Day 8. Met our friends at the Oodnadatta Pink Hotel as they detoured overnight to Coober Pedy. What a sight is the Pink Hotel! Great pies and coffee for lunch, not much else here but the many 4WD vehicles all kitted up for Simpson Desert crossing. Up the track several hundred kilometres we turned east onto the dreaded Pedirka Track (72km) which was very rough across the stony Pedirka Desert and sandy in the dry water courses. Crossed some areas of extreme mud after heavy rains closed Dalhousie 10 days ago. Stopped for a look at ruins of Old Dalhousie Homestead, this was a bustling cattle settlement in they late 1800s. Set up camp at Dalhousie and straight down for a swim in the hot artesian pool 37 degrees in places and 14 metres deep! Stayed in the shallow section. Absolutely brilliant tree-lined hot spring, steam rising off and little fish nibbling our heels. Colourful floaties called 'noodles' available created a party atmosphere. Invited to dinner of chicken schnitzel as our friends had won a meat tray in Coober Pedy. Dingo tried to raid our camp but scared off.