Continuing on from my last blog here is our story about our trip through
Rudall River National Park from Telfer to
Newman.
Day 8 - 10th July
Last night after finishing the blog, the computer froze... yep, I broke it. Totally dead. So I went to bed to let David deal with it in the morning. So, at 5.30 am I went running and left David to it. My plan was to do a 1 hour 15min run, which meant a very cold early start.
Back at
camp after enjoying my own bit of peace, the
camp was in a rucous. David said the computer was unfixable (I'm in trouble now, cause this is not the first time)... the swags and clothes were still damp and the sun was only just starting to appear but a hot breakfast was being prepared for all. Once we were fed and repacked, we started our section of the Ruddall River adventure which should have meant a 52km drive to the access track off the
Telfer road, however soon came across a
well used
mine road that wasn't mapped so took that instead. There were no signs to say we couldn't but other signs about confirming it was a road in current use. Pretty soon however we found it was heavily flooded - no idea why they build tracks with no run offs? We simply pulled up out of the track to drive around the worst bits - conscious of not ruining their
mine road. This track came in to meet up with the
Telfer Road at their water plant so it was just a short bit on to the
Ruddall River access track. We got there and found a huge
road closed sign facing BACKWARDS! ie. as if to indicate to travelers coming up from the south of the park that they could not use the
Telfer Road that we were on. Puzzled, we wondered if the
sign had been mistakenly turned - did it meant that the Ruddall River National Park roads were closed due to all the rain? The tracks were certainly in very wet condition - it would make sense, but the
sign was turned the other way? What did it all mean? Next thing a truck drives past us on the
Telfer road and doesn't stop us, so we figure no one seems to care about what we're doing. So we continue on stilll... puzzled, but not worried.
We had other things to do - like look out the window at the most beautful scenery we'd experienced this whole trip - it is just magic in the northern section of Ruddall River.
I haven't had time to finish this blog so will just post up the photos of the highlights and come back to this next week.... I hope you enjoy it! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Telfer Mine Road

First view of Peterman Ranges

Great driving views through Peterman Ranges

Track to cave north of Christmas Pool

Family hike to cave

View of camp/carpark at Christmas Pool

Lots of water on track

Driving up Coolbro Creek

Access to Coolbro Pool

Beautiful Coolbro Pool

View from camp over Coolbro Pool

Camped at Coolbro Pool

Washing Lines provided at Coolbro Pool !

Northern Water - hand pump

Crompton Pinnacle on track to Desert Queen Baths

How to fix car sickness...

Beautiful scenery on drive to Desert Queen Baths

Arrival view of Desert Queen Baths

David takes the first plunge

The first pool at Desert Queen Baths

The second pool at Desert Queen Baths

The 3rd pool at Desert Queen Baths

David rides the track to the Cave

Our camp in the afternoon light

Our camp in the morning light

Desert Queen Baths - our camp

Main camps in the valley at Desert Queen Baths

Walking the track to the Cave

View from the top of the Cave - over Desert Queen Baths

The Plaque - overlooking the Rudall River

Creek dips on Granite Valley track

Graphite Valley

Coloured quartz found at Graphite Valley

On the way to Curran Curran Rockhole

Camped at Curran Curran Rockhole

Camped at Curran Curran Rockhole

Curran Curran Rockhole

A mummy moment (Michelle and Chardae)

Leah

David and Michelle