White Cliffs to Port Augusta

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Day 8
Sep 1, 2008

Broken Hill

The day started out slow but once we made the decision of what and where it was great. Headed out to Daydream Mine which is an old silver mine, we actually went underground 30 meters. We had to hang on to a railing while stooping over and walking sideways along steep narrow tunnels. It was great!!! Very interesting. Our tour finished with a walkabout the area and ending in the tea room for tea and fresh homemade scones. The people running the place were very friendly and informative.

From Daydream we headed on to Silverton, a ghost town where several movies have been made. On our way we spotted camels on the road side (they posed for us!!) and in the distance we saw a group of tourists on a camel train.

We didn’t spend much time in Silverton as we wanted to get to the Sculptures Symposium for a fantastic sunset and view of the surrounding area. The Sculptures were interesting, made of sandstone with hand tools only. But the real beauty for us was the sunset as you will see in one of the pictures. Talked, at length, to a couple from the Melbourne area. Always interesting to get information and help from Australian people. Pretty friendly bunch.

Much more to see but time is limited in our journey so off we go tomorrow heading towards the Port Augusta area.

Sep 2, 2008

Broken Hill to Port Augusta
Hint: If you even get to Broken Hill and want to see the Sculptures Symposium, go for sunset and go to the Visitors Information centre in the middle of town. You will get a key to the 2 gates that gets you right up to the sculptures. Otherwise it’s a 1.5k walk.

Slow morning. Returned the key to Info Centre and then did shopping and gassed up. Or, properly, filled up with petrol!! Here gas is actually propane.
Then off west to Port Augusta.

Saw our first train at Olary in SA. Two actually. Not bad since we have been following the tracks pretty well since Sydney.
Every once in a while the road will dip. To allow natural runoff from heavy rains.
Highway A32 in South Australia is pretty narrow, narrowest so far. Glad the traffic isn’t bad. We actually came to a T junction and there were no Give Way (yield) or Stop signs. So to be prepared, we slowed down, or stopped as necessary.

Scenery certainly changed a lot. From outback scrub to cultivated, green fields. And from relatively flat to mountainous with a very winding road. I believe we just crossed the Flinders Ranges. Definitely nice scenery. Port Augusta is at the end of the Spencer Gulf, North of Adelaide.

Cool temps again at night. Daytime is pretty good, not hot yet. Be getting into the hot stuff in the next couple of days as we head for Coober Pedy.
No wireless internet at the park, so will be heading into town to the library for free internet access.
This is the second Big4 caravan park we have stayed at. Pretty good. Amenities look pretty new.

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