Day 13 Woomera to Coober Pedy

1 June,

The first day of winter seems to be having a significant impact on all of Australia, even in this part of Central Australia.  At Woomera we woke to discover a heavy dew and low cloud and mist.  The temperature was also very low.  As we progressed north, the mist and cloud cleared but it still remained cold until we reached Cooby Pedy.

Once again, we were treated to a day of changing scenery.  Flat plains gave way to slightly hilly country.  The colours changed from the blue-green of the vegetation to the red of the soil.  As we approached Cooby Pedy, it became more desert-like, no more mulga scrub and low shrubs, just sparse clumps of grass spread over rocky, sandy soil.

After we had been travelling for an hour or so, we came across a rest stop that gave a good view of Lake Hart.  Usually, an extensive salt pan, the Lake currently has plenty of water in it.

Once again, the road was in first-class order.  We commented that we had now been travelling on this road for two days, it was obviously highly maintained and yet over what is becoming a very large distance, we have not come across any road works.  Does this mean that this is still in store for us further up the track?

The traffic was very light.  We came across a few caravans that were travelling more slowly than us.  However, they were easily and safely overtaken on one of the many sections where the visibility was excellent.

The highlight of the day began with a message over the two-way radio that warned us that a wide load was approaching us and warning us to get off the road when safe to do so.  We obeyed this command and before long saw the flashing lights of a pilot vehicle followed closely by two police escort vehicle.  Behind these vehicles came a huge truck carrying a mine dump truck.  This load was 7.5 metres wide from wheel to wheel and took up just about the whole width of the highway.

Things would not have been disastrous if we had not had a radio.  However, it was very nice to get the warning in plenty of time for us to prepare for what was about to happen well before it did happen

Our journey today was 368 kms long.  However, we did not attempt to complete it without a break. in fact we stopped three time. The first was at Glendambo, about 120 kms north of Woomera.  Despite the impression given by the following photos, it is a major service stop consisting of a caravan park, two service stations and a large pub.

Morning tea at Glendambo

Tomorrow we are going to do a short tour of Coober Pedy.  Normally this would have included a visit to the Breakaway country, an area of extraordinary landforms about 15 kms out of Cooby Pedy.  Regrettably, the heavy rain of the last few days  (50 mms in an area with an annual rainfall of 175 mms) has made the road impassable so no Breakaways for us.