Perth to Coober Pedy Day 3 - Yamarna to Yeo Homestead

Day 3 - Wednesday 5/6/02
Start - Yamarna
Stop - Yeo Homestead
Trip Odometer - 67.3 km
Stopped time - 00:10:00 hr
Moving average - 51.5 km/hr
Moving time - 01:18:00 hr
Max speed - 74.7 km/hr


We had a bad night - the rain and wind was so wild that we were constantly getting up to push excess water off the awning and then to find where the "leak" was coming in. We also a feeling that the ground we were camped on wasn't going to cope with so much rain and that we'd wake up in a pool of water. And it was extremely cold. Thermals, minus zero sleeping bags, beanies and gloves - a very unpleasant first bush camp.

However, on daylight we found our concerns about the ground were unwarranted and the sun was making an attempt to come out. Kicking the ground with a toe surprisingly revealed dry sand just 1cm below the surface, which was comforting to know when the weather reports were saying the rain would continue and was currently drenching most of South Australia the direction we were headed.

The sun lasted just long enough to pack down the wet tent before the rain set in again - there is no worse way to start a trip than wet and cold. So when we came across the Yeo Homestead about 60km further on we chose to setup camp there and wait out the rain in "comfort".

We had little idea that this quaint homestead (mostly rebuilt/restored by CALM) was so hospitable. We almost feel we shouldn't tell you all about this great little hut because "finding" it for yourself is part of the appeal. However, I will say that if you are doing a trip along the Anne Beadell, plan to stop here.

The main hut pictured above has 2 rooms - a "loungeroom" and "bedroom". It's an elevated construction using basic materials, just tin and timber with a fire place and chimney made from an old drum. We had trouble finding dry wood and resorted to laying wet wood across the top of the fireplace to dry out.

As you can see in the picture above, there are other "dwellings" alongside the main hut. The two pictured are designed to pitch your tent and park your car undercover. Your car giving protection from the elements on the open side. In summer, the "shower" would be delightful. All you need is a solar shower bag (or similar) and you simply step inside the door of a converted water tank with concrete floor. The "toilet" is also a treat - the shelter is a converted water tank but its a basic pit toilet about 20m down the track from the hut. There's also fresh tank water for drinking and well water for washing. Everything has been thought of and the CALM rangers deserve a thank you for their work. By the way, they ask for visitors to check the rain gauge and note it in the rainfall book. We recorded 9mm.

Because we'd only travelled 60km today, we had a whole day to enjoy the place with no other visitors in sight. By the evidence in the fireplace and a notation in the visitor's book we confirmed that the tracks we are following belong to the person who camped here last night.

It rained for most of the day, so once we had collected and cut firewood we stayed inside sipping cup-a-soups and hot mugs of coffee.

Dinner: baked jacket potatoes cooked in the fire coals with left over meatball juice in jaffles followed by red wine and chocolate! A very cold night.