2013-07-31 Day 18, Muloorina to
Flinders Ranges via Lake Eyre North
Corrugations, and more corrugations, on the road to Lake Eyre North. Once there the view was great and we walked some distance onto the lake, noting the interesting changing surface conditions. How I wish people would not drive on or ride their motor bikes on the lake surface; it spoils the otherwise relatively pristine environment. From there we turned around and headed back over the corrugations to
Marree, stopping to view
the neck which joins Lake Eyre North and Lake Eyre South.
Morning tea was in
Marree. The stop was longer than intended, however I am coming to realise we should be stopping for a good look around these towns rather than driving straight through. One of the Kruse mail trucks is on display at the old
railway siding, but even more interesting is the
Marree Hotel (no longer on the main road). It is very ordinary on the outside, not worth a second look, but inside it is very inviting with lots of character. There is also an extensive display of Tom Kruse the mail-man memorabilia inside.
On the way into
Marree (from the north) the first obvious building is the
Lake Eyre Yacht Club. It is usually closed but there had been a recent regatta at
Lake Hope and was open today (and tomorrow). After that the hosts (from Belgrave Heights, near where we live) head back
home. They come up three times a year.
Further down the road we stopped at
Farina for lunch, an old township and significant
railway siding which was all but forgotten. However, recently some dedicated volunteers and enthusiasts have begun preserving what is left and have providing documentation and significant facts display boards for tourists stopping by. The township occupied a significant area and the nearly two hours we spent there is nowhere enough time to take in everything there. The current main road goes around the township but the numerous
ruins are easily visible from the road; do go in and enjoy.
Stephen temporarily dropped out of convoy to visit some family friends who were camped at
Copley—on their way north. They contacted him as we approached
Copley—they had been following up via our Spot tracking device.
The
Leigh Creek mining area is visually significantly different since we were last here 18 months ago. We refuelled in
Leigh Creek, the town, where I saw a notice explaining the recent closure of the
mine viewing area—because of significant and regular abuse of the viewing restrictions (visitors climbing over fences, climbing on top of large exhibits). The actions of an irresponsible few spoil it for everyone.
From there is was quick trip down the highway then into the
Flinders Ranges, setting up
camp at Teamster
camp site in Brachina George just before dark. A nice site but not great for camping.
Les made it to
Woomera yesterday, as planned. There he investigated an increasing noise in the
Brumby which turned out to be a rear differential bearing, he “fixed” the problem for now by removing the rear drive shafts and leaving it in two wheel drive. He is planning on making it to
Burra tonight.