Sun, 17th June, 2018 Bush camp, North Creek to Bush camp, Algebuckina Waterhole, Oodnadatta Track, SA (exploring)

7am 3.2 degrees – stayed in bed!!

Read until 9am and I couldn’t wait any longer to have breakfast. It was still only 6.7 degrees. The sun is shining so we warmed up sitting in the lovely sunshine.

Opened a new box of tea bags so we have new questions to answer. Cool breeze has started but I had our clothes warming in the sun so it was all good. 10am it made it to 10 degrees but if felt hotter in the sunshine.

Very late departure today, 10.30 and we haven’t had our coffee yet. Farewell to Willy Wagtail who has kept us company during breakfast. He was busy whizzing around grabbing the bugs as we packed up.

Our Hema Navigator didn’t like the cold either and I had to reboot it again.

Back under the bridge and onto the Track again.  We are using the Pink Roadhouse map with all the comments about the different things to see. The trainline embankment goes to the east a bit and the telegraph line was further east again from us.

We turned off the main track to try and find a bridge over Hanns Creek but the track just lead us to an artisan bore and a water trough for the cattle. No pump or windmill required here as the water just comes up out of the ground.

We went back to the main track and back across the dry creek then up the gibber rock covered hill to a big telephone repeater tower. We could just see the bridge in the trees but no track going down to it so we gave that one a miss.

We continued on the O Track through Plantation Sandhills.

Stopped to check out a Pink sign but again it is too hard to read. Nice view from here.

Next stop was Mt Dutton siding ruins and the big water tank beside the railway line. Definitely ‘House Rules’ make over potential here.

Steve found an old glass bottle stopper. Old cars were obviously driven into this dam and it has since filled up with soil.

Walked over to check out the water tank. Found some old posts.

Further over in the creek the pastoralist has a windmill and tank.

A bit of the old track and sleepers.

Zoomed in as the track disappears off into the distance.

The old standpipe.

Steve checked out where the fettlers would have stored their little wagons that they used to check the railway line with.

Not the prettiest back yard.

We followed the track up the hill to see if we could see any of the old telegraph poles, nothing but it was a great view from here.

Found a grave but nothing written on the headstone.

Steve checked out the old car. He thinks it was an early Ford with a flat head 6 cylinder engine.

Back to the O Track. Next stop was the bridge over Ockenden Creek. Still has sleepers on this one. Straight legs compared to the one at North Creek. We are amazed at all the work that would have been involved to bring all the steel here to make the bridges.

Got some firewood before we headed off again. More rail bridges.

Spotted another Pink sign. Great view over Neales River as it winds its way down to Lake Eyre.

Headed down to the river. We saw a track heading up to one end of the Algebuckina Bridge. It is the longest bridge on this ‘Ghan Railway’. This is the one on the big sign when we first came onto the O Track - would be great to see with all the water under it. Steve figured it was safe to park on the train line. It was fenced off. Very impressive. The telegraph line was moved to beside the railway line to make maintenance easier.

Algebuckina

This town site was surveyed soon after the discovery of gold in the early 1880s but the gold was quickly worked out. Only the stone fettlers’ cottages and a pump tower belonging to the railway were built in the vicinity. The Algebuckina railway bridge over the Neales River was built in 1889 as part of the Central Australia Railway. The bridge clears the river-bed by about 12 metres at its deepest point and the overall length of 578 metres makes it the longest railway-bridge in South Australia. The graves of two construction workers near the northern end of the bridge are reminders of the difficult conditions encountered while building this line.The Algebuckina Waterhole has been a favourite camping place for explorers, construction workers, stockmen and travellers alike.

We drove back to the main track and over the causeway. A bit of water visible. Algebuckina Waterhole is further downstream.

The other side of the bridge had a large clear area and a few vans etc were parked up. We climbed up onto the embankment to read the information and of course take some more photos. Amazing to think over 350 men were employed to build this bridge.

We could walk further along the bridge from this side.

Back down the bottom.

Had lunch with a 1000 flies – I miss my van where I can hide inside it with my flyswat!!

Wonder what this car’s story is.

There was a gold mine around here too so we followed a track up the hill. Nice view over the bridge and the river.

Spotted a rock cairn on one end of Algebuckina Hill but didn’t bother climbing up to it.

Saw some old drums where the mine was marked on our map but no sign of old workings.

Followed the train track through a cutting and around to another old building. Another fettlers’ cottage. They are all built the same.

Looking back to the bridge. There was a whole township here at one time.

Drove back and turned off to find the waterhole. Another Pink sign. Another sign of the South Australian Pastoralists Board stated we were allowed to camp along the waterhole.

We turned off at the pastoralist’s gate and followed the fence down to the river. Looking upstream then downstream.

We went further upstream and parked up for the night. Bit of a dusty spot with no water views but Steve could walk to the water and get the buckets filled for our showers tonight. Salt on the ground but the water didn’t taste too salty so it will be fine for a shower.

Looking further upstream. The water is trickling down over the rock bar.

I worked on my blog while Steve took the 2300 detector for a walk back to where the mine was. Today’s route. The map shows the 1870s Overland Telegraph Track would have crossed the river just upstream of where we are camped.

Steve had a good walk but only found a bit of rubbish.

Thermometer on sunny side of truck says 20 degrees but I was in the shade working on my laptop so it was a bit chilly. Got the fire going to warm us up. Love the evening when the flies disappear.

7.30pm 10.6 degrees already. Hot shower by the fire. Hope it doesn’t rain as this dirt we are parked in just turns to a muddy goo – which we found out having our shower. We have our mats so had to double them up.

Played some more cards after dinner with our coals keeping us warm.

9pm  down to 6.3 degrees so into bed.