Ciao from Cober Pedy, again,

I decided I wanted to drive the full 600km of the Oodnadatta track, after doing a short section of it last year. Whilst it could be done in a day, the accommodation at the start and end points doesn’t meet my exacting standards. Hence, I’ve elected to do it in 3 stages, over 3 days.

This morning, I left Coober Pedy ’bout 7:30, heading northeast along the Oodnadatta Road, to Oodnadatta (would you believe), roughly 200km away, where I arrived around 10. I had planned to refuel at the Pink Roadhouse, but they had run out of diesel. Luckily, the General Store down the road also sold fuel; unluckily, it was having trouble with its diesel pump and the proprietor was bleeding it, as I and 4 other low-on-fuel 4WDs eagerly awaited! It was “déjà vu, all over again”; I started having daymares about having to overnight in a converted shipping container that I’d read serves as accommodation. I didn’t have enough fuel left to get back to Coober Pedy, across to Marla, or down to William Creek, which are all around 200 km away. However, this bloke did check his fuel levels first, and his bleed was successful. I would have been OK though, even if it wasn’t, as the fuel tanker was unloading at the Pink Roadhouse as I went back past. It seems it might be a good idea to factor in the possibilty of fuel unavailabilty when I’m planning my refuelling stops.

From there, I followed the Oodnadatta Track southeast for 200km, to William Creek. I stopped along the way, ’round 11 for morning coffee, at the Heritage listed Algebuckina Bridge:

It’s a wrought iron structure, built in 1890, comprising 19 spans, and covering nearly 2000 ft. The Oodnadatta track follows the “old” Ghan railway line for over 400km from Oodnadatta to Marree; I assume that’s its raison d’être.

I was in William Creek by 12:45, where I purchased some lunch, then left the Oodnadatta Track, heading west, back to Coober Pedy, along the William Creek road. I partook of the lunch around 1:15, on the banks of the (dry) Anna Creek ’round 1:15, next to a gum tree with a horizontal trunk.

Anna Creek Station, the world’s largest cattle property, is named after it (the creek, not the gum tree). However, I saw all of 3 cows during the day, which doesn’t surprise me, as there’s bugger all for them to eat out here!

I was back in my motel room by 3:15. Today’s trip totalled 570 km, on gravel roads, which were mostly in very good condtion, such that I was often doing 100km/h, or more; whilst there were occasional patches of corrugations, they were mild compared with those I encountered on the Mereenie Loop in the N.T. on Day 13.

Here’s the route on Google Maps:

Cheers,
Julian