Outback Highway

We headed out going south, and took a shortcut through a dirt scenic road. This is called the Moralana Road, and it skirts the Red Range. An unexpected highlight. Truly beautiful. We even did the air out of the tyres trick. Seemed OK.

Once on the main Highway the country was essentially saltbush flats, with the occasional creek bed, but with the Flinders our companions on our right, but now with the old Ghan line beside us as well. It was still overcast, but we thought we could see some clarity off in the far distance.

We thought we would have morning tea at Parachilna, but it was closed. I mean that quite literally. Only one place in town and it was closed. So on we drove to Leigh Creek. This is a 'model town' built in the seventies when the old town was taken over by the coal mine. A really pretty, though very quiet place.

The good thing was that the clouds were breaking up and the weather was warming. It looked like our wet hiking boots in the back might dry after all!

We had a cuppa and a doughnut served by one of those people who make you wonder why they do not have qualifications for the service industry. Stocked up at the supermarket and headed off again. From this point we needed to keep our an eye for the lizards on the road. Marjan does not want to end up killing one, so we may end up flipped in a creek somewhere.

We finally had a more interesting break at the old abandoned town of Farina. Apparently this was a service town for a while on the old Ghan railway, and they kept trying to get water out of bores and wells in the Farina creek, but to no real avail and it slowly faded away. There is a now a preservation society trying to bring it back. Really interesting place, and a great campground, we found a shady spot under some gums and lunched to the sound and sight of a wonderful array of birds. A short walk through the bush to aid digestion made for a lovely interlude.

Nothing much between Farina and Marree, so off we got to Marree pretty early. We bought some Internet time and sat in the Roadhouse, updating the blog and checking road conditions. We had pretty much decided to go ahead to the next stop.

We went into the Lake Eyre Yacht Club to look at the info display and spent an hour chatting to the guy who runs it. Can you believe he is from Belgrave Heights and comes up three or four times a year or when there is water in the lake, He was a wealth of information on what to do and see on the track. I think he made Marjan more comfortable about the road. She is a bit nervous and the sign at the start of the track did not help.

Anyway after that we had a bit of a look at the Marree Cementary. Like the town divided into white, aboriginal and Afghan sections. The outback cameleers are a key part of the history of this part of the world.

Ate a counter meal at the Marree Hotel and had a yarn to James who is cycling the Oodnadatta Track. Marjan now reckons it is unlikely we will die as James will pass us if we break down. He was a really interesting guy.

Then walked to the edge of town to see the desert colours. The sun had set a while ago but the sky was a palette of warm tones. I did not have a camera so you will need to imagine it, as I was too busy living it to go back and get a recording device.

Anyway back to our cabin, where Marjan is expecting to spot some stars. Onwards, ever onwards.