Oodnadatta Track - in excellent condition

3rd May - What a day! We didn’t do so many kms today but saw lots of interesting places along the way. First stop Farina Historical Site where a group of volunteers from different states come together for only 3 weeks each year to work on repairing the standing ruins of buildings on this site and this year the underground bakery was in operation and of course we had to buy some apple strudel scrolls - Mmm they were delicious, so glad  we picked this time to go through, it was well worth the stop.

Next stop was Maree for fuel  then on to the Oodnadatta track, what amazing landscapes again.

A few kms along and we came across some obscure sculptures on the land beside the road, no explanation, just someones idea of a ‘good idea at the time’ I guess. We enjoyed lunch in Cheryl & Ian’s camper beside South Lake Eyre and drove on to Curdimurka Siding to get some snaps of the old Railway siding. This is all part of the Old Ghan Railway route. 

Next stop Mound Springs where water springs fromThe Great Artesian basin and deposits form mounds over time then on to the privately owned Coward Springs, recommended by another traveller, where we bush camped with some facilities and a quick dip in the spring fed natural spa.  Amazing how much pressure there was in those springs.  We had a wonderfully quiet night after hearing the dingoes howls before going to bed.

4th May - Set off again at 8am to continue on the Oodnadatta track. First stop William Creek famous for having the smallest population in Australia and boasting a very quaint pub filled with old memorabilia and thousands of calling cards, souvenirs and notes from many a traveller.  


We continued on to have lunch under the Algebuckina Bridge, the longest, single span bridge in South Australia, then on to Oodnadatta and the Pink Cafe for more fuel and a break before going on to spend the night at our first real free camp beside the dry Olarinna Creek, having tea by a campfire again after my getting a haircut from Cheryl in the dying light as tomorrow we will part company for a few days and hopefully catch up again before they head back to the East coast and work their way down while we go on to the Kimberley otherwise we’ll see them when we get back home.  We’ve had a wonderful week so far and will miss Cheryl & Ian’s company as well as their guidance of where to go and what to see on this trip.

5th May - I can’t believe it’s been a week and yet I can ‘t believe it was only a week ago that we left home. We finished the Oodnadatta Track today arriving in Marla around 10.20am filling up on fuel yet again and said our goodbyes to Cheryl & Ian before heading for Uluru, had lunch on the border of SA & NT and got to Yulara at around 5pm, set up in record time and caught the ‘rock’ at sunset. What a rock!!! Looking forward to the walk around it tomorrow, now this old bird is ready for bed.