Remote Area Sign at the beginning of the Oodnadatta Track
Fossicking for spikes along the Old Ghan Railway Line
The Ghan Locomotive
Fossicking for spikes along the Old Ghan Railway Line
The Ghan Locomotive
28th, 29th May, 2009
We’ve made it to Marree after stopping off at Leigh Creek for some food. After being met at the front drive of the local caravan park by it’s main man Ron, we opted to take a “motel” room for the night. I use the word motel very loosely. We’re in a caravan park and the motel rooms are relocatable quarters used on building sites and such. However, we have our own hot shower (with heaps of pressure) and the boys are excited to sleep in a bed. We are very comfortable and warm.
At night, the park puts on a dinner and campfire for $10 a head. It is open to anyone including the staff and locals around here. What a great night. We sat around the fire with all the other travelers and swapped stories over a few coldies. Steve and I looked over at each other and both knew we were where we wanted to be. We are with other 4WD’ing and camping folk and it’s a great community. The locals are warm and friendly, always ready for a beer, chat or prank (which I still seem to be an easy target for).
We also saw another side of the traveling community – the light aircraft pilots. Had a great chat with our neighbour here, who is flying his two children in his Cessna for a holiday in Coober Pedy. He was with two other groups flying their own planes too. How glamourous does that sound?
We saw John Williamson at the old railway station also. He is filming a story on the Ghan. Cam really wanted to go back and get his autograph for his friend Melissa (who just loves John’s music) but we couldn’t find him again – sorry Lissy, we did try!
This is the place that we first noticed the absolute silence of a town. Most places we’ve been to so far have had the constant drone of a generator going. The generator sounds have been replaced with the constant buzz of the charter planes that crowd the skies with people taking their joy flights over Lake Eyre. Although this is the high season for the outback at the best of times, having the lake filled with water provides an extra boost of tourists which is helping these towns thrive
Evan, Cathy and their boys arrived also. Seems we’re going to be traveling in tandem for a while. Cam is ecstatic about that thought.
Talking a hike along the Old Ghan track we discovered heaps of old railway spikes and nails that were used in building the line. We have collected a few as rare souvenirs of our history. Once again we are reminded of how little attention we paid in school and are thirsting for more education. There is now a huge list of things we need to look up on the internet when we next have access.
The corrugations have now taken a toll on the number plate of the trailer. When we arrived here there was only one screw left holding it in place. Lucky.
Now that we’re at the start of the Oodnadatta Track, we will head off tomorrow for Coward Springs. Can’t wait for the nice warm bath in the open air spring. Sounds like a great place to open a special bottle of wine I’ve been carrying!
We’ve made it to Marree after stopping off at Leigh Creek for some food. After being met at the front drive of the local caravan park by it’s main man Ron, we opted to take a “motel” room for the night. I use the word motel very loosely. We’re in a caravan park and the motel rooms are relocatable quarters used on building sites and such. However, we have our own hot shower (with heaps of pressure) and the boys are excited to sleep in a bed. We are very comfortable and warm.
At night, the park puts on a dinner and campfire for $10 a head. It is open to anyone including the staff and locals around here. What a great night. We sat around the fire with all the other travelers and swapped stories over a few coldies. Steve and I looked over at each other and both knew we were where we wanted to be. We are with other 4WD’ing and camping folk and it’s a great community. The locals are warm and friendly, always ready for a beer, chat or prank (which I still seem to be an easy target for).
We also saw another side of the traveling community – the light aircraft pilots. Had a great chat with our neighbour here, who is flying his two children in his Cessna for a holiday in Coober Pedy. He was with two other groups flying their own planes too. How glamourous does that sound?
We saw John Williamson at the old railway station also. He is filming a story on the Ghan. Cam really wanted to go back and get his autograph for his friend Melissa (who just loves John’s music) but we couldn’t find him again – sorry Lissy, we did try!
This is the place that we first noticed the absolute silence of a town. Most places we’ve been to so far have had the constant drone of a generator going. The generator sounds have been replaced with the constant buzz of the charter planes that crowd the skies with people taking their joy flights over Lake Eyre. Although this is the high season for the outback at the best of times, having the lake filled with water provides an extra boost of tourists which is helping these towns thrive
Evan, Cathy and their boys arrived also. Seems we’re going to be traveling in tandem for a while. Cam is ecstatic about that thought.
Talking a hike along the Old Ghan track we discovered heaps of old railway spikes and nails that were used in building the line. We have collected a few as rare souvenirs of our history. Once again we are reminded of how little attention we paid in school and are thirsting for more education. There is now a huge list of things we need to look up on the internet when we next have access.
The corrugations have now taken a toll on the number plate of the trailer. When we arrived here there was only one screw left holding it in place. Lucky.
Now that we’re at the start of the Oodnadatta Track, we will head off tomorrow for Coward Springs. Can’t wait for the nice warm bath in the open air spring. Sounds like a great place to open a special bottle of wine I’ve been carrying!
Hi, I have just been reading your blogs and cant believe what a great time you seem to have had. But one thing I am sitting here shaking my head at is the comments you make about taking the Ghan railway spikes. I have always been taught to "take nothing but photos, and leave nothing but footprints". I cannot fathem why people dont leave things alone in the outback, that way there will still be Ghan Spikes for people to show their children in years to come. Please dont take any more, so maybe our Grand Children will be able to see what the spikes look like.
ReplyDeleteKaren