Today was the big drive. The Oodnadatta track is said to be one of the
most interesting drives in Australia. The country is flat to gently undulating
for most part and the gravel road is
maintained in reasonable condition.
I did 400km today starting at 10 am and arriving
in Oodnadatta at 530pm.
Such a wonderful trip… The roads are only
suited to a 4wd basically due to the corregations, minor sand and rocks the size
of your fist and smaller all over the
track continuously.
That said I saw one guy in a 2wd van. Who
knows how he would have gone..
There is so much to keep you interested.
First up i came upon a Sculpture display.
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| Is this the Oodnadatta Farmer ? |
Dog Fence .. As the sign says , a bloody
long fence.
50km on futher and South Lake Ayer greets
you on one turn.
Its dry for most of the time but has filled
to capacity on three occasions in the last 150 years. When it does fill,
usually due to heavy rains in Queensland funneled south via creeks and rivers,
birds flock to it.. As a side note I
strongly recommend the ABC documentary on Lake Eyre 1 & 2 made by Paul
Lockyer
I saw it on Foxtel last year. Unfortunately he and his film crew died in a
helicopter crash making the third episode. A must see documentary.
Its great to be here albeit viewing a big
salt lake with no water……
Next was Wabma Kadarbu conservation park which
has a series of natural springs fed by water from the Great Artesian basin
supporting a small ecosystem of plants and animals. I even saw a rabbit. It was strange but upon my arrival, as I was
the only person around for what would have been at least 50-100km??..the landscape
became very misty and the sky clouded out the sun. At this point about I had only seen one other car. Very surreal. I felt like and explorer.. Albeit in an
airconditioned toureg. At 43 degrees now, I have no idea how the labour of
the early 1900s ever survived in such conditions.
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| Note the little bird coming in for a drink |
Another 50km up the road to Coward springs which
was an important link on the old Ghan Railway line. Today its noted for its
wonderful campground and Restored station masters house and engine drivers
cabin. I drove in and it was here I met Adam and his girlfriend who had camped
the previous night and were packing to move
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| Adam and Girlfriend |
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| At 43 degrees just what one needs. A cold natural spa |
We chatted and then I looked around. I wanted to camp but as they were leaving I wasn’t going to be there by myself. As he suggested, its probably safer here than any place in Sydney …but that said, I wasn’t going to feel good sleeping in a tent by myself hours from any other person. The current owner has created a spa area from the natural springs which was a very welcome cool down on a day that was so hot
I also continued to travel along the Dog fence and the original Telegraph line opening up Australia to the world.
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| Jaybear just chilling out. |
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| Just caught this eagle as he flew off. I would say a 3mtre wingspan |
From 200km onwards to the 400km mark the temperature dropped from 43 to 32 degrees.
The old Ghan is always with you as you travel seeing old bridges, and lines running parrellel to the track for hundreds of kilometres…
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| The Old Ghan follows the trail all the way. All is going to ruin |
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| The type of rocks all over the track |
Arriving in Oodnadatta, its not what I expected. No way I will find my dreams here….that said the locals seemed ok. Population 277.
My room is a cupboard with a tv that doesn’t work…but at least I got a bed and it has power to keep my fridge cool overnight. A very nice sunset here as well.
.
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| My room is the one with the door open? Noice only $65… bargain at the pink roadhouse |
Tommorrow brings new adventures im sure….Definitely didn't find the farmer in Oodnadatta.
