Tuesday, 14th July 2009

Another great night's sleep!

After a quick chat to Bill and Marion (our neighbours from Rawnsley Park station who arrived at Arkaroola last night) we finished packing and hit the road.The sky was very grey and looked like rain (again) so we wanted to out of there ASAP!After a quick stop in Leigh Creek for some groceries and lunch we continued north with a brief stop at the Farina ruins - and nearly got blown away!It was so windy.We thought about camping here at the campground but it was so windy and it still looked like rain so we kept going north to Marree.Marree is a small town located at the start of both the Birdsville Track and the Oodnadatta Track.There is only 1 pub and 1 servo and about a thousand tourists!We couldn't believe how many people where there when we got there.We stopped at the pub for a quick beer and supplies and then drove over to the servo to queue for fuel.While we were waiting for fuel, the supply truck arrived to unload supplies for the servo.It took a bit of patience and navigational skills for everyone to manoeuvre around the servo, the unloading truck and the highway!

It still looked like rain so we continued north to Muloorina Station, about 45km's south of Lake Eyre.There is a nice campsite on a waterhole that Mel had stayed at about 15 years ago when she came up here with parents, so we decided to stay there.Obviously word has gotten out about the campsite as when we pulled in there were people camped everywhere!There was no chance of getting a spot on the waterhole but we did manage to find a nice, sheltered and private spot not far away.The plan is to stay here for a few days.

15th July 2009

Quiet day relaxing at Muloorina Waterhole.We went for a walk around the waterhole, which is fed by a bore, and spent the rest of the day relaxing and pottering around camp.Matt cooked up a great stew for dinner.

16th July 2009

Up early this morning (a first for us this trip!) to drive in to Lake Eyre.We were the only ones on the road and we watched the sun come up as we drove.When we got to Lake Eyre there was no water.We took a few happy snaps and headed back to camp.

For those of you that may not know, Lake Eyre is a large inland salt lake that lies 15m below sea level and fills up on average once every 8 years.Its catchment area is 1/6 of Australia and the early explorers thought it was an inland sea and that it was impossible for travel from the south of Australia up to the north.This year the lake was full which is why there are so many tourists around.When the lake is full it becomes a haven for birds and is a spectacle from the air as the lake is a couple of hundred kilometres wide.By the time we got to there the lake only had about 20% water and most of the birds had left but we still got a feel for the size of the lake.

When we got back to camp we had stew jaffles (toasted sandwiches) for brunch and then pottered around for a bit until Matt got bored and went to cut some firewood (he loves his chainsaw!) while Mel read her book.Matt came back unloaded some wood and drove off again.An hour later he still wasn't back.Should I be worried?I got up and went for a walk to the toilet which was a few hundred metres away and on the way I found Matt - making himself at home at someone elses camp!Peta and Helen welcomed me in to camp and offered me a wine and a chair.Many hours later we were still there and had been fed and had drank all of their wine and Matt and Helen were dancing around the campfire!Matt was quite pissed and somehow I managed to get him to bed at about 10pm - I think it was because there were no drinks left!

Thanks for a great night Peta and Helen!A great example of Aussie hospitality.