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Published: October 20th 2014
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Colourful Grasshopper
This big grasshopper jumped onto the ute tyre while we were at Cadney Homestead. We were up at 4am and left at 4.30am. Once on the road we ate an oat muesli bar each and had a box of juice to keep us going until we stopped for breakfast. Along the way we saw four kangaroos, two of whom jumped out in front of us, fortunately without getting hit. We also saw a couple of Wedge-tailed Eagles feeding on the night’s roadkill.
We could just make out Mt Connor as we passed it and said goodbye. Then the sunrise at 6.15am created a pretty orange glow. We made it to Erldunda before the strong wind started. This is the junction of the Lasseter Highway and the Stuart Highway so we were now changing direction and any wind would be across the side of the van – not head on. We’d made it!
We had the fresh fruit salad I’d made yesterday for breakfast and waited until 7am, when the fuel pumps were opened for the day. There was plenty to look at while we hung about as they had a pen full of about 15 emus, as well as two huge concrete figures of an echidna and a frilled lizard sitting in a
The Giant Echidna at Erldunda
We had to wait until the Roadhouse was open at 7am before we could buy fuel so we looked at the big emu and echidna. shed with chicken wire instead of walls so you couldn’t get too close.
The store finally opened and we filled up – the fuel here was a slightly better $2.03 per litre. Then back on the road.
77 kms further on we stopped at Kulgera and ate the last few pieces of fruit we had and threw out some over-ripe bananas. It was only 18 kms to the South Australian Border. We celebrated by having our first coffees of the day, which cost $4 each and were very small – so that didn’t go so well.
The next part of the journey wasn’t so good, either. A flock of little birds flew across the road suddenly, very low. We can’t swerve with the van on or it will cause an accident and so we hit one of them.
Over the border, we arrived at Marla and filled up again – this time at $1.90. It’s getting better! There was a gallery of Aboriginal Art so I went for a quick look but didn’t really like any of it. Just as well, as I don’t really want another piece.
We continued the journey and I started
Lovely Clouds
We haven't seen clouds for months until the last few days. to feel very drowsy. I couldn’t keep my eyes open and fell asleep for a while. I don’t like doing that when I know Barry must be tired as well. He insisted he was fine, though, and good to drive on.
Our next stop was Cadney Homestead. By this time I was awake but was feeling quite ill and had the start of a migraine coming on. Barry still wanted to press on but I was really worried that he would suddenly flag and fall asleep at the wheel. I knew I couldn’t stay awake to prevent that, with a headache. Reluctantly, he filled the ute and booked us in for the night at their caravan park.
We had no bread and they didn’t have any to spare but Barry was hungry so he had a toasted bacon and egg sandwich in the café. We then set up the van and Barry noticed a little bundle of feathers stuck in the radiator grill. It was the little bird we’d hit – a Western Gerygone. It looked so tiny laying in his hand, but it was very dead so he threw it in the bin.
I took some
The South Australian Border
We've crossed into yet another state. tablets and we both settled down to relax in the shade of the van, and fell asleep. I felt a little better when I awoke but still headachy. We decided to have dinner at the Homestead, Barry had the Day’s Special – Lamb Shanks and veg; I had Chicken Kiev and salad, which made a nice change. There were a few other people in the bar/dining room, mostly bikers wearing blue T-shirts with the logo “The Long Ride” on them. I wonder what the occasion is.
While we were waiting for the meal to come I took a look at the tourist merchandise in the shop and noticed a fly net for $9. I’ve always thought they would make your face hot so I’ve never wanted one but the flies at Uluru had been driving me crazy all day, getting up my nose, sitting on my lips and crawling into my ears. No amount of waving or spray had made any difference. I’d seen a lot of others wearing nets that day and at least the flies weren’t on their faces so I bought one. I’ll give it a try next time they bug me!
After dinner, we
Beautiful but Broke
At the South Australian Border, a couple of French young men were trying to fix the van on their way up north to find work. One of them had seen the vehicle and fallen in love with it, despite its age. Not really a good choice for long distance travel! showered, watched a little TV and had an early night. The end of a very long day!
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