DESERT COUNTRY

Posted on November 9, 2009 by splashingpaint

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Heading East out of Coober Pedy towards William Creek is some of the most desolate country imaginable.

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The track crosses the Dingo Fence and passes through part of the Woomera Defence Area.

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For a while there are only two things to look at. A huge blue sky and a dead flat absolutely featureless landscape.

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The flatness soon gives way to sand ridge country. Dry salt lakes and claypans are dotted through this area

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The old Ghan railway used to pass through here. Many of the old stone siding buildings are still standing. We also discovered that some of the discarded rusty railway spikes had found their way onto the track …goodbye tyre number three.

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Weird creatures wander about at night…

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…and airplanes do strange things as the sun goes down.

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The Oodnadatta track ends at Maree where the track south takes you into the top of the Flinders Ranges. The ruins of Farina, once a thriving community, demonstrate just how hard this country can be.

WILLIAM CREEK PUB

Posted on November 9, 2009 by splashingpaint

Half way between Maree and Oodnadatta, on the southern edge of the Simpson Desert, is the William Creek Hotel. It was established in 1885 as a watering stop and provider of refreshing beverages for the original Ghan railway.

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It is the closest pub to Lake Eyre, which normally doesn’t mean much, but this year the Lake filled with water and the pub was busier than it has ever been.

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Entering through the front door is thirsty work if you stop to read all the business cards, student ID’s and numerous other items of social importance.

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