We departed Port Augusta about 8.30am for the trip north on the Stuart Highway. It was another beautiful blue sky day and we drove through small dusty, dark green bushes and again the red earth. The road kill is getting bigger!!! We've gone from wambats and foxes to very big cows. The scenery changed to flat plains with just desert grass and not much vegetation for as far as the eye can see. We topped up with petrol at Spuds Roadhouse and then drove past Lake Hart, a very large salt lake.
On the last stretch of the trip we had 253km to drive without being able to top up with petrol. We thought we would be OK but weren't sure. No problem. We arrived at Coober Pedy with easily a quarter of a tank to spare. Now, at least we have some idea of our petrol consumption while towing!!!! We checked into Big 4 Oasis caravan park ($30 power,no water), had a few drinks with our neighbours from Sydney and had an easy dinner. We have good coverage for mobile phones and internet here, so I took the opportunity to do some forward bookings by using Skype phone. Easy peazy, and very cheap.
The next morning I took my first coin operated shower. 20cents for 3 minutes. It took me the first 2 minutes to adjust the temperature so I had a one minute shower before it cut out. Another 20cents and it started again at the same temperature and I was able to finish my shower for 40cents. Cheap at half the price!!!
We took a 1/2 day tour of Coober Pedy. Our bus driver as an ex opal miner who was 77 years old and very knowledgeable. We visited the opal fields and mines and the noodling area where anyone can go to fossick for opals, (and keep whatever you find). Also visited the Serbian Underground Church which was an amazing building, built underground of course and extremely beautiful. We drove all over town to Rudi's excellent commentary and lastly visited the Umoona Opal Mine & Museum which we found really interesting.
That afternoon we set off on a Sunset Breakaway Tour, first visiting an area of abandoned opal mines, where we were not allowed to leave the road because the area is pitted with abandoned prospecting drill holes up to 30m deep. Apparently its illegal to fill them in, in case someone is down there and could get trapped. Some of them have been almost covered with vegetation over the years, so the area is very dangerous.
Our next stop was the Breakaway Reserve, 32km north of Coober Pedy, which consists of colourful low hills, which have broken away from the Stuart Range, hence the name "The Breakaways". As the sun moves across the sky, the colours change. We stopped at 3 vantage points to take photos and view the Breakaways at sunset. This area has been used for several films (Mad Max beyond the Thunderdome and Ground Zero).
We also visited the Dog Fence. This 2m high wire barrier stretches for over 5,300km across 3 states to protect the sheep country in the south from Dingos. The Moon Plain lies on one side of the fence and has fossilised shells, grey, soft clay dirt and cracks that appear to be bottomless.
It was a great tour to a very beautiful, area.
George, our driver, is the manager of the caravan park where we are staying, and before dropping us off, offered to show us his home, which is a dugout. (there were only 4 of us on the tour). It was amazing. A very large 4 bedroom house, dug into the side of a hill with beautiful red sandstone walls with pick marks on them making a pattern. The only windows were at the front. We were very impressed with the original Aboriginal art in every room and its slate floors. This wasn't part of the tour and we were lucky to have been invited.
That night we walked up the main street to Jo's Pizza Restaurant for dinner.
Our last day in Cooper Pedy we took a walk up the main street which is full of opal shops and restaurants, filled up the car with petrol, and prepared the van for our trip into the Northern Territory tomorrow.
Tomorrow night we will be staying at the Kulgera Roadhouse, which is just over the border. Looks like I will be losing my lettuce again, as we will be passing through another quarantine station!!! I'm not expecting to have phone coverage or inernet access there so it will probably be Uluru before we will be contactable again.
Cheers
Rhonda (Sam) & Pete
No comments:
Post a Comment