June 21^st

    A wonderful sunrise with a clear blue sky to follow. The camp at Beresford, on the Old Ghan Line, was peaceful amongst the bush of Acacia trees. This morning we headed for William Creek stopping along the way to look at Cunningham’s Parrot Pea which was growing in abundance on the dunes. I checked my ‘desert flower’ book for this very special bloom. I had marked the very first place I saw it as William Creek 1997…18 years ago and we have seen this wonderful flower many times since.

It is obvious that rain has fallen in the area. The stony desert areas are green with new grass and the bushes are also green, replacing the normal grey look they have when there is no moisture to be had.

Cunningham's Parrot Pea near William Creek

 We enjoyed the drive today through very wide flat areas interspersed with undulating hills and dunes. Mid afternoon we reached Oodnadatta which is a small place offering garage and store services. It was disappointing to find that the road out to Cadney Park, through the Copper Hills, was still closed with impassable areas on the road. We have now continued north and west to Marla on the Stuart Highway.

Pink Roadhouse, Oodnadatta

June 20^th

Below zero this morning but a wonderful warm and sunny day to follow. We spent some time exploring Farina with its old stone buildings. The bakers’ oven is now in operation so we purchased bread and cinnamon scrolls.

Looking down on the Farina Camp Ground

Maree was the first township we came to along the track. From here we travelled on the Oodnadatta Track. The roads have dried out but water is obvious on the country around.

‘Wide Open’ spaces are all around us with a wide blue sky with very few clouds. It all makes for easy camping and travelling after the few wet days. We stopped at Lake Eyre South to take in another wide view. A view of salt water and distance, a view of a ‘Salina’. Lake Eyre is a huge expanse of water which, at that point, is 12 metres below sea level.

We planned an shorter day and eventually camped at Beresford siding on a great spot among the Mulga trees.

The old truck that Tom Kruise used as a mail truck on the Oddnadatta Track many years ago

John and Beth cooked us a wonderful camp oven meal of roast beef and vegetables. It was a superbly quiet evening to be sitting by a big log fire enjoying a roast meal with red wine. The sky is clear with bright stars and a very shallow moon.

June 19th

The blue sky was very welcome this morning after the recent rains have freshened the countryside,  especially the crops.
 Gradually the country is becoming more arid in appearance as we come further north.

A common sight are the many old stone and brick buildings. Sadly they have been abandoned by early settlers who must have worked so hard and then experienced tragic disappointment with unsuccessful farming.

Enjoying lunch at the Prairie Hotel, Parachilna

Emus and kangaroos are part of the scenery and luckily we have only seen a few dead animals on the road , this is a relief as I hate seeing road-kill

Flinders Ranges from west side

We arrived at the Prairie Hotel at Parachilna just in time for lunch. We enjoyed a kangaroo burger while sitting in the sun outside the hotel. An empty coal train went by heading back to the mines of Leigh Creek. It was pulled by 3 huge engines and must have been nearly 1 kilometre in length.

Food shopping was successful at Leigh Creek. We are preparing for our excursion into more remote areas. The tyre which troubled us yesterday has been abandoned as the hole in it cannot be repaired. It is difficult to buy a large new tyre out here so we will run with one spare tyre until we can arrange for a new one further down the track.

We have camped at Farina Campground this evening and were able to have a hot shower. There is a ‘donkey’ heater to stoke for the heating of water. 

June 18th

Another dull day even though we saw the stars in the sky last night. Early today John Andrew rang me to ask whether we knew how close Cynthia and David were. He thought we may have missed each other. Little did he know Cynthia and I had arranged a morning tea meeting. It was fun to see them and the coffee and tea in Burra is excellent at the Gaslight Cafe. Unfortunately I neglected to take a photo of us all together.

The day has been quite cold but without rain. This evening we are settled in a Rest Area west of Orroroo. A fire and washing on the line!

Harrisons and Browns camp on the Murray River at Waikerie

June 17th

Quite a long day of driving. We met up with our travelling companions, Beth and John Harrison.
After some indecision we have camped on the Murray River near Waikerie which is in South Australia. It is a pleasant temperature but fast cooling as the sun goes down.

As we were coming through Mildura we got a glimpse of the Rotunda  which is a long standing memorial to George Desailly who lived and worked in and around Mildura. He owned a sheep property in the Riverina.  Another of my relatives from my Mother's family.

We enjoyed lunch by a very attractive lake. I had the pleasure of finding a bush flowering in a pretty mauve/lilac colour. I think it was an Eremphila sometimes known as a Native Fuchsia or Emu Bush.

Late in the evening we made arrangements to meet Cynthia and David in Burra tomorrow morning. It is a little over 100 km from here. They are on their way home from an inland trip and were chased by rain down Goog's Track. the rain has followed them all the way.

Eremophila

June 16th

We left Milawa on a foggy morning and travelled west through Devonish, Dookie and Shepparton. Rain fell on and off all day.

We eventually camped in the Nyah State Forest on a sandy bank not far from a farm and the Murray Valley Highway. Tracks are muddy through the bush so we did not venture too close to the river. It is a warning to us and the bitumen looks good.

Sandy patch in the Nyah State Forest

June 15th

EC is parked in our driveway in readiness for departure. Already we have more than enough on board. Hope there is space for me! We hope to leave Milawa about mid morning tomorrow.

A rain band is coming across Australia. This is good for our country but not so good for travellers. Some of the roads in South Australia, that John has planned in our itinerary, are now closed because of wet and muddy conditions. It takes very little rain to make outback roads impassable.

We will head west in the morning and see what eventuates with roads and weather. Bitumen roads will be more attractive until the roads dry out.