Day 6. A day in beautiful town of Ceduna and the port of Thevenard where 2 large ships were loading gypsum and grain. A short drive out to Shelly Beach towards Smoky Bay to explore some possible fishing hot spots but it started to rain lightly so back into town. A walk out onto the very long jetty with a great view back to the town. Some tasty treats and coffees at the local bakery served by some friendly ladies we promised we would be back for breakfast tomor...

Day 5. Up very early today as we drove south towards the Bight as we have decided to cancel our plan for a direct route across the western deserts and to circumnavigate them instead. Down the Stuart Highway from Coober Pedy with a beautiful red sunrise across the desert, we turn off for a 300km dirt road shortcut to Ceduna on the coast. Stopped at the small rail village of very outback Kingoonya (pub and two dogs), we cross into some very arid but beautiful cou...

Day 4. A full day in dusty, dry Coober Pedy. Of interest the underground Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, underground Catholic Church and underground Serbian Orthodox Church all carved and bored into the hillsides. So many mines here, holes in the ground and piles of dirt it seems most people live underground like moles as summer temps can reach almost 50 degrees! Relaxing afternoon before joining our friends Keith and Di at Joe’s pizza restaurant for dinner. C...

Day 3. A long but interesting day passing the greenery of Mt Remarkable then up the Stuart Highway stopping for morning tea by the old historic wharf at Port Augusta, then we travel north through arid saltbush country stopping to admire the huge salt lakes of Island Lagoon and Lake Hart. We take a walk down to the great train line which carries the Indian Pacific and Ghan but alas no trains! Then we continue to climb in elevation to 195m to Pimba, detouring int...

Day 2. Arrived safely in the beautiful small village of Melrose beneath the shadow of Mt Remarkable. Kristy our host very welcoming so down to the local pub for dinner - it’s schnitzel and seafood night. Today we travelled along the Murray River through Mildura and Renmark, stopping at Morgan then onto Burra and past the huge Tesla battery and wind farms to Melrose, the oldest village in the Flinders Ranges. Travelled 630km today, warm 19 degrees.