Simpson
Desert 3rd October
You could not belive this but two night ago we were victim of an
heavy thunderstorm. That night we were awake by strong winds that
blew up our mes tent and with showers that I tried only during the
monsoon season in Nepal. Of course this is a problem for Carla that
has a tent for
the desert and not for Nepal.
In anycase from the telephone call of last night all is in order
except made for the sleepless night and
for the delay of departure the next morning to let dry the sleepingbag
and matress. Of all the problems valued before departing for
the expedition we did not expect such a changeble weathr condition
that from a point of view are
keeping the temperature low but from the other side are creating
problems to the walking. The fact is that we are facing an extremely
strange situation and this is confirmed also from Don. While we
approach Birdsville (and today we moved the camp 90 k's ahead) the
landscape seems to follow what C.T.Madigan described in his book
"Crossing the dead heart" (written 60 years ago). The
first part with hard terrain and bore traces then the sandy -spinifex
dotted part with 20m high dunes. Now we are camped ina a flat sandy
plain with green acacias and spinifex but
greener than the ones we saw in the previous days. The strange thing
we did not expect to find are some kangroo and camel that usualy
live in less hard enviroment.
So long........and stay tunes.