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Published: February 16th 2010
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Sunset
Port Augusta, SA 25th November 09 - 28th November 09
Port Augusta to Gawler (Adelaide)
Arrived in Port Augusta late afternoon to a rather dreary looking grey sky. The weather hasn't improved much since Woomera unfortunately and the wind has really kicked up. Port Augusta sure is a hub of traffic, after all it's known as the 'Crossroads of Australia'. This is where the east, west and north roads all meet, at the head of Spencer Gulf. From here you can go to Darwin, Perth, Adelaide or Sydney. Decisions, decisions, decisions! It's been awhile since I was in heavy traffic and I felt like a real country bumpkin and yes I will admit I was one of those 'bad' drivers that keeps on switching lanes and driving real slow so I could read all the signs and figure out where I was. I'm sorry to drivers everywhere (and a few pedestrians as well who almost got taken out on my search for the campground... oopps)!
Electrical problems again saw me held up in Port Augusta for 2 days while expensive auto electricans did expensive things to my van. So I'm sorry to say my stay in Port Augusta wasn't really an
eventful trip. I spent most of my time waiting in waiting rooms and trying to figure out how I was going to afford my repairs. Having a fridge I have found out is a blessing and a curse! When my fridge is working I am loving it, when not, well then I guess I'm not loving it! But when you have tasted the best, you can't go back. I am unfortunately unable to survive without my fridge, so I wait patiently for it to be fixed so I can enjoy a chilled beer after a long drive. The things we do for a cold beer!
As far as tourist attractions go in Port Augusta, your best bet is to go to the Wadlata Outback Centre. I had a great afternoon (and again the next morning) wandering around the Outback Centre and going back in time from the movements of the continents and the formation of the Flinders Ranges, to the Indigneous people who lived on the land, to the early settlers and explorers who dared to venture into the SA Outback in search of the great inland sea (abit shocked I reckon when they found there wasn't one)! One
explorer actually dragged a small boat on his North journey into the Outback that sure that there would be an inland sea!
The Wadlata Outback Centre was great and I really enjoyed the displays and stories. The great train journey up into the Heart of the Outback onboard the Ghan or the great East West journey onboard the Indian Pacific would have been quite an adventure back in the day. I just loved the old posters illustrating the train journeys, they did make me giggle. One funny story I read was about a lady who asked the train driver when they would get to Alice Springs because she was going to have a baby. The train driver was mad that she would get on a train in such a state but was put in his place when the lady informed him that she wasn't in such a state when she boarded the train! Train journeys were often plagued with problems: buckled tracks due to high temperatures etc and often the trip would take many months if they had alot of problems. I have always wanted to do one of these great train journeys, it would be quite an experience.
I didn't really have alot of time to see the sites around Port Augusta, I am sort of on a mission now to get to my cousins house in Gawler, just out of Adelaide. My mum is flying into Adelaide on the 29th November so I had to get moving to make it there on time. As I am coming back through this way on my way over to WA I wasn't too fussed to miss out on the sites for now.
With the car fixed, fridge working, and I was able to pay for the repairs (just), it was time to head off. The drive down south was awful. The wind was really strong and it was blowing the van around. It was honestly really scary and I had to concentrate on keeping myself on the road. Abit of rain mixed in with the wind made for a very exhausting drive down to Adelaide. I stopped at Port Wakefield for a fuel and feed stop and people were nearly getting blown over getting inside the shop. Crazy weather!
It was raining and really cold when I drove into the town of Gawler. Today was the first
day that I turned my heater on in the van; it works which is a good thing to know! My cousin lives on a small farm just out of town and it was a relief to arrive. I haven't seen my cousin in 8 years and it was a huge delight to see her again and the family. I was met at the gate by their two children and it was a hive of activity and chaos between kids and dogs. They have 3 dogs, a cat, a bird, fish, sheep and chooks, and 2 guinea pigs. The house is an old 1800's stone cottage that used to be a old saloon. It's just wonderful. Nice to be back with family again and not to be on my own for a change! It's not good being on your own for too long.... it does things to your mind!
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