Oodnadatta Track to Alice Springs

Taking off from our last entry, we have now completed the full Oodnadatta Track with a side tour to the Painted Desert. Although we have seen much of this contry beforehand our newbies to the great outdoors haven't, hence the detour. And it still is a magnificent place to visit even if the road is a little on the slow side. Taking off from Carrieton we traversed north stopping for a few basics at Hawker before continuing onto Beltana for the night. Beltana is the place we'd stayed at during one of the Covid lockdowns in SA. Once again our newbies loved the place just as we had. The good news also, is the drive in is now bitumened, leaving only the town in gravel keeping its authentic historical value. Fom Beltana it was onto Farina where the underground bakery is in full swing. Pies, coffee, bread and other specialties all ready for our mouth watering tastebuds. One of our members had a pie, sausage roll and vanilla slice! From this campsite we headed north past Maree, William Creek and onto Oodnadatta. Lunch here and yes, more pies and coffee, before heading out to the Painted Desert. We had camped at the Algebuckina railway bridge the night before. What a feat old engineering from 1892. It was also a great place to fix tires which had been punctured somewhere on the road. Paul's of course. The flies were very helpful in making us welcome. The Painted Desert claimed another casualty - one radio antennae, (not ours) making our communications between vehicles a bit more dicfficult. The rain the night before had made the dust subdued, which was a pleaseant change from all the red dust hanging in the air previoiusly. The Painted Desert under cloud cover was once again different from the previous times we had seen it. Onto Arkaringa homestead for our night camp where the sunset was amazing. A great campire and night, once again with Veronica's pumpkin soup being a hit. Billsy did the damper, what more do you want? Next morning the sun was shining and off to view up close, the painted desert walk. Not the walk I remember from years back, but pretty sensational all the same. On the road again and once again into Oodnadatta. Yep, you guessed it more pies and coffee! We continued up ghe road where the grader was making the road very smooth. Another night on the road and finally the Oodnadatta Track was complete. On the 'black stuff' again and all the tires pumped and cruising along at 100 KMs. Wow! Now in Alice Springs to catch up on all the domestic chores, tires, etc. Sightseeing will no doubt be had too. Finke Desert Races this coming weekend, so caravan park full of bikes and teams. The main thing we have noticed this trip is there is very little wildlife to be found. No road kill either. Strange!