Day 2 - 2nd August

Up early this morning – it was bitterly cold overnight –2C, so glad that we took a cabin.  We have decided to travel to Leigh Creek and take another cabin there tonight.  On the way we hear on the Radio that it was –5 at a place called Yunta (this is in the direction that we intend to travel).  I think we are in for a very cold trip.

Travelled through a lot of saltbush country, saw a few sheep grazing on the salt bush.  Apparently this gives the lamb a very nice flavour and is highly prized.

We stopped at Burra for morning tea and and ran into a couple we met several times on our trip to Cape York year before last.  They came over to our table and said that they thought we had met before, after a little discussion we worked it out.  They are off to Africa  (Botswana) this year, so Tony was able to give them some info.

Stopped at Peterborough for a loo stop, took the photos there

Had lunch just past Orroroo (or something like that).  Then off to Hawker where we stopped for coffee.  Finally got to Leigh Creek about 4:30.  We are ahead of our itinerary by several hours, time that we can spend on the Oodnadatta track, or in the painted desert.

Drove along the edge of the Flinders ranges for 70 or 80 kms, brought back memories for both couples, Michael and I fond ones, Tony not so – when they were up here earlier this year, their car was hit by an emu (it really did hit them – it ran into the side of their truck and dented the door and side panels.)

Ian Darvell rang us from Alice they had just come from Gemtree and said that it was really cold there as well, this further north than Alice, doesn’t bode well for the centre.

We walked into Leigh Creek township which was built (including school) and is owned by a coal mining company, very nice little township – pub, cafe and supermarket.  The cabins in the caravan park are quite nice and cheap as far as these go.