Adelaide – Thursday

It was windy last night but the camper was fine, no buffeting or flapping. We went to get fuel and discovered a section of the main street was closed and there were people with big white boards and cameras. An episode of a TV series was being filmed, it isn’t one we’ve seen. “Wanted 3” stars Rebecca Gibney, someone I’m supposed to know! The scene being filmed will actually be depicted as on the Nullarbor.

The movie set

Pursuers of the woman who ducked into the toilet block

Actually it’s Hawker.

From Hawker we went to Orroroo …

Crafty metal golf cart

Clever use of old glassware

Clever use of old glassware – garden ornaments

Old pub somewhere along a lonely road

…. then Auburn, by the time we arrived there the sky was darkening and the winds strong. It was unpleasant to be outside so we decided that rather than camping for the night we’d head home.

Welcome home!

It’s been a very interesting and enjoyable trip, we’ve seen new places and enjoyed the company of a variety of people. Of course there are things we’ll do differently next time eg. download the Country Pub Campsites and maybe Wikicamps so that we can see what different camp sites are available even if we don’t have internet. Another thing for us to overcome is the lack of Telstra phone coverage in some isolated areas.

After we overcame our initial problems with the after-market sway controller the camper and car performed well. We were able to go on dirt tracks without any issues, the only time we were aware of the camper was when we went up steep hills. It wasn’t difficult, the car was just a bit slower pulling the load. We have our ticket to travel the outback. What ticket? Although I wanted a Wildfire Red, Prado it seems that a white Prado is practically compulsory.

Day 46 – Hawker

We left Marree this morning and were immediately struck by the number of vehicles heading towards the Birdsville Track. We’ve spoken to a lot of people who are going to the Big Red Bash, I think someone said the organisers were expecting 7 000 people. It’s hard to imagine the area around Big Red housing that number of people. Our neighbours tonight have come from Penguin, in Tasmania, and they are on their way to The Bash.

Just out of Marree is a rock construction depicting a man, we stopped to take some photos and to have a little play around.

Stoneman

Now it’s a woman

We didn’t intend stopping at Farina but the signs advertising the Bakery were too hard for Alex to resist. They’re currently using the old Bakery and there is a concentrated effort at fundraising for the restoration of the town.

The old Bakery

Bakery info

Inside the Bakery

Wooden tools for getting bread out

Bikers always know where the good Bakeries are

Our next stop was Lyndhurst and a visit to Talc Alf. He’s a real character, being a geologist is incidental, we always admire him for his carving skills and are amazed at his rapid fire thinking and talking. After Lyndhurst the road is bitumen.

Talc Alf at home

Word interpretations

Alf’s work

Alf’s work

Since we’ve already stayed at Hawker we decided to go to Blinman instead. It meant driving through Parachilna Gorge which should have meant re-deflating the tyres but we went very slowly and carefully instead.

Old cottage made from wood slabs

Old mining cauldron

Grader – original

Personal account of Grader working

The restored Grader

The shops were busy and the Caravan Park basic so we decided to continue on to Hawker.

Day 45 – Marree

We’ve had no internet for days so keeping up with posts has been difficult. This will simply be another photo post.

The Oodnadatta Track follows the line of the old Ghan Railway which followed the line of the Overland Telegraph line which followed John Macdouall Stuart’s route which followed the ancient Aboriginal traders’ route. Because of this all the way down the track the same references appear.

Railway Sidings

Beresford Bore

Coward Springs

Coward Springs

Display – Coward Springs

Coward Springs

Fettlers Cottage – Margaret Siding

Curdimurka

Curdimurka

Springs and Bubblers

Strange Flora around Blanche Cup

Weird and Wonderful – “Planehenge”

Strange Places

Moonscape

Moonscape

Moonscape

Now we’re back in Marree.