Majestic Oasis Port Augusta

Celebrated Cup Day with friends Donna &amp; Ron and their friends. Didn't pick a winner, but had a great afternoon.<br>We stayed in the rear car park of the Central Football Club, Port Augusta, although it wasn't really free ($5 per night). There were 2 big buses &amp; trailers and a smaller caravan there as well. <br>Because we got a cool change yesterday we are wearing jumpers, jeans etc. today.<br><br>We also caught up with another friends ...

... would be so much more fun if we had echidnas, rainbow loriquettes and 7 of the top 10 most poisonous snakes!<br>Next was a short hike up to Arkaroo rock to see some ancient Aboriginal rock drawings. It was such a shame to see the sight with a big metal cage around it to stop people graffitiing the rock. 5000 years of history ruined so you could draw a chalk tree like a child, well done. It was only a brief visit as we had another hike to complete ...

What was supposed to be an easy day of 101kms to Kimba turned out quite torturous - we had either vicious cross winds which knocked the bike half way across the road at times, or a nasty head wind which slowed progress down to about 16-18km/hour average. The topography was undulating, with some long and slow climbs.<br><br>The countryside however was nice and green with the crops and low trees.<br><br ...

... the tall wire security fence with barbed wire and the enormously long train parked on the other side of the water. Anyhow, whilst not the best caravan park we have stayed in, we settled in and cooked up a barbecue dinner just as the wind started up and the temperature plummetted. We finished our dinner and it was dark so decided it must be bedtime. Weren't we surprised when Liz checked her watch to find it was 25 to 7. Oh well!

... streets and sailing boats bobbing by the wharf-side boardwalk. After we had put up our tent, it was pleasant to watch the sun go down over distant mountains and the shore, where the longest freight train I've ever seen waited for the all-clear to carry on it's cross-country trek. Our major task for the evening was to try and fix our mattress, as we would not have the wine of the Barossa to lull us into peaceful sleep. We were assisted in our endeavours by ...

... in my own words, but I can't help but pass on some of the stuff I've found interesting, I'll do my best to not let it get boring. Getting to the top of the mountain was such an achievement and the view was worth completely worth the effort. You could see all of the peaks in a circle and the valley in the middle and then for miles in the other direction. The outback scenery is so unique as well, with its bushland, it really was magnificent and i instantly forgot ...

... named after Saddleworth Lodge, a homestead from whence the town came, which in turn was named by settlers from, you guessed it Saddleworth, the Oldham/Yorkshire/Gr Manchester (depending on who you are) parish we know and love, home of brass bands and beer walks. At Clare we had chance to eat breakfast, get to know other people on the tour and buy beer and snacks for the journey. The bus had a great range of people, in terms both of age and nationalities, and the thing ...

... from the testing. I drove across the prohibited area for 350km before reaching free ground. As I continued further south I came across Lake Hart. Saw the lake from the road, looked really beautiful so I thought I'd stop and have a quick look. What I didn't realise, it was actually a massive dried up salt lake. At a distance the shining salt looked like shimmering water. Walked a kilometre onto the dry white salt crust. A completely featureless landscape devoid of life, except for ...

... the buds. The first 2 evenings were spent with Andy working at bar but the second day/third night he had off. We ordered some sandwiches from the Wild Lime Cafe and set off up the Parachilna Gorge for lunch. We detoured to visit Dave at Angorichina where we also picked up some beers for the boys and the key to our old camp site on Alpana ...

... about how hot it is, how expensive etc but we are going anyway cos when we get home and everyone says did you see the rock at least we can say yes! We were planning to drive one way and fly back but the hire car company wanted double the rental if we left the car in alice springs so it's a return ticket and a bloody long way ...! still, that's what we're here for so onwards and upwards....potd - humher on a hummer!