Closing the Loop

Wednesday 12th August 2009
By 8am this morning we were leaving Coober Pedy behind us; as we haven't seen much of the Opal mines or Underground buildings we have to come back to this place some time in the future. On the way South we found that after the Opal fields the soil changed back to the redish colour we had seen before the Opal fields. It looks like the ground in this whole area has been turned upside down. As oppose to other mining areas where re-vegetation is a condition of the mining lease, it appears that around Coober Pedy they just dig holes and then move on.
Once we left the main mining area the landscape became very flat and almost featureless with very little vegetation. In some areas where we have seen small trees (Mulga), some bushes and grasses, the Eagles were well represented with many of them sitting in trees just beside the road, probably waiting for a free meal provided, courtesy of the passing cars.
The road South passes through the Wommera defence force land and signs on the road side reminded us that it is a prohibited area.
About 60km after our fuel stop at Glendambo, just outside the prohibited area, we stopped at a rest area on the shores of Lake Hart and had an early lunch before continuing our long track down South to Port Augusta where we arrived at 2pm after travelling 539km.
At Port Augusta we are closing the loop as we passed through here on our way to the West. On this long loop drive we covered 13,500 km in 12 weeks.
This time around we knew to go straight to the Outback Centre after dropping off the caravan. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the Centre's excellent display which explains every thing about the Outback starting at time of Gondwana Land and taking us all the way through to the present time. It covers such diverse subjects such as Flora and Fauna, Geology, Aboriginal Dreamtime stories, The Ghan, Explorers and Resources. Many displays were accompanied by short audio visual presentations and videos which provided a lot of excellent information.
We could have spent a good half day in the is Centre but unfortunately time got away from us and we had to do a little bit of shopping and fuel up the car for tomorrows trip to Balhannah.
Unfortunately today has also been my last day of wearing shorts as the weather is getting a bit cold with today's top of only 20°C I started to get cold once the sun was setting. Tomorrows destination has a top temperature forecast of only 16°C so I think I have to dust off my long pants and jumper.