Coober Pedy

 Stuart Highway is an excellent long straight road – just like WA in places – the scenery also. Back into saltbush, scrub, vast areas with no trees at all. Gentle rising land (although at Glendambo I was still only 150m). Large salt pan lake – Island Lake and then an overnight stop at Lake Hart which does have some water in it. FLIES – little mongrels are everywhere – resorted to the fly net! Not even worth trying to have happy hour!

Stopped at Pimba Roadhouse for lunch. Big free camp there and toilets/showers but decided to keep going. It is at the intersection of 2 busy roads

I have to wonder –again – why anyone would want to farm here – thousands of acres per sheep although I gather they do thrive on the salt bush and there is plenty of that around.

I heard there was rain over Easter – probably why the road verges are green but the grass certainly does not extend off there! Must be a great attraction for the wild life – and stock = roadkill!

Lake Hart is another big salt lake and the railway line runs along the edge. Several trains – freight and ore but no Ghan. Heard trains during the night also.

Mon 8th

Have stopped at Bon Bon rest area – no phone coverage so feeling as though my throat has been cut  but no point going on as it may be Alice before the next reception. Not sure about Coober Pedy either. Will go there tomorrow anyway. At least there are loos here.  Pity they don’t have them at rest areas much in SA – especially when there are so many whizz bangs and 4x4 people on these roads. I'm sure they don’t all carry a bucket! Not just snakes to keep an eye out for if walking!!!!

There were 5 caravans, a couple of cars and a few campervans at Lake Hart last night. So many on the roads again now. Amazing colours in the sunset running into the greens after it had gone down. A very warm night until the wind got up then I was grabbing for a blanket. Millions of stars and so peaceful after Port Augusta.

Went another 70 km to Ingomar rest – up on a rise. Green tinge all over the place – a bit of grass but also the saltbush has coloured up. Must have had good rain. Decided the clouds were the most attractive thing on this part of the drive. The soil looking more like iron sands now.

Carried on to next rest area – 2 campervans there. Overlooking a brightly lit mine way down in the valley. Flies again so we had happy hour after sunset! Beautiful warm night under the stars.

Tues 9^th

Good sleep – didn’t get the cold wind during the night. Headed off the 45 km to Coober Pedy. More green desert. A sign saying Telstra digital coverage for 50km - will be OK 25 km either side of Coober Pedy then who knows where next - maybe Marla or over the border?
What strange landscape now – all the mounds of dirt where they are mining opals. Booked into the Opal Inn Caravan Park for 2 nights and will do the tour tomorrow $60, 4 hours. No water for vans here – have to pay 20c for a 4 min shower – but only a couple of others in the park so have a double site.