Month: October 2020

Friday, 30th  Saturday 31st October 2020

We departed Hallett late-ish. Bit of a dirty day.

Mt Bryan Hotel I think is shut now. Has been for a while.

We get to Burra around lunch time or a bit after…

… and we head straight for the Black Sheep which is a well reputed Pizza place.

An un-plated Vespa on display in front of the pizza oven. Looks a bit naked and mysterious with no markings on it. Talking to the owner, there is the faint imprint of Australia Post on it. Apparently there is a very strong Italian community in Port Pirie and hence  Vespa Postie bike (?), according to the owner.

Bambino with green and red pin stripes and ‘PIZZA 1’ number plate. What a give away.

It’s called ‘The Black Sheep’ or La Pecora Nera. I asked the co-owner and chef Paulo why it was called the Black Sheep. He said There are lots of sheep there and he is the black one. I didn’t ask why he was considered black .

Pizza here! Bigger than we expected. N.B. we had half and took the rest home.

The other four pieces did us for TWO evening meals.

Owners Paulo and Clare. Nice couple.

Off with the next two nights meals.

We were advised to go to this antique shop but shut. (!)

Coming celebration.

We head to The Bon Accord Hotel. It got good reviews on Wikicamps. The boss Tim got lots of praise for a good, helpful, fun guy. Deal is spend $20 in the pub and you get an unpowered site with access to toilet and showers. Pay $25 and get a powered site with water also. We opted for the later.

Met Tim. Aloof and moderately sarcastic, even with my couple of attempts to break the ice. I thought, maybe we got him on a bad day. Then I thought maybe the other positive comments got him on a good day. Never mind. It is a good place to stay.

e.g. his attitude.  I asked, where did the name Bon Accord come from? knowing it meant Good Agreement in French. He said English. I said. Oh. It sounds a bit French. He said no English. He said, we say Bon when something is good (?) and when you understand you are in accord. It’s English. I said fair enough. No French. He said that’s right.

Tim FYI …

First attested in the late 13th century. From Middle English acorden, borrowed from Old French acorder (compare modern French accord and accorder), from Vulgar Latin *accordō, accordāre (“to be heart to heart with”), formed from Latin ad + cor (“heart”). The verb is first attested in early 12th century.

… So Tim it was English but from French which was from Latin.

Here’s another one Tim.

The English word Battle as in battleship and I guess Battalion …. Battle is a loanword from the Old French bataille, first attested in 1297, from Late Latin battualia, meaning “exercise of soldiers and gladiators in fighting and fencing”, from Late Latin (taken from Germanic) battuere “beat”, from which the English word battery is also derived via Middle English batri.

I’ll give you a hint Tim. Pretty well most of what WE call English, came from somewhere else.

Get it Tim? Hmmmm?

Great old building and well presented.

What are these?

 

Sorry. Here’s another ‘Tim’.

He is renovating the coach house behind the pub, but apparently Tim is flying blind and has no idea what he will use it for (?) because when I complimented him on it and asked him what he was going to do with it, he just said Anything I want, with a stone face.

Tim, Tim, Tim, Tim. You don’t have to suck up to me, but I am a paying customer. With drinks and the site, we gave you about $50 and we were going to stay an extra night and have a meal at the pub, but I didn’t want to give you any more money.

A bit Twat like mate.

Nice country.

Saturday 31st October 2020

A late move out. Back into town. Some shopping then to the Gaslight for a Cornish pasty and coffee.

A little walk around.

Where to go. Farrell Flat has an oval with free parking or the pub will put us up in yard if we buy a meal.

We drop in for a look and seems OK and we may come back subject to logistics.

On to Mintaro. a good look at town including Magpie on the Stump pub.

 

What is this plant? Artichoke?

Have to go to Martindale Hall. We get there at 3.45pm. No one allowed in after 4pm but $15 ahead to get in and we have seen it before.

These vents at ground level all around the house at ground level go into the huge basement. There are wooden ducts from the basement up to the window sills. When the wind blows against the wall (and outside vents) it pressurizes the basement and the cool basement air is pushed up the ducts and into the rooms. Worlds first air conditioning?

Back in the early 80’s B.A. (before Anne) I organized the hiring of the Hall from 6pm on a Friday to about 11am the next day. I guess that was so it was free for inspection Saturday afternoon.  We were five couples including self and we went to the state theatre company and hired period costumes, which for the men were basically mourning suits.

It included butler and maid and 5 course meal. When bed time, we wanted our moneys worth so we stayed up all night playing billiards on the full sized table.

We had a great night. They don’t allow that any more.

Coach house.

The rest of the day was a bit of a stuff up. We were heading to a road side free park at Watervale. If not acceptable, we were going to double back to Auburn caravan park.

We over shot the park at Watervale, but didn’t double back about ten minutes to Auburn, but instead decided to go onto Clare, preferably the oval for $20 north of town. Clare park was chocca and we went on 10 minutes to the oval, which was the race track.

The GPS was being naughty again and there were no signs. A local passer by guided us a bit and we tried another entrance. We were in the grounds and scratching our heads when a helpful lady told us it was closed as there had races pending.

Soooooo…. we booked into the Auburn caravan park and travelled the 30 minutes back to more or less where we had been, or within five minutes.

We got the last site.

Now … the reviews on Wikicamps had bagged the manager, but we found him to be fine and helpful.

N.B. Given the above Bon Accord Hotel and this, what does that tell us about Reviews?

A few set up problems and one of the 4 bolts holding the sprung step snaps, so now we don’t have a step until we get to a Bunnings or equivalent.

Left over Pizza, some wine, TV and we will call it a day. Delay that. Young Frankenstein is showing.

It’s a nice little town. May stay tomorrow.

Cheers

 

 

 

Wednesday, 28th, Thursday 29th, and start of Friday, 30th October 2020

This turned out to be a big, BUT fulfilling day.

The flash car leaves with matching van and so do good camping buddies, Ken and Liz.

We go to the office to say fare-thee-well to Rob (?) and a final laugh. We spot info on the cocky little bugger that has been up front with us for a while. An ‘Apostle bird.’ Who’d have thought?

Anyway, we’re off heading at this stage towards Burra.

We almost bypassed Terowie. A close call of missing out on a fab little town. History, History, History.

Several museums and all great info and memories.

We spot an operating business. Two ladies doing lead light. Brilliant!

This here is John Alver Mitchell, founder of Terowie

It used to be called the HUB because it is in the middle of all surrounding towns and was a staging spot for the armed forces. It was also, the spot where the train gauges changed, so what had to go further north, had to change  trains at Terowie.

This guy was JP McGowan. He was a rough, tough actor who went to the USA and stared with all the big names back in I think the 20’s. Think of Errol Flynn, but no one knows him.

We meet a part ime local man. Has a weekender here. Fine chap, happy to talk. His new super hound is the lovely ‘Betty’. An enthusiastic I think 6 month old ‘Bluey’ and an absolute love.

We go to the train station which is free camping for self contained, but the history kept oozing here.

This is where, believe it or not, General Douglas MacArthur said,

‘I came out of Bataan and I shall return.’

There are varying reports on Doug’s capabilities but …. Well they say history is written by the victors.

 

Why did the chicken cross the road? To get away from the rooster.

Time to go.

On, on and we get to Hallett. We find this great little coffee shop and besides a great coffee we get info for details of our bucket list local item.

The birth place of the best kept secret person of Australia. Sir George Hubert Wilkins.

We learn the oval is a free camping ground.

So, we unhitch in the free camping spot around the oval, get the cottage key after payment of a $20 deposit and are off up the dirt road for 22 kms. A labour od love journey, for we are going to the birthplace of Australia’s (in my opinion) most achieved adventurer and hero.

Popped in $10

The man himself.

The rebuilt cottage, initiated by Dick Smith.

Ours is the last entry, of course.

Dick Smiths was the first. (of course)

Sir Hubert was an incredible man who tackled anything and everything.  Arctic and Antarctic exploration, the war (s), he embraced photography for recording and research and took to flying flying with enthusiasm. He cheated death so many times and was wounded for his efforts. He bought a WW1 submarine and was instrumental in the first experiments that allowed a USA submarine to eventually go under the north polar ice cap. The list of his achievements goes on and on.

What has been posted there in his place of birth is so painfully true.

Quoting …

“In practically any other country other than Australia, his birthplace would be a national shrine. But here not many people  even know it exists.”

Shame on Australia for not bringing perhaps its most famous son into the limelight for all to see and appreciate.

If you want the best read you are going to have all year, get ‘The Last Explorer.’

We returned to Hallett and returned the key. $20 deposit, $15 back.

We then re-hitched and relocated the rig to a little closer to the facilities, being the coffee shop, the store and the pub within  walking distance. The Wildongoleechie Hotel, although it is more often referred to as the Wild Dog Hotel, for some unknown reason. Wildongoleechie?? Wild – on – go – leechie ? Easy.

The pub in question.

A little confusion. We were told to park the van, go down past the grand stand and amenities block. This was for toilets if you pay. We chose free camping with our own resources.

Grandstand. in need of some addition of ‘grand.’

I thought that meant, ‘park where you like.’ which we did, right close to the front gate.

Anyway, it was the pub for a few drinks and made our own nosh up in the van.

Thursday, 29th October 2020.

Next day a walk.

That included back to the coffee shop where, at either a moment of nostalgia or madness, I saw and bought an old fashioned mincer like everyone’s mother used to have.

Clunky, heavy but one moving part and you would need a sledge hammer to damage it.

Everyone loves roses in town …

Except for those who let the rosemary grow wild.

Coincidence on a local name …

Wee – own – a  Cottage?

Afternoon a vigilante lady walking her dog, advises Anne this is private property (where we are) owned by the bowls club and we will have to move.

Oh the shame. After we had stopped flaying ourselves, we relocated to a spot for the second night. It was just a little naughty because it wasn’t right at the back, but it was clear of the bowls club and the tennis courts.

Friday, 30th October 2020

Apostle bird intruder. Cocky little bugger.

For sale. I think $125?…

… and dog $95  I think.

Sheep and dog to public conveniences.

I think the pigeons like the solar panels.  Bummer.

We have filled up, we have our final coffees and we go. Damn, we only had three more to go and we would get a free one. Have to come back.

On, on to Burra

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, 25th, Monday, 26th, Tuesday 27th October 2020

Communication with Ken and Liz. We meet at the Railway Hotel, Peterborough 2pm. They are coming from Broken Hill.

We are only an hour and a bit away so no hurry. Another wander. I buy a silicon tube gun. Long story. Anyway, I have one now. A few other odds and ends, then off.

Caltowie pubs mascot.

A phone call and we are to rendezvous at the Caravan Park.

The only caravan park, but fortunately a good one run by Rob (I think?) and wife. A few pics of their office. Some excellent and unique art.

Also good advice re service.

About 3pm, we check in and settle, looking forward to tomorrow.

Monday, 26th October.

That’s a magnet (end on)  and this is magnetic hill. When theoretically pointing down hill, one gets the illusion of reversing up the hill. Unfortunately we are in Kens car which is a Rover made from aluminium and hence not magnetic. Go have a look and decide for yourself.

On the way back, Anne spots an interesting ruin.

Anne and Ken investigate with Ken blazing the trail. Ken has had experience in trail blazing. If you have a trail that needs blazing, Ken’s your man.

The non-magnetic  vehicle.

News. There is an ‘ex’ picture theatre now a café, in the main street.

We go and see for ourselves.

The floor slopes, of course, how it would have. Anyone who drinks without conscience would find it refreshing and quite at home.

Covid … form number 13.

Upstairs would have been the top seats.

Fabulous clutter.

A bit of Blues Brothers.

If I look at home, I never owned a Prefect.

The Motor bike museum is stunning. A few Vespa’s. One with a side car!

I respect honesty. Of course what the management is avoiding is the same old bloody complaints about things no one can do anything about.

We visit a museum in the main street. This is a sobering record of South Australian population.

A Ladybug. There is a story, but let’s not dwell on it.

Anne pings the name of a friend.

Anyone with significant grey sat at one of these,

They did it tough back in those days. You probably can’t read the below so basically they hung in there living in a barn of a sort for 11 or so months. Dad and son aged 16 during that time dug three wells, all of them came up salt. so they had to pack up and leave.

Who hasn’t used an old crapper?

I star in this photo.

Tuesday, 27th

Ken, Liz and Anne feature in this one. Beautiful white rose back drop.

The hospital garden …

… and horses.

Anne saying, ‘Aren’t you beautiful’ to a horse.

The flash customline next to us.

Our flag, flown on the van daily, subject to weather.

Flash car again.

We have had three nights together and each one a fun eat, drink, laugh evening. Now, after such a great time, Ken and Liz must depart tomorrow. Bummer.

Till tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 20th to Sunday, 25th October 2020

After our free camp outside Orroroo, we go into town again to lap up some more of the ambience.

Up pulls this very schmick Ford Customline.

Sweeeeet …

…. and the motor has just been rebuilt and purrs like a kitten.

In the mean time, the primary school is doing a street parade and there are some serious cozzies.

To coincide, there is a street music jam , more median strip than street really.

This little ‘honey’ pulled up and …NO. It is not a mini. It’s an Austin

We move on to Peterborough (previously Petersburg) renamed in 1917. (Don’t mention the war)

…. and set up for free camping. Note the Port Pirie end of town has a free camp that used to be an oval. They have a grey water retention requirement. About 2km out of town the other end, there is a group of trees with two fixed tables and next to the railway line. That is the free camp we set up in.

The town is a treat with various museums.

Wednesday, 21st

This is a ‘Spyder’. Two front wheels and one rear. Although it is I think still considered a ‘trike.’

 

There is a single rail carriage in the main street with a split TV screen televising the outdoor view of a moving carriage.

Fluffy sheet like flowers.

Wednesday, 21st October 2020

Then onto Crystal Brook and a great little free camp in town at the Jubilee Park. Long and narrow, perfect to stay hitched and as such probably enough space for about eight rigs. Three new flushing toilets adjacent, a shelter with tables, a dump point, potable water tap and all just 50 metres from the bottom end of the main street and a pub. Utopia!

… AND just around the corner, a gem of a bakery.

Second hand pies never look bood but this is a bushmans. Meat on the bottom with an egg bacon and cheese on the top.

It also has a ‘sit down’ section and good coffee.

Nice historic town.

Tea at the pub. Schnitzel night $15 including your choice of sauce including Parmi.

Never a dull moment, we move onto Port Pirie and take up the luxury of a caravan Park.

Friday, 23rd October 2020

We drop into Caputo and Sons fish mongers. Good food and good value.

I spot this wheel cover. Seen the slogan before but it is worth repeating.

Now … this church has been sold to a seafood restaurant and the owner has a sense of humour, as can be seen by the four sided high sign. By the way, it is now ‘The Church of Fish and Chips’

Water to wine?

Prayer Answered –  Home Delivery.

Prawn  Again – Give into temptation.

The attendant said, I didn’t think you were going to get in. No one has bought a caravan into the drive-in before.’

Saturday, 24th October

AND SO, Bruce and Girlie depart back to Adelaide and commitments.

We are meeting Ken and Liz tomorrow and we have a day/night to kill so we go back to Crystal Brook for a night.

We spent a pleasant night and awoke to familiar territory, having been there just a few days ago.

Sunday, 25th October 2020

We hadn’t noted the potable water before.

… and this sign got me in.

Only makes sense when you read the lot.

Anne’s van bathroom flower display, changes daily.

Today, we catch up with Ken and Liz in Peterborough. Yes. We are zig sagging a bit.

Well, we’ve done it before.

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, 17th to Monday 19th October 2020

Next morning, we are off fare welled by ‘Mine Host’ Richard, better known as Dickie. Fine chap. By the way, it is for sale. They apparently do lots of meals and it is chugging along quite well, but they have acreage and hence too much to handle easily.

 

Out the front.

Now that’s a hat.

Now that’s a wife.

On to Hawker. Great pie shop.

Herbert the turtle in the pie shop.

 

On, on north …

… to the Parachilna pub. We hear they have free camping in the car park.

‘No.’ says the lady proprietor. We would like to stay put and come in for a meal and some drinks. Is there any free camping in town?’ No. The town people don’t want people camping just anywhere.’ ‘Well is there a van park?’ ‘No. It’s closed.’

‘Thank you. you have been very helpful.’ (!?)

A bus driver says the Parachilna Gorge road is OK. Mainly gravel and just a little mud and there are lots of caravanners camping up there. It only took 100 metres to establish he had got his gravel to mud ratio wrong and we both did two ‘interesting 7 point muddy turns with sloping shoulders both sides, much to the chagrin (distress) of the ladies and I wasn’t entirely happy with it either.

So it’s off to Leigh Creek subject to a few water crossings, the first one approached rather a little too fast and as witnessed by Bruce behind. He said the water spray went higher than the van.

Leigh Creek is a ghost town on a Saturday afternoon. The public toilet was open though and so was the van park.

The Leigh Creek is a good, stop. A good, interesting man runs it.

Sunday, 18th October 2020

We guessed the lawn was the matting under the table.

On our way out we luckily miss two sleepy’s

This would be mum. Ladies have more rounded tails and the gentlemen have a slightly pointy ones. They mate for life apparently, He did a runner when we fronted. I’d say he is going to get an ear full tonight.

Just the next day yet all those water runs across the road have disappeared.

We get back to The Parachilna Gorge turn off and the mud has dried, however, by now the gorge run has been discounted. On, on to … ?

This sleepy wasn’t quite as lucky as our Leigh Creek buddies.

No. It’s back to Hawker.

Fill up with diesel, the pie shop was sold out, the servo was out of Vili’s and all that was left was Mrs Macs. Shattered, we buy dirty old Mrs Macs anyway and retire to the War Memorial picnic tables. Quite a schmicky memorial.

Then on, on, back to Cradock because it is cheap and we know it and it’s on the way south. This time we have a bit of a look around.

Pub. Time to pay. You must buy a beer to stay.

Monday, 19th October 2020

On the way out, two churches, now I think both privately owned (?) and empty. What a shame.

On to Carrieton, that also has the odd church or two.

A coffee stop in the main street shelter next to public conveniences which prove to be well named.

Beautiful hand made, tiled mural.

Then onto Orroroo.

A little rustic art.

A metal hound for sale …

… at $320! Painted admittedly, but not as good as mate Ricks rustic metal art.

Talking of Rick, these chooks over the fence at a twisted angle are dead ringers for his. I recon they have to be.

Spot this gem in town.

And just out of town, looking for the proclaimed free camp, we find a significant Goyder Line marker….

…and in the town the giant red gum, estimated at 500 years old.

… and what I think is a wattle and daub pioneers cottage. Well it had vertical strips of rough cut timber sealed with mud and some weed which I guessed was wattle and daub.

Sneek peek through the window, it looks quite comfy.

This fine hound was taking a break while I chatted to our host. Damn! forgot his name . Geoff? We are camped inside this farmers fence line. He declared his farm, or part there of, open to the public for free camping to help the town. We four had pulled up and set up, when he drove past in his Vitara. He pulled up for a chat and his hound used the time to have a breather and eat some flys.

Our invitation and vans in the background.

Then across the road and a 14 minute walk to Pekina Creek reservoir. It was the town water source but now just a nice place to go.

I’d rather go up hill to get there and down hill home.

Not so in this case.

The ultimate in fly nets.

And thus we settle in for our one night free camp on the outskirts of Orroroo. A nice place.

Till tomorrow.

P.S.

Got behind but scrambling to catch up.

 

 

 

Thursday, 15th and Friday, 16thOctober 2020

On the morning of our departure, new friend Graham takes us for a look at his mine. Anne met him on the way to the bathroom.

We bid farewell to every one, being Joe and wife as well as Warren and hit the road south. We want to go to the Flinders Ranges but to stay on bitumen, we have to go all the way back to Port Augusta.

On the way back, we stop at Roxby for some bottled gas for Bruce, get told where to find the elusive Sturt’s desert pea and then 10 minutes later we find it where it isn’t supposed to be. Still we found it.

On, on to Port Augusta.

It’s getting a bit late. We arrive in Port Augusta. Go to the chemist for some pills and look for accommodation. We find a sports club that caters for travelers for $7 a night. Has a dump spot and water, but no toilets once the club is shut. AND the only shot I got of the place was the exit gate. (!?)

Friday, October 16th – Next Morning – Port Augusta.

Off to a Laundromat. We dump the ladies and take the cars for a fill up.

I spot this little honey in transit. I think 1968 XT.

Used to be common as muck. Now….name your price.

 

We make it to Quorn, a fabulous old town chocca with history and maximum quaintness. Coffees and food plus a wander, then on.

We spot another motor home being pushed by a small sedan.

If Mrs Barton laid the stone, she did it a little crooked.

Just in case you can’t read it below, ‘Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular.’  Truer words were never spoken.

We have decided on our next stop. An interesting little spot called Cradock. Yes. One ‘d’. It has a war memorial (below) and a few old historic buildings, in particular, the pub with almost free camping at the back.

The almost free camp is sparse but good enough because ….

… it has a combination lock on the door into the new toilet block withflushing toilets and  $2 for 2 minutes showers. More hot water? More coins. The facilities are for the pub but at night the door to the pub is locked so the access from outside is limited to the ablution block. During the day, it’s a short cut to the pub.

I said, ‘almost free.’ Admission to the park is ‘a beer.’ Se we go to pay our way. Beers are $8 a pint, So Bruce and I have three each and the ladies have one. Hows’ your maths? 6 x $8 = $48 plus the ladies = around $60. Still, we  chose to have three rounds, not the publican. I could have gone in, had a schooner for less than $8 and all would have been sweet.

The evening meal in the van and ….

… the solitary walk to the bathroom.

And thus Friday, 16th October comes to an end.

We will set off north tomorrow morning.

Monday, 12th to Wednesday, 14th of October 2020

Pimba to …

Pulling out of Spuds Roadhouse at a flying start in our new convoy with Bruce and Girlie, we make it about thirty metres when we hit our first freight train.

First stop, beautiful down town Woomera. The rockets and planes still on display from our visit about three months ago and museum still closed. We fill the water tanks and look for the elusive pub.

We find it after a few laps of honour, down a side street and discretely hidden away.  After all, you wouldn’t want payers finding it. Would you? As first scout, I enter and had a chat with reception after they had finished talking to each other. Apparently because of the military background of the place, they don’t like to highlight the fact that they sell booze. (?) You either do or you don’t sell it, I would have thought. I glance around. Looks nice enough. Balcony. Three people inside. Lunch menu and price list? Optimistic. We can do without it.

On to Roxby Downs for maintenance. First stop id Laundromat. Next door a young chap is loading an HR Holden he just sold. AU$10,000 apparently.

Next, booze (beer and wine inc port) and next door to that, a gas bottle for Bruce.

We find a legal free park in a road side stop on the edge of town. Nice sunset.

Free camping. Good fun and cheap.

Into town.

To the Mall. You can do a lot but not these practices.

Go fast Ford.

On the way out, we see our last nights camp with a late starter still there.

Get to Andamooka and score power sites. Rekindle relationships with Joe and wife. Joes mining mate (Greg or Geoff??) shows us what makes the place function, which is OPAL in various stages of development from raw product to ‘I want that one darling!’

Excellent toilets with progressive concept of hand wash basin empties into cistern,

WITH hot showers. Metered but probably by now free as some ‘BASTARDS’ keep knocking of the cash meter. Cheaper to just make them free and save on repairs. Once mor e for effect. BASTARDS!

A walk into town and walk around.

The store and the fuel have now closed. Bummer.

Two handsome chaps, both enthusiastic tourists, currently seated to save strength for more active moments.

Stuff that dreams are made of.

Pub still closed. Again, bummer.

In the very nice public toilets. Must be frustrating. A little place busts a gut to keep everything nice for the tourists and the odd arse stuffs it up.

Pioneer cottages. Historic and impressive what the settlers put up with.

A dynamic bunch of ‘go ahead’ tourists. At least for now, but sometimes ‘lag behind’.

This chap we met in the new little café. His nick name is ‘Tarzan’ as in his younger days he was a gymnast and once, impressed his fellow miners by swinging from tree to tree. He is a true blue Aussie now and flies the flag on his vehicle but he came to Australia and a Croatian named I think Drago. A fine chap with a sense of humour. He told me he went to the doctor. The doctor asked, ‘How are you?’ He said, ‘Terrible doctor. I am not sleeping well. Last night I dreamed I was a car muffler and I woke up exhausted..’

The car museum on the way back is outdoor and near the park.

The park is well equipped for the whole towns benefit as per this undercover playground.

More Andamooka to come.

 

 

Sunday, 11th October 2020

I DID put the drone up for a run or two.

A couple of birds eye views and …

 

Our white car and caravan far right corner.

… a little motion.

 

Yet another mobile home being pushed by a small sedan.

Another small (er) lake on the way to Spuds Roadhouse.

Finally the luxury of Spuds with clean toilets and pay shower AND a store with basic items including alcohol. Snacks and ‘sit down’ meals. A serious burger for I think just $10 and you will have trouble finishing it. Wait a minute. You may not have trouble. I don’t know who I’m speaking to. ‘You’ could knock off two and still be hungry for all I know.

By the way, that was dinner. A hamburger, a cheese burger and a beer.

Now, we are here to meet Bruce and Girlie for a week or so jaunt.

We arrive promptly at 3.30pm ish well ahead of their expected arrival of 7pm – ish. They arrive promptly at about 9.30pm – ish.

We did manage to same the site next to us but nopics as it was dark and time for bed.

Till tomorrow.

 

 

 

Friday, 9th & Saturday, 10th October.

Last night the area was pretty well chock-a-block with all sorts from fifth wheeler (smaller one), flash vans, less flash, camper trailers and a tent, cleverly erected under the public shelter. Hmmm. Maybe I could have parked the van there.

About five minutes after we pull in, who arrives but our next door neighbor from Alice Springs. One of the 5pm beer o’clock group. So … we had a beer o’clock which turned into a shiraz o’clock. We turned in as it got dark.

Dave was off the next morning.

 

This is just a delightful place. Sure, about 100 metres to the highway, but it really hasn’t been a hassle.

A long slow incline with slightly varying terrain about 150 metres to the lake which has water in it instead of the dry salt lake.

Just before the beach, the northern Ghan trainline runs past the van park. We haven’t seen the Ghan but there have been freight trains

Hey look! A drain big enough to get under the railway line with just marginal curvature of the spine.

Also there is a pile of untreated salt lakeside. Enough to harden the arteries if the whole population.

There was a passing train now well up the track.

Saturday, 10th October.

One nice day leads to another nice day and we have a visit from Lou and Mick on their way from Alice Springs to Port Augusta tonight, then further west to visit friends. They do that a lot. They are very popular.

Lou and Mick arriving …

…and leaving an hour or so later.

We spot a motor home being pushed by a small sedan arriving. Well, it could be a visual illusion.

This guy passing on the highway was serious. A tray top truck and a big fifth wheeler.

This tree in the centre distance is important.

 

Here it is closer.

This is where we dug our first hole ever to empty the toilet cassette. Deep for the benefit of humans and close to the tree base for the tree.

N.B. We chose a time when there was no one in view. After, we were absolutely fascinated by the number of people who chose that very spot to have their photo taken. We watched anxiously as people maneuvered for the photo. It was a deep -ish hole, but not overly packed down. There would be a ‘soft’ spot. No. All went well and I later returned to pat it down even more.

The sun set on another lovely day, much used to catch up on the blog.

Tomorrow, if it is calm, I may put up the drone. The batteries should still be half charged which will be enough. If all goes well, I may still have to wait for better internet to load it.

Cheers.

Thursday, 8th October

Pulling out of Coober Pedy.

Glendambo. Van Park closed and owned by pub. Pub would not even offer free camp site.

Sturt’s Desert Pea. In the south end of the main street. Beautiful.

Bon Bon stop, allows for camping but has a HORRIBLE reputation for the toilet facilities. We stopped just to check them out. they were right.

 

We arrive at Lake Hart. Still cool so we keep our longs on and go for a walk.

Not a nice sign

 

Next day will be full time Lake Hart.

 

Cheers.