Down the Oodnadatta Track

We headed south on the Oodnadatta Track heading for Marree. Even though this is an outback track there is plenty of interest along the way. Our first stop was the ruins of the Strangeways settlement, originally set up to service the Ghan.  The most intact ruin was the remains of a massive block work water tank for the old steam engines.

The old graves were an indication of the harsh environment.
Down the Track there were a number of "mound springs". Artesion water forced up to the surface produced mounds over the millennia with the water gushing from the top of the mounds.

Along the Track there are also ruins of Cottages used to house the fettlers who maintained the railway tracks.

At Marree we saw the station where we remember changing trains from the wide gauge train from Port Augusta to the narrow gauge Ghan that took us to Alice Springs in 1979.

There is no better way to finish a day than to spend time chatting around a camp fire.

Into Lake Eyre

Being at William Creek, it was almost obligatory to have a meal at the Hotel.

We took a day to visit Lake Eyre North, taking the track into Halligan Bay. The harsh environment, heat and salt made for some very strange landscapes on the way in.

The Lake itself, recently dried, was huge and fascinating.

Entertainment was provided by a team of 4 dung beetles pushing a load up a slope. Those little fellows work hard!

Encouraged by recent rains, we were able to see a number of desert plants coming into flower.

The perfect day was finalised with a great coffee in the pub.

William Creek

From Coward Springs the Oodnadatta Track took us up to William Creek, one of the iconic Australian Outback locations. The surrounding countryside was progressively more arid although the recent rain has resulted in plenty of greenery.

William Creek Pub is the main building in the area. Its long history and importance to the Ghan makes it a classic Australian Pub.

William Creek does not make a big impact on the landscape.

We had a look at one of the few remaining rail bridges from the old Ghan and found it odd to think we had ridden the Ghan over this bridge 37 years ago.

Up the Oodnadatta Track

Woomera is an important place in Australian history and the Museum holds a number of artifacts from the period when Australia was an important player in space technology.

We then headed north to refuel at the thriving community of Roxby Downs.

Here we let the tyres down for our journey up the Borfield Track to Lake Eyre.

Luckily the track had been recently graded so we made good time and were able to spend time at Lake Eyre South.

We made camp for the night at Coward Springs which was once a stop on the old Ghan Railway we traveled in 1979.

One of the old Railway buildings has been repaired to serve as a museum and we spent time in the Springs which are a warm artesian outflow.

Into the Outback

After a morning's travel we landed in our favourite SA town, Burra to wander the (freezing) area and find some sustenance.

It was then a matter of putting kilometres behind us as we headed for Woomera for an overnight stop.
The country is already changing with salt lakes and sand dunes in evidence.

We think this will be our last day of Internet connectivity for some time.

Off to South Australia

We had a look around Ouyen this morning, it leaves the impression of a small country town struggling to reinvent itself.

  Cropping is certainly king in this area.

We called in at the Mildura Information Centre to meet up with the Inchleys who had made it through the NSW floods

Then headed for South Australia across the wheat fields of northern Victoria.

Heading North

We really want to see Lake Eyre but the weather gods decreed that last month was not on and all the roads were closed because of rain. We are trying again and headed for Ouyen. Again it has started to rain!  All along the road Gazania were flowering - they must have been enjoying the wet conditions.

So we have now set up in Ouyen and hope to see the Inchleys tomorrow.  They have had to track around floods in the middle of NSW so we hope they make it.
Ouyen Park is, in charitable terms, basic.

Basketball - Jack

Jack is in a new team this season under a new coach and today we saw the boys in action. As well as skills, there is more work on strategy so it should help develop the boys game.