Friday 26th August 2011:. It was a sunny afternoon when we finally left home at 2.00pm heading for our first overnight camping spot some 20 kilometres north of Port Augusta. We caught up with Bruce and Maree near the Two Wells turn off and traveled together from there. It was to be a camping weekend with no caravans as we had too far to travel in the time available to us to be held back by towing caravans. With the days now getting longer, we arrived at our nights destination in time to set up camp before it was dark. It was our first night for Sally and I in the new roof top tent which we had bought for next years Canning Stock Route trip. Unfortunately we were located not very far away from a very busy railway line, although it was good to get a few toots from the train drivers and the past our camp fire. Our fire kept us warm until we all retired at 10.30pm

 

 

Saturday 27th August 2011: The intension for this trip was to be on the road reasonably early this morning giving us plenty of time to do the tourist thing during the day. Like all good plans they must be flexible so it was a later start than planned. It also allowed us to share a cup of coffee with my brother Kerry as he was returning from Roxby Downs with his road train on his way to Port Augusta. After leaving at 9.25am, we were soon at Spud,s Roadhouse where we found very clean toilets and shower facilities for the public to use. Leaving Woomera and arriving at Roxby Downs at 11.40am, we had lunch before heading out to Andamooka for a quick look at the town. Maree's niece Margaret who lives at Roxby Downs was lucky enough to catch us while in Roxby eating our lunch.

With a change of travel plans, it was decided that we would return home via the Borefield Road and Oodnadatta Track saving us from traveling on the same roads that we came up on. After filling up with diesel, it was 1.15pm when he headed out onto the dirt Borefield Road making our way towards the Oodnadatta Track. Once on the Oodnadatta Track, unfortunately Bruce and Maree got a broken windscreen and a broken rear side glass. Once at Marree, Bruce purchased some masking tape to place on the shattered side glass which would hopefully hold it all together to allow us to travel in some sort of comfort.

After leaving Marree, we headed towards Lyndhurst until we found a suitable camping locating for our second night. When we pulled up Sally noticed a bearded dragon lizard in the bushes. Me being me I couldn't help myself so I had to go over and have a closer look at this lizard. Well after it tried to run up my legs it made it's way in under our 4WD until it finished up on top of the gearbox skid plate where it stayed for an unknown period of time, Sally wasn't very impressed. Once the sleeping quarters were set up, we enjoyed another evening around our fire although it was much better on this night with no trains rolling by.