Coward Springs to Arkaringa Station (Painted Desert) - 07 August 2013

The track got a little rougher as we headed out from Coward Springs towards William Creek, but still good enough for around 90kph. More ruins along the side of the old Ghan. Stopped off for morning coffee and the obligatory second mortgage to cover the fuel bill - only joking - a little bit. The place was infested with motor bikes. About thirty dirt bikes, 3 support 4x4s and riders of assorted gender, were filling up with coffee and petrol for the trip to Maree. We were glad they were going the other way to us. Turns out they were from various parts of Gippsland and had already ridden across the Simpson Desert and then down the Oodnadatta to William Creek on their way to the Strezleski Track to get back to their trailers etc at Broken Hill. All in 12 days. What an effort!

Stopped of for more pictures of ruins at the Peak Hill Telegraph Station. Couldn't believe it, there was rabbit droppings every where, even out here. Time to take a leaf out of Emperor Fu Man Chu's book and build a wall to keep the rabbits out coz the fence isn't working.

Still the longest bridge in SA (Oh and just by the way, is anyone interested in restoring an EJ Holden, I think I know where a good starting point can be found going cheep)

Played chasey with two guys and a gal in an old Land Cruiser for most of the day - every where we stopped they were there. They even backtracked from the Pink Roadhouse at Oodnadatta to head for the Painted Desert, and yep, they are encamped at Arkaringa as well.

Speaking of the Pink Roadhouse - it is certainly PINK. Its the general store, bar, petrol station, post office and restaurant, and all in all was a nice place to take a break for lunch. No sandwiches and cup of tea by the road side today. We mainlined it and had Oodnburgers and chips - YUM!!!

From Oodnadatta it was a little over an hours drive to Arkaringa over freshly graded roads. The track from the main Oodnadatta - Coober Pedy road was a little narrower but still reasonably smooth. The only problem is that it seems to have been laid out by someone who was very bored and dreaming that they were driving a ski boat towing a tube and their sole mission in life was to eject whoever was riding it as forcefully as possible. In other words it is a very, very, very winding road.

Set up camp at the back of the station homestead and then drove back out to the Painted Desert to watch the sunset - let's just say that Uluru or Katajuka it isn't. Still the glass of Shiraz helped pass the time and soften the blow.

Yep you're right Jamie, the radio aerial gets in the way all the time.

Mohawks Rule!

Doing it tough amongst the rocks and the dust.

Painted Shmainted..

Another mechanical problem today - one of the driving lights rattled a bit loose and was laying back thinking of England instead of pointing down the road. Tightened it back up, but neither of the blighters are working now. Probably a loose power connection somewhere - not surprised after the pounding everything has had on the tracks up here (bloody Vibratum). Hate to think what it's like when they are rough...