Ciao from Cober Pedy, once more,

The section of the Oodnadatta Track that I traversed yesterday was the middle third. Today’s section was to be the first third (or the last third, depending on which direction one is travelling). I was under way just after 7, heading northwest along the Stuart Highway, to the Marla Roadhouse some 240km away, where I arrived about 9:20, refuelled, and provisioned for the remainder of the day.

I then turned east onto the Oodnadatta Track, which starts (or ends) at Marla. I stopped for morning coffee ’round 10, and had covered the 210km to Oodnadatta by 12. From there, I intially followed the Oodnadatta Road (the road by which I arrived yesterday) southwest, back towards Coober Pedy, and had a half 12ish lunch.

Shortly after, some 45km from Oodnadatta, I left the Oodnadatta Road, heading west to the Stuart Highway, 125km away, through Ackeringa Station and Copper Hills Station. The landscape along this section was much different, and at the Painted Desert and Ackerina Hills was quite spectacular.

I rejoined the Stuart Highway near the Cadney Homestead Roadhouse, where  I refuelled at around 3:15, and was back in my room by 4:45.

Today’s leg was around 775km, about half of which was on gravels roads, the other half on the Stuart Highway. Here’s my route on Google Maps:

Cheers,
Julian