To Coober Pedy and a night underground - Day 4.

Well we set off from Port Augusta at 9.30 and headed for Coober Pedy (a 537km trip), not a bad haul at all.
Just as we were leaving the motel we got a call on the radio from Col and Rod who were refuelling in Port Augusta and would follow behind us for the day.

Milani kindly donated Puss in Boots to Ska and I, so we now have a mascot for the trip.

PIB was quickly placed in his position for the trip, this was our view for the day, here we have Stef, Meg and Milani in Disco, stopped at roadworks.
A view of one of the lakes on the way to CP, I think it was Lake Hart.

A roadside lunchstop, Milani was building "Stone castles" while Mum and Dad make lunch.

Hey, here we are at our Underground Motel, The Comfort Inn - Coober Pedy Experience. Milani was amazed.

Meg was keen to find the "bottleshop!" Unfortunately, these were empty bottles, as the hotel is dry.

Time for a little noodling (looking for opals)

Meg had a little "noodle" too.

Within about an hour of arriving at Coober Pedy, the whole gang arrived, and we headed off for tea. The plan was to get a group shot of the whole crew - Meg, Stef, Milani, Steve, Reve, Sarah, Col and Rod....but the best laid plans went out the door.

At tea I looked across the room and there sitting waiting for their meal was my old mate Irene and her man Andrew...they had done a camping trip from Sydney, across through Bourke, Lake Eyre, William Creek etc and here they were in Coober Pedy - un -bloody - believable. It was great to catch up with them, I stayed and chatted with them for a while and they walked me back to motel with the rest of the gang.

Milani got a quick shot of Irene and I - I still can't believe it.

This could be the last blog for a while, I am expecting no internet action out yonder. Tomorrow we head out west on the Anne Beadell Highway....see you when we are back in action.

Day Three - Playing in Port Augusta

Today was a day off the road...quite strange really, I have really enjoyed the trip over. First up today was a trip to the butcher to order some vac pac'd mince - they were great butchers, so if you are ever heading over this way and want meat vac pac'd, look up Terry Gardner meats.

I then took Dad's advice and headed out for a look a the Arid Land Botancial Gardens. I arrived just in time for a guided tour with volunteer Shirley and couple from Newcastle.

Before the actual gardens, I took a look at the Flinders Red Cliffs lookout, these are beside the Spencer Gulf and discovered by Matthew Flinders and his botanist Robert Brown.

This shot shows the cliffs on the left and mangroves in the gulf. These are the only Botanic Gardens in the world which include Mangroves, evidently.
A short walk along the cliffs and saw this little guy, haven't got the bird book out to check what he is, but he was happy to pose and chirrup on the fence post for me.

An Erimophila on the Red Cliffs.

Shirley was very keen on the Latin names for plants. So this one is Bossiaea walkeri or the Cactus Pea.

More Bossiaea walkeri.

This was another of the Eremophila (I think) so many plants, so many names and all Latin!
Unfortunatlely the batteries in my camera died, but maybe that was for the best, as I could focus on the amazing information that Shirley had to share.

After the 2 hour tour, I had lunch in the picnic areas with my friend the Magpie and Crested Pigeon - both very friendly and happy to share lunch.

After lunch I enjoyed scones and a coffee (well the scones were great...) at the Gardens.

The gardens are constantly under development and I was fascinated by this Projection Sundial. I read the instructions at least 4 times before I could figure the time. It is amazing that someone has gone to so much trouble to design this, an Aussie according to Shirley.

The Projection Sundial with Traditional Sundial on the right.

The time was so accurate, both at 10 when I arrived and about 12.55 when I took this shot.

This was an amazing plant (no name) which was quite cottony.

Shirley also pointed out that this is NOT Spinifex, but is accurately known as Triodia irritans or Porcupine Grass. The Gardens also have a lookout on the Stuart Highway, this is the view looking up the road towards Coober Pedy. Sandhills and the flat bit in between, whose name I can't recall.

From the Gardens I went back into town to collect my meat and a few more bits and pieces - walked around the shops for a couple of hours, cos they are fairly spread out and with lots of one way streets, it was easier to park and walk.

I got back to the Motel and rearranged the car again, repacked the fridge etc etc. Then the call from Stef, Meg and Milani...

They have arrived.....ready for a cuppa in my room.

oh and a juice for Milani.

Then we went to the Motel's restaurant for a meal.

Now once again it is blog and bed for this little black duck.

Goodnight all.

Day 2 - Nhill to Port Augusta

Up and ready to roll bout 8.00am this morning, the Halfway Motel, was clean, warm and comfy. Ska was guarding the room. and had a great view of the sunrise at Nhill.
Plans for the day were to aim for Port Pirie, we hit the Mighty Murray...
at Tailem Bend.

Then continued in cool but sunny weather to Port Wakefield, where we both filled up.

This was the view from the picnic table at lunchtime.
Drove on through Lochiel and past a Lake whose name I didn't catch, but it must be a Loch


as some funny bugger has captured the Monster.
Port Pirie was an easy drive, so decided to get to Port Augusta and spend two nights.
This will give me a chance to have a look around and do the last minute fruit and vegies etc.
Took a bit of a drive, here is a view of Port Augusta.

Then a Sunset walk along the waterfront, couldn't resist an attempt at some artistic shots.

This nut was under a jetty where an old bloke was catching garfish.

An old relic in the mudflats near the old and new bridge.
The old relic is a barge used by workmen while working on the Morgan to Whyalla pipeline.
The Flinders Ranges keep a watch over Port Augusta, you can see the sun setting on the
Ranges in the background.

An ancestor...maybe.
Port Augusta is known as the ‘Crossroads of Australia’ with a number of highways converging - the Stuart, Eyre, Princes, National (Highway 1).

The weather was great for travelling with a moderate 15degrees and sun shining through the windows.

Car is going well, just hope Ska copes with the more rugged stuff to come.

Go! - Day One

Ok, so this blogging business is a great big timewaster, so I am taking the
"picture says a thousand words" approach and will try and upload some photos with a little commentary when I can.

This project might only last a couple of days, cos I am not sure there will be either time or internet service when we are in the "desert".

So finally Ska is packed and we are ready for take off... only to turn back 10 minutes out for a missing bit of gear...which wasn't at home either....bugger. Bought one in Warragul, so we finally made a start. Said goodbye to Dad and the animals in Warragul, after topping up the air in tyres. You will pleased to know they all arrived back home safe and sound, and no worries.

It may be politically incorrect, but I am fascinated by the wind farms, here is one just outside Ballarat.

and some of them zoomed in.

Drove past Gariwerd (or The Grampians) so stopped for a quick photo opportunity.

and another one.

I landed in Nhill just after 6.00 - Motel is warm and clean and comfy and cheap, can't ask for more. So I have pulled in repacked the gear that got "chucked" in during the last minute rush and have eaten tea, and am about to have a cuppa and off to bed.

I will see how we go with photos and blogging tomorrow, this could be a short lived web publishing career.

The back story

There is a whole prequel to this blog, which I haven't yet created, maybe I will one day. Given the time and my learning how to do this...I am leaving this blog blank...in the hope I will one day put some words to the story told by these pictures.

Stef pondering the next move!

Wow...things are shaping up, frame on the way, table in and 3 tubs.

Now we are getting serious - chopping up Ska.

Mmmm - back together again, with some funky tuff additions.

Ska with Bar!

Putting it to the test on "Mountain Top Experience" 4wd course.