compared to Rainbow Valley, even though it actually took longer.  The scenery did it:  fab bendy, swoopy roads, ranges rising and falling, dappled light  . . . and all that.