Oodnadatta Track and town

Thursday morning (2 October) we left Marree and commenced on the Oodnadatta Track,  it was smooth going and we stopped along the way to view ruins and historical information. 

A string of springs runs right along the track, Aboriginal people passed their knowledge on to explorers and settlers - this was the only way one could survive in this harsh country - a source to water.

Long stretches of corrugations

Water tank used by trains in 1800s.

Some of the ruins along the track - so sad to see them just left there.

One of the many bridges once used by the old Ghan and now just left to rust. 

 

Dog fence - longest man-made structure in the world, built to protect sheep from dingoes and wild dogs.  It marks the boundary between sheep and cattle country (cattle can withstand dingo attacks)

Note the corrugations and the landscape

 

Salt lakes

 

 

Lake Eyre, Australia's largest lake and the world's largest internally draining catchment.  Rivers that feed this lake cover an area of 1.2 million square kms.  Most of the time it is a dry salt lake.  When it fills it is due to large monsoonal rains in Queensland which flow south via the Cooper Creek or Georgina-Diamantina river system. 

Neil eating lunch at Lake Eyre South

Growing near Lake Eyre, hard to imagine anything so pretty can grow in these harsh conditions.

Walking towards Lake Eyre

Neil on the lake

Morena on the lake - it was so hot and the flies were horrific

Floor of the lake

Distant view of lake.

Landscape

Old water tank and water purifier

Birds over bridge at Stuart Creek

 

Stuart Creek

Birds on bridge

 

Stuart Creek

 

The Bubbler - a mound spring,  the colour of the sand is amazing,  the water is warm and to see the little bubbles erupting is fascinating.

Blanche Cup - mound spring

 

COWARD SPRINGS

 

We decided to stay at "Coward Springs" for the night,  we setup our tent and then enjoyed a dip in the artesian hot spring.  The night temperature was comfortable but the number of mosquitoes was just horrid.

 

Neil resting at our camp site

Next morning, car all packed ready to continue on the track.

Shower block

Amenities

Landscape

Three baby swallows in the nest.

Coward Springs is on private land and hence the gate.

Another lizard!

Wild dingo at Beresford Springs

 

Water tank and water purifier.

Fettlers collage (now left to rot)

 

STRANGEWAYS 

 

We stopped here and looked at the ruins and information boards, it's really hard to imagine a thriving community here,  it is so dry, hot and isolated.  One blessing is that there are natural mound springs in this area.  Strangeways was developed when 800+ unemployed men were sent from Adelaide to develop this settlement.  It was used as a cattle station and also as part of the Overland Telegraph operations. I am sure that during the 1800s the flies were just as prolific as they were the day we were there!

Some colour in such a harsh landscape

 Managers home

Water tank

Part of a cattle yard

Landscape from Strangeways

So sandy.

 

WILLIAM CREEK

 

William Creek is a stop over for thirsty travellers.

 

Which way home?

Woomera rocket at William Creek, fuel tank behind

Inside rocket

Mechanics inside rocket

 

 

Neil next to a centrifuge, for spinning water out of washed wool.

 

 

William Creek Pub

Tamed dingo and it's pup

Apparently these two had been out hunting and playing all night and were now sleeping in the William Creek Pub!

I had to look at this tree twice - these looked so real.

Back on the track - note the distance, corrugations and landscape.  As we came closer to Oodnadatta town the corrugations became worse.

There had been rain and careless drivers had churned up the track even further.

Algebuckina Bridge - there are 18 x 30metres sections on this bridge built in the 1800s, built over Neal's creek.

Still some water in Neal's creek

OODNADATTA

Initially a railway workshop town.
Now a tourist destination.

The famous Pink Road House.  We stayed only one night.

Our car in front of the old Rail Station now a museum.  Saturday morning and not a soul around.

Everything is pink, even the car!

Where is everybody?

Only modern building in the town

They even have their own Radio station!

 

We toured the entire town, took only about 10 minutes and then headed on to Coober Pedy,  more corrugations, dust, heat and flies.

 

 This was the landscape for a long long time.