Last minute preparations!

The food supply!! And that's not including what's going into the 80L Waco fridge/freezer!









The countdown continues for our departure to Central Australia and Lake Eyre early Monday morning! We have already packed a lot of things including the huge amount of food we are taking with us, as the shops will be few and far between and the prices sky high at such remote outposts! We are planning to eat as healthily as possible along the way and will bring frozen vegetables and meat to make yummy curries and stews on those cold desert nights, eaten with freshly baked damper, of course! Damper also makes a great 'bush dessert' when baked on a stick over the fire, remove when ready then fill the hollow with Golden Syrup! Yum!

Here's a recipe if you are interested in trying it... a bit like a huge scone, really!!!

Australian Damper

This bread made by bush settlers may be baked on the open fire or in a regular oven. As is typical of hand-me-down recipes, there are as many versions as there are bush babies. One recipe we read says to use beer instead of milk, then wrap the dough around a stick and cook over an open fire.

• 2 cups self-rising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup milk

Mix the flour, salt and sugar together in a bowl. Cut in the butter until fine crumbs form. Add milk to make a soft dough. Knead lightly on floured board until smooth. Shape into round loaf, brush with milk, and bake at 375 degrees F. for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the loaf makes a hollow sound when tapped.

Andrew packing the non-perishable foods into the Landcruiser's roomy drawers.












My new haircut... more suited to camping life... I am still getting used to it!! I may get it cut even shorter on my return! Time will tell!
















Andrew has decided that seeing as we're already 'out there' in the desert, we may as well go a little further north and take a look at Coopers Crossing and the old ferry that is running again and return via Birdsville in Queensland. Take a look at the big map below for a more up to date version of our new route! It'll be a few thousand kilometres now and probably about 18-21 days away! We will also be staying a couple of days with my Esperance writer friends' (Fleur MacDonald) parents in Carrieton, SA at their property, 'Glenroy Estate'. I am really looking forward to meeting John and June, taking many, many photos around their property and the region so that I have enough potential 'book cover' photos to offer Fleur for consideration for her third novel, "Purple Roads"! Looking forward to reading it, Fleur!

I will be back with another post and a few more photos before we head off - just a bit more packing to do and you won't see us for dust!!

Ciao for now!