The Dingo did it

No native animal of the Australian bush has gained more notoriety than the Australian dingo. From the Lindy Chamberlan to Frazer Island, the dingo has gained a much maligned reputation.
We were camped in a bush camp on a cattle station camp situated on the Gibb River Road. The evening meal finished, Mary and I prepared to retire for the evening. Immediately before climbing the three step ladder to bed, Mary noticed a solitary boot sitting at the base of the ladder and reminded me to get the other and put them up out of reach of the dingos.
Too late, the missing boot had been carefully placed with it's mate but was now missing. I knew in an instant that a dingo had taken it even though we were eating dinner just a few meters away.
I took the lantern and following an animal track leading from the camp and there it was, my  Blundstone, lying by the track, discarded by the disinterested dingo. Later that evening I lay in the camp bed and enjoyed the mournful howling serenade of a lone dingo.

A few nights later in another roadside bush camp, after finishing tea, we were sitting in our camp chairs soaking up the wonder of the southern sky. Millions of stars were emerging from their daylight slumber to light up the moonless night sky. What a wonderful experience it is to just sit with friends in the silent stillness of the Australian bush and just wonder ..
Then it happened, just like it often does, a lone dingo howled in the distance. I recalled answering them some years back at Sams Creek with my own attempt. Why not give it a try here in remote north WA. A few moments and the dingo answered, I called again and once more the dingo called back. The calling continued for a few minutes, and then we were joined by another to the south. The three of us continued our serenade and were joined by more dingoes. The hairs on the back of our necks began to stand up as the howls came closer. The girls had had enough and retreated to the security of the vans leaving Stan and myself to await their arrival, and then as suddenly as they commenced the serenade, they stopped never to be heard again that evening. What a privileged experience it was, interacting with the cleverest and  and most cunningly shy native of our desert bushland.
Sent from my iPhone

We pulled in to the little town of Wyandra half distance between Charleville and Cunnumulla in SW Qld and discovered this old derelict building with an interesting sign that read...

I V Holland
Licensed Victualler

The word intrigued me and so here I was in outback Qld with iPhone in hand to take the picture and 3G coverage to Google the meaning of the word ' victualler'.
These little towns dotted along our highways and by-ways tell the story of yesterday's Australia, a little white white monument fenced in wrought iron sits in the main street with the names of the local lads who answered the call to serve King and country in the great war. Can't help feel a sadness for the families who did not get to welcome their boys home, but feel a sense of deep pride that this was the generation that above all gave our nation the proud heritage that we claim as Australians.
The town may have died like so many others, but there still remains reminders of times past.

Early morn

The same sunrise but this time looking east.

Sunrise

Sunrise or sunset are my favourite times for photography, I like the subtlety of light and the angles that give life to shadows.
This is looking to the west at sunrise on the Barkly.

Free Camping

Along most of our major highways, authorities provide basic facilities like toilets, level sites and in some cases shade for use by caravanners and campers.
Many travelers plan their trip around these sites and use books like Camps 6 that indicate their location. Both have become so popular that sites have become so popular that is very difficult to get in on most occasions.
And so, the challenge now is to new places, not listed where we can set up camp.
Little Panton River a couple of hundred south of Kunanurra was one. We liked the spot so much we camped a couple of days, the girls did some hand washing while the boys washed the rigs at the causeway on the old highway.
We all agreed that this site would soon be listed and it's secrets revealed to the wider world.

The Big Wet

The top end of WA experienced an extraordinary late wet season which resulted in major road damage.
The road is normally closed for summer wet and was opened not long before we attempted it.
This is an indication of the type of damage experienced.

Bush camp sunset

The camp site was off the Great Northern Highway, not far from the Ord River. The sunset and cloud formation demanded capture.