Rain fell, but only enough for the expedition to wish for more. Birds were seen, an indication of a water supply somewhere, but where was it? In his diary entry for 27-28 October Larry Wells records his anxiety for his expedition. The country was gradually improving with more vegetation, and with wider flats between the sand ridges. But it was water that they needed desperately, and without it the Calvert Expedition was in great difficulties.

The Calvert Scientific Expedition, financed by Albert Calvert a London mining engineer and led by Lawrence Allen (Larry) Wells was sent out to explore Western Australia for mineral resources and pastoral lands. Proceeding north from Lake Way it entered the Great Sandy Desert and began a ceaseless search for water. Lack of this, coupled with the poor feed on the ground severely handicapped the expedition as the camels gradually lost condition and the ability to carry their loads and travel across the great number of sand ridges. Eventually the expedition would be compelled to abandon most of their equipment and all of their geological and botanical collections in a desperate flight to water and life.

The explorers Penola, S. Aust.: Penola Branch, National Trust of South Australia, 1996

Steele, Wilfred, To the great gulf : the surveys and explorations of L.A. Wells, last Australian explorer 1860-1938 Blackwood, S.A. : Lynton, [1978]

Journal of the Calvert Scientific Exploring Expedition, 1896-7: equipped at the request and expense of Albert F. Calvert, Esq., F.R.G.S., London for the purpose of exploring the remaining blanks of Australia Perth [W.A.] : Government Printer, 1902