Menindee lakes

Leaving Bindara, we underestimate the time needed for 100kms to Menindee. The road is tough, big pools of water with detours needed, heavily gouged tracks, and treacherous collapsed holes visible only at the last minute. 

I run straight into a major chasm and the crack from the rear left wheel sounds like a broken spring, but all is well. We continue, this time Gen has to screech to a halt with the front of the van dropping into a deep rut across the road. 

Four hours later we reach Kinchega National Park, then hit the final corrugation for Menindee. En route we have seen lots of emus around Emu lake, including an unfortunate adult male knocked for six on the road. We also stop on a sandy stretch for a large blue tongue lizard which goes straight into threat posture, blue tongue extended, when we inspect him more closely.

Sunsets on the Menindee lakes are justly famous. We drive out for the late 8.41pm sunset beside the railway line lookout north of town. Fiery clouds and dead trees complete the sunset picture.

In the morning, we visit the grandly named town centre for a population of 98.

The main street looks quiet and still nowadays, but a few decades ago, a flying padre landed plumb in the middle of the road and promptly got a ticking off from the local policeman.

The old railway bridge used to be for both cars and trains, so altercations were inevitable, particularly when a train stopped at the station with a long line of wagons blocking the bridge until the train left.

In a quiet clearing away from the main road, lies the grave of Dost Mahomet, an Afghan cameleer who left Afghanistan in 1860, crossed Pakistan to take ship in Karachi, and arrived with his camels to accompany Burke and Wills on their famous explorations until the fatal last journey for the explorers which Dost Mahomet survived. He later lost an arm to an angry camel, worked in the local Chinese bakery, and his remains rest here where he used to come for his daily prayers. 

Last outing for the day was a corrugated drive to the main weir.

Our overnight at Copi Hollow, in the caravan park beside the lake, provided an amazing experience when violent squalls tore through the camp, blowing clouds of dust and leaves everywhere. Nature in full action.

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Menindee Lakes, Kinchega National Park