On our way to Coober Pedy.

We left our spot in Warren Gorge and headed out.  We decided to take the scenic route.

 

 

 

Here is Col and Margaret coming up the road where we stopped at a grave site for a young man named Proby.  He died in a flood trying to get the sheep to safety.  It doesn’t rain very often, but when it does, the rivers run wide and fast.

We stopped at this river for morning tea.  Chris tasted the water and it was SALTY!! Just like the ocean!  Chris found some wild melons and we played Bowls for a few minutes before continuing on.

This was the site of a hotel.  The railway WAS going here and two buildings went up straight away.  The hotel and the general store.  Unfortunately, the government decided to put the railroad somewhere else, so these buildings were then abandoned. 

As the day wore on, we stopped in for supplies at Port Augusta and headed north.  That’s also when I found out that we were dragging in dust from the road.  This is my stovetop.  There was an inch of dust on everything!  So a cleaning day is coming up very soon.  But I may have to wait until we’re out of this part of the country.  Chris is going to try and fix the leaks.

 

As we travelled further up the road, we searched for a spot that had toilets AND phone reception, but there was nothing.  So, we opted for phone reception.  However, as we landed here late in the day, phone reception was out of the question.  Here on this” Island Lagoon Lookout”, the winds were blasting across the desert.  We are once again on the ‘gibber’ plains.  A place where there are NO trees, NO grass, NO buildings, ….only rocks….oh!..and WIND!!!

As you can see from this picture.  This is our little rest stop oasis.

 

 

 

 

And where did they get the name, the Island Lagoon?

Most of the lakes here in the desert are salt water lakes.  Can you see the island?..Now you know where the name came from.

 

 

We dragged the coats and beanies out as the night crept in.  The winds are strong, but the desolate beauty of this place is a sight that no one should miss.  Big Sky country and with that, the moon is working on becoming full once more.