Surreal Sunset Strip

View of Menindee Lake Sunset Strip.
Day 6 Wednesday 13th May, part 1.
We had a relaxing morning by the campfire taking pleasure in another bowl of Nelleke’s now famous muesli with a dollop of yogurt on top. We now felt at ease and where enjoying the surrounding environment. Then Poppy lent over and said “Ahhh how’s the serenity!”

We packed up camp then headed south on the river drive, following the banks of the Darling, we stopped to look at what was left of the PS Providence, a paddle steamer which was stranded on the river for over a year due to low water levels. After a night at the pub the crew decided it was time to get out of there and stoked up the boiler, it exploded due to the fact that they forgot to fill it with water. The explosion was so massive that the cook was later found hanging in a tree, he survived the explosion but later died of his injuries. The rest of the crew were all killed and were buried in the Knichega cemetery. The drive then took us past the original Kinchega homestead and cemetery, we walked through the site which gave us an idea of the isolation that the early pastoralists would have felt. We were left with more questions than answers after this experience. We headed out of the national park for the main road towards Broken Hill. We came across a gateway, which looked very much like it may contain a strange sect or cult. Curiosity got the better of us so we entered Sunset Strip! As it turns out Sunset Strip was a c. 1960s holiday retreat built on the edge of the mighty Menindee Lake. It watery playground for dusty miners from the Hill, it now seems bizarre seeing that there hasn’t been any water in the lake since 2002. It was a surreal experience to drive down the boat ramp into the dry lake and look back up towards the holiday houses with their jetties and pontoons now engulfed in sand.

Poppy and Jen