Note: going back to the trip from Port Lincoln to Port Augusta where I encounter 25-45 kts of wind out of the NW. During that transit I encountered 3 huge dust clouds. The clouds were at least 100 meters high and blowing straight into the ocean, if not the ocean the city of Adelaide was feeling the blunt of the dust cloud. Can't even begin to calculate the number of metric tons of top soil that was lost.
Port Augusta-Pimba-Glendambo- Coober Pedy
A very long ride to Coober Pedy. Before getting up on the plateau you are passing huge salt lakes on both sides of the road. The first stop for fuel is at Spuds Roadhouse. Be it food, fuel or pokie (one arm bandits), Spuds has it. Next fuel stop was Glendambo; it must be the fly capital of the world! Into Goober Pedy for the night and if you didn't know better you swear that Mad Max is right around the corner. This town survives on Opal mining only. So what you have is a town that is surrounded by huge mounds of dirt and only dirt.
And the flies are where?
Coober Pedy welcoming sign
And Mad Max is out there….!
Coober Pedy (SA) –Kulgera- Eridunda - Curtain springs (Northern Territory)
Another long day in the saddle but just getting into Curtain Springs had me on the right road to Ayers Rock. Curtain Springs offer free camping but believe me they make up for it in fuel, beer and food plus the cost of taking a shower.
The Australian wedge tail eagle is not a threaten specie believe me. If I counted one I counted 50 plus on the road from Coober Pedy. And do they have an attitude...!
Curtain Springs
Curtain Springs - Ayers Rock - Eridunda - Alice Springs
Getting into see the rock was $25 right off at the National Park. This allow you to drive around the rock, climb it, and take as many pictures as possible and the Park system smiled all the way to the bank.
A welcoming site into Ayers Rock. The first and only camel carcass that I saw.
Ayers Rock or the Aboriginal name of Uluru
Getting back out to the main road for Alice Springs was another 200 km and was this getting a bit long in the tooth. About 40km from Alice Springs, I just about to fell asleep at the wheel. A short stop at a rest stop, 40 minutes of eye lids in the closed position and I was a new lad heading for Alice. Got into Alice and it was the Big 4 caravan site for the next couple of days. In the next site to me was a pommie (brit) couple, he was understandable but his wife had a Scottish brogue that you could cut with a knife. It finally got to the point that her husband would translate everything she said or use sign language.
Alice had great weather while I was there and did manage to make a side trip to Trephina Gorge Nature Park.
Alice Springs (NT) to Coober Pedy (SA)
What a bloody long drive at 600km plus. There is nothing that I would comment on concerning this leg only that it was over with.
Coober Pedy to Port Augusta
Spending the night at Coober Pedy with ground cloth, themarest mattress and sleeping bag. The next morning it was roll everything up including the dirt and down the road it was. It was a bit fresh that morn but with the thought of Port Augusta for the night and a cold beer and finally off the road from Alice Springs, things had to look up. Port Augusta for the night at Big 4 Caravan Park and grass area for the tent.
Port Augusta-Quorn-Hawker-Parachina-Beltana-Leigh Creek- Copley (South Flinders Range)
Out of Port Augusta, cross the bridge for Adelaide, hook a left at Route B83 and head north. Stopped at Parachilna for fuel and immediately was covered in flies. I asked the pub owner was it better in the summer; yes it was, as I would be completely covered with flies and the temp would be around 45 degrees.
Buildings like these were very common going up the Flinders Range. Over a 100 yrs old and supported The Old Ghan Railroad.
One of many old Ghan Railroad trestles
Copely was the next stop for the night and paradise it was. It is a town that everyone forgot except when the coal train comes through and sounds its horn around 0200hrs. Has a great little bakery and being that it is out there in no where, the flies are in abundance.
Ahhhhhhhhh, the good old bush bakery……
Sunset at Copley
The Copley flies are not a problem…!
Spent another day in Copley and made a run up to Maree for the day. Dirt road all the way but out there it is.
And if you think this sign is exciting, try finding the town…..
Antique tub used back in the early 1800’s by Molly Flanders.
From Copley it is south to Adelaide and points SE with the bike having to be in Melbourne by the 25th. I will be back in Hawaii on the September 29th.
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