Day 18, Thursday 14/7/2016, Coward Springs to Montecollina Bore, Strzelecki Desert

 Back down to -2 degrees C last night. There was ice on the swags and the kids' swimmers were frozen. All the clouds of the last few days are gone.

We skipped the mound springs board walk and headed straight to Lake Eyre South Lookout.

Spectacular! It's 12m below sea level and is a glowing salt pan with a patch of water seen way further out. It's a pretty thin layer of salt here, with orange mud beneath (Halligan Bay has a thicker salt base, is easier to walk on and has multi-coloured wind-swept salt-sculptures).

Everyone was again suitably impressed, and it was a great way to end our time together. I loved the poached egg daisies. There were heaps of them.

After a quick toilet stop at Marree, we also walked across to the old Ghan station to see the Tom Kruse truck. We then all topped up fuel at Lyndhurst, had lunch together, and said our farewells. Morgans/Davies are making a quick 3-day dash back home from here on the tar to get back to school. Parkes clan will head up the Strzelecki Desert and across through Cameron's Corner. This is our 3rd attempt to get there, as we keep getting flooded out of it. All roads are open.

It is so green that it doesn't feel like desert. We can see the north end of the Flinders Ranges to our right and are passing lots of emus.

I talked Col into stopping so I could get some footage of them, and Jordan was straight out to get some photos. Siân chased them so we could get some action shots. Jack sat in the car reading, and Col sat in the car watching us.

It was mostly gibber plains (although green) until just before Montecollina Bore where we started to see some small cream/yellow sand dunes with bushes.

The pond that has formed from the bore's constant flow is beautiful with trees, bushes and birds galore. There are three whistling kites circling, and they all missed a rabbit that I saw making a dash.

I did Col's dunny photo by sunset (one with Jack modelling) and Siân appreciated the reverse sunset colours with me.

Jordan then dragged everyone out to kick the soccer ball for a bit, until it was time for a card game, fire, dinner and books. A few yarns spun by the fire in the chilly evening and dingoes howling overnight.