The Hawker Caravan Park - the one in town, is fantastic - yes it is on the edge of almost desert - however they have plated suitable native trees which are lush and very attractive to the birds.

We packed up and found that the back tyre still has a leak, so the tyre was just ridable down to the servo to pump it up with air. We pumped it up and bolted for Port Agusta on the logic that it stayed inflated for the ride from Leigh Creek to Hawker and that is further than from Hawker to Port Augusta.

The tyre stayed up and we got to Port A about 11am - we picked up a small compressor for any future deflations etc - and then set up at the Shoreline Caravan Park - we got a good spot protected from the wind - did I mention the wind - well I will sometime soon.

The chap next door Ian had ridden his bicycle from Brisbane in 5 weeks but the wind had worn him down so he is now flying home. We had a good old chat about stuff and caught a few times over the course of the day. Also met Ed with a 1400 Suzuki - he was another person with another complex life story.

We did some housework and then in the afternoon, battled the (did I mention the wind) and visited the Arid Gardens - they are fantastic and we will certainly go again when there is a little less (did I mention the wind).

It blew all night, I tied Gertie up to a tree so she wouldn't get blasted off her centre stand. It blew, it ranged, it bufferted, swirled, tore, wailed, swept and any other word you can find.

Monday

Today we try and get a new tyre for Gertie so we can continue on our trip.

NOTE: todays image has been cropped to fit the programs layout - full image is in the album, South Australia