Fri, 15th June, 2018 Bush camp near NT/SA Border Rest Area to Bush camp by Oolarinna Creek, Oodnadatta Track, SA

7am 3.2 degrees outside and inside the truck. The bed was facing the rising sun so by 8am it was up to 9 degrees. We sat in the sun for breakfast of course. Clear sky and still.

Packed up enjoying the sun’s warmth.

Continued down the Stuart Highway, only 110kph now. Welcome to SA.

More flat open country with a hill here and there. Road very bumpy – nearly worse than the dirt tracks. The trees and shrubs are right up to the side of the track so not easy to spot wildlife or cattle.

Stopped at Marryat River for a cuppa. Plenty of room to park up around here.

It has warmed up enough that we could take off our coats. I checked out the Emergency Phone – still no Telstra phone service.

Crossing some low red sand ridges which are covered with grass and shrubs. Then a few hills rise out of the flat plains – De Rose Hill (495m).

Got a text through just north of Chandler.

Crossed the Central Australian Railway – no trains coming. We watched some of a TV show that was a view from the front of the Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin – very long and boring as they didn’t put any commentary to it. Erica and Terry have done the trip and enjoyed it.

Chambers Bluff (592m) as we pass the crossroads to two communities and the Chandler railway siding.

More hills appearing – lots of flat topped ones.

The caravans just keep coming. We still get the waves even though we aren’t towing one – must look like we are touring. Passed the turn off to Mintable – sign says Opal Fields.

Into Marla – topped up with fuel. That NT one was a rip off as it is only 179.9 here. $4 for 20 litres of drinking water from a big shipping container. Steve thinks it is a desalinating cleaning the artesian water for consumption.

Rang Jon and Mum and Dad to say we are heading onto the Oodnadatta Track. Had lunch in the park. The sun is hot but as soon as you get in the shade the breeze is cold. Steve let some air out of the tyres as we are heading back onto the dirt.

We are using the Westprint Desert Parks maps that we got with our SA National Parks Desert Pass ($160). Typed up the info which I will insert into my blog in italics.

Marla

Marla township was officially opened in 1982. Marla Bore, 8km to the west, was a popular stopping place on a long and dreary stretch of the old alignment of the Stuart Highway. Greg Oakley, together with his parents Kenneth and Thelma, chose this spot for a new town. They believed that this halfway location between Adelaide and Alice Springs would make an ideal site for a service centre. The realignment of the Stuart Highway and the Ghan Railway, planned for the early 1980s, together with a known supply of good artesian water made this an excellent choice.

Checked out the old billboard created many years ago by the Pink Roadhouse in Oodnadatta. Shame it hasn’t been maintained.

I asked in the roadhouse for information about the track and the opal field but they had nothing. No signs either pointing to the O Track so we drove back out and down the road a bit and found the turn off. 

Lots of safety information – all the roads are open which is good for us. Off we head

on the next part of our adventure.

Back on the dirt heading east. Good wide road – looks like the old ‘track’ days are gone. The Oodnadatta Track sign – I wonder if we will see water like that. Looks like a bridge over the Murray River.

Flat open country, low trees and shrubs. Puffy clouds appearing. Good road and straight. We are following someone as we can see their dust in the distance.

Passing through tree-less plains of Welbourn Hill Station. Passed the homestead off to the right.

Lots of old ‘diggings’ marked on the Hema – we presume they are opal.

Stopped in Coongra Creek to get firewood.

A range of hills to our right - Mt Herbert North (326m) noted on the map. Rolling up and down over ridges. Turned onto a track beside dry Oolarinna Creek to camp for the night.

Only a few flies – I’m kidding. Steve collected more firewood while I got another day typed for my blog. Today’s map.

5.30 the sunset was giving lovely colours against the clouds but the trees in the creek were blocking my view for a photo.

The temperature dropped quickly so got in and had our showers. No waiting till bed time now. Into our warm clothes. Dinner and more cards with the coals keeping us warm. Even got the big one on the other side of us so we have lovely warmth around us.

Clouds came over and the breeze stopped so it wasn’t too bad. 17 degrees at 7.30.

10pm though it had dropped to 10.7 degrees and sky has cleared again. Very quiet here.