Day 11, Sunday 1/07/2012, Lake Eyre to Oodnadatta

Lisa, Fiona and I awoke at 0630hrs to go and watch the sun rise over Lake Eyre. Heading further north and then out towards the centre was much better as there was a harder crust of salt here. We froze our butts off but it was worth it for the amazing lightshow we experienced.

 

Heading back out towards William Creek, we all pulled over to help Lisa find her lens cap that she lost yesterday. We had no luck, only to find out it was in her car all along!

The Oodnadatta Track is an easy, well graded dirt road that we were able to travel 80km/hr along, through treeless scrubland and the occasional cattle grid. It is quite wide and not too much corrugation. The conditions change dramatically if wet though and it is occasionally closed when very wet.

Jack didn't even notice this bull watching him go!

Wow I’m in shock, Jordan is studying maths!

The Oodnadatta track follows along the old Ghan Railway. It is the equivalent of driving along a museum. The railway was built from 1890 to 1935 and named after the Afghan cameleers that were pivotal in its construction. It was only pulled up in 1981. It is amazing how quickly the sidings have gone to ruin.

The first one we stopped at was Old Peake. The kids and photographers enjoyed exploring the old ruin, but it wasn’t long before the boys took up a game of catch with a paddy melon.

Next was the Algebuckina Ruins where we had lunch. Haley is so funny, she was in the ruins moving rocks around stating that she had to tidy her house. Michael and Jack were dressed as bandits, running and hiding, with sticks as guns. Jordan had Madison and Jamie posing for her photos and Col, Fiona and Bruce went for a walk along the old track. There are still a few railway pins to be seen.

It’s a shame we didn’t save lunch until a couple of hundred metres along as the Algebuckina Bridge is beautiful and spans a permanent waterhole. It was the largest single span bridge in SA in its day with 18 sections spanning 30m each. Even a flock of pelicans flew over. Everyone ended up spending quite a bit of time here exploring, possibly too long as we were supposed to see the Painted Desert later today.

Heading north again we passed a convoy of 12 vehicles heading south, throwing dust everywhere. 6km south of Oodnadatta we headed west on Kempe Road hoping to see the Painted Desert. It was decided that we should camp as close to Oodnadatta as possible for our big drive tomorrow into the Simpson Desert. Therefore it would be a drive out then back along Kempe. Knowing we didn’t have enough time to make it back before dark we only drove halfway, missing the Painted Desert which is seen best close to Ackaringa Station.

Bruce and Fiona decided not to do this drive and waited at our camp site. Lisa, Michael and I were particularly disappointed but there was beautiful scenery none the less and as they say “the show must go on”. There was gibber country on our left and red clay on our right with distant red clay hills with the sunset glowing off these on our return trip. Mini Painted Desert.

Peter ran out of fuel. His fuel gauge doesn’t work so he had no warning and had to top it up using his jerry can supply.  

The camp site was a particularly beautiful one at Hookey’s Hole, a permanent waterhole on Neales River. There was birdlife everywhere especially galahs and kites. I had a glass of wine by the waterhole with Fiona and then went chatting to other campers with Lisa while Fiona took Chelsea for a play. Jordan, Jessica, Jack and Madison stole my camera for a sunset shoot and Michael, Jamie and Haley played by the water.  Meanwhile Col and Bruce ducked in to Oodnadatta roadhouse to get some plastic and duct tape. Poor Peter and Anthea! They can’t catch a break. Their rear window smashed from a stone hit, most likely rebounded from the T Van.

While discovering the broken window, 2 other vehicles drove in to the site towing trailers, with cardboard taped to their rear windows.  Such bad timing. If only we had this hint earlier. Col says he didn’t forget about trailers and rear windows, but thought that the angled plate on the T Van had allowed for this nicely. Anthea exclaimed, “we just weren’t supposed to be on this trip!”

It was a lovely evening around the campfire with everyone seemingly in good spirits despite the window.