Broken Rear Windscreen to Chambers Pillar

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Arrived at the “Pink Roadhouse”, Oodnadatta for lunch. Had a bite to eat and followed their instructions as to tyre pressure for the road to Dalhousie (even rougher than the Oodnadatta Track). 20km out from Oodnadatta we had a strange sound to pull over and find the rear windscreen with a small hole and the rest of it shattering. While Rod was cleaning up I got to pull out the trusty Sat Phone and called Mum to get it touch with our local Toyota dealer and to arrange for a replacement to be sent to Alice Springs. Well thank you very much Frankston Toyota for arranging all of this - and for ringing us back to save us the phone bill. I dread to think what the boss will think when he gets the bill! After an hour of cleaning up & taping the tarp in place of the rear windscreen we were ready to be on our way again. This was after telling 4 cars that stopped to see if we were all right - that yes we were all right. Alex & Kate decided to help by making an SOS sign out of the Gibbers on side of the road - until they disappointedly had to pull it apart.

Have past lots of animals on the way, including cows on the middle of the road/track - but what took the cake was a group of camels (about 20) who stared back whilst we took their photo. Then kept getting closer and closer until we chickened out and left.

Finally arrived at Dalhousie Springs about 6.30pm and just about got eaten alive by the mosquitoes. The next morning the Ranger told us he thought there the mozzies were good because there weren’t many around at the moment. Ate inside the camper and made a dash for the toilets and swags that night. Alex & Kate decided to brave the Springs in the morning - 37°C in the water, but only 10°C out of the water.

Headed for Finke for lunch, until we arrived and decided against it with all the rubbish left around town by the locals. Ran into 2 other couples along the Old South Road (Ghan Heritage Trail) who were headed into Chambers Pillar like us. It was nice to follow someone for a change and chat on the UHF Radio. That was until the lead vehicle did a rear shocker and they stayed to fix it. We continued on saw a Donkey on the roadside, and fantastically made it before sunset and it was beautiful. Sunrise was great as well. The colours in the sandstone rock really stood out. Got away by 9am and drove to Alice Springs. Now only 1502km’s to Darwin!!!

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Photos

Broken Rear Windscreen
An unexpected surprise

Tarp on Window
The temporary repairs are completed

Gill on Sat Phone
Alex caught me in the act of my frustration

Dalhousie Springs
Water babes

Chambers Pillar
Best at sunset