Julian & Ali Travels


To Well 43, Katajikarra		July 2 2025

		is it our imagination or are the dunes a little bigger, and a little steeper. We let a bit of air out of tyres.

		Past an outcrop. A small cave. Which on investigation was once a bigger, longer, cave with a collapsed roof.

		A view from the top.

		We find mulla mulla growing on the side of the hill. But not on the plain.

		The red flowers are holly grevillea.

		Gravity Lake doesn't exist on some of our maps. And when it is shown it isn't named. But here it is.

		We decide not to take the hero track. But there must have been a time, in the not too distant past, when there was less water.

		We enjoy the pinkness.

		There's an awkward dune, and the track around an outcrop. Which of course I climb, and look back.

		We cross a plain, then follow another seismic line due south. Across twelve dunes, to well 44, Jimpirrinykarra. The dunes are definitely steeper, taller, and are softer for the last few meters.

		We let out some more air. We are beginning to recognise how soft the individual dunes are and whether we will reach the top. Sometimes we need a run up to provide momentum, which is a bit bouncy as the approaches are scalloped from previous vehicles.

		Well 44, Jimpirrinykarra. A bit of respite from the dunes as we head due west along a swale.

		Then a really serious seismic line that is not designed to take prisoners. There are 23 big dunes between us and well 43, Katajikarra.

		Sometimes we reach the top first time. Sometimes the second time. And sometimes after we release more air.

		The swales are each different. We are not sure if its an outcome of the particular track across each swale. We wonder how different it would be a few hundred meters to left or right. Our progress is slow. The lower the tyre pressure the lower our maximum and average speed. Though more comfortable over corrugations.

		A stop for a pic forwards, and a pic backwards. A particularly awkward dune that required a few attempts.

		The beetle paused to let me pass. I hope we didn't squash it.

		Another dune in the distance. Another soft top. Will we or won't we? Memories of "The Little Engine that Could" come to mind. Our tyre pressures are down to 17psi, hot.

		Some swales have dense vegetation. Yellow and red flowers. We have cold nights and warm afternoons.

		Not far now. We have seen one vehicle traveling in the same direction as us. The last vehicle up has spun wheels to create the bumps, and no tread marks in between. The sand is soft. With low enough tyre pressures and low enough gear to maintain momentum we can drive up this one smoothly. But of course our wheels spin a bit as we pass each bump. The other side is scalloped, so a slow descent as we roll from side to side.

		A few km due west in a swale towards to well. We camp a km east of well 43, Katajikarra. Tyre temperatures moderately acceptable, I can hold my hand on them. Next morning we check the tyre pressures cold. 12 psi. Peter a bit higher pressure, but a heavier vehicle, speed was less than 20km/hr and tyre temperatures a bit higher. Max was 75 degrees C, which meant drive slower along the swale.

		A quick walk to the top of the dune, about 50m, for the sunset.

To Well 41, Tiru		July 3 - 5 2025

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