Tuesday 16 July 2013 – Travel Leigh Creek to Maree

Tuesday 16 July 2013 – Travel Leigh Creek to Maree

We are now on the Oodnadatta Track following the Ghan train line north.  We will pass by many old train stations and settlements most of which are sadly now in ruins.

Remembering Amy’s (our daughter in law’s) Birthday today.

Off from Leigh Creek to Lyndhurst to buy Rodger a sausage roll – he is sampling the pies, pasties and sausage rolls of the outback bakeries – so far Cobar has the best pies! 

Caught up with an old character “Talc Alf” who does sculptures out of talc rock and also dispenses philosophy out in the desert – has meanings for all names of countries.

A short way up the road we come to Farina which was quite a large settlement in its day but is now in ruins, but is being restored by a dedicated group of locals and grey nomads.  

Farina also has a great campground down by the creek, very green and shady at $5 per night.  Unfortunately we didn’t stay there but went on to Maree for the night as we wanted to fly over Lake Eyre in the morning.

On the road there was a memorial to John McDouall Stuart who made the first crossing in 1861-2 North to South – great feat and this opened up the inland.

In Maree we camped behind the pub for nothing and enjoyed hot showers for a gold coin donation - went in for a drink to meet the locals and other travellers.  Met 2 bikies, Snow and Dog, who were travelling our way on their Silver Shadows – they said it’s a bit hairy when the road is wet and muddy. Fortunately the road is good at the moment although rain is predicted later tonight.

Phil the publican is a character.  He purchased the pub only 2 years ago and has done wonderful renovations to it, including a memorial room to the amazing Tom Kruse (not to be confused with…) the mail man on the Birdsville track for many years before the Birdsville track became a track. The pub when he took it over had 5ft of water in its cellar, rats and smelt so badly that you had to eat out on the veranda.  The Pub’s rooms have been lovingly restored.

We’ve organised and paid for a flight over Lake Eyre tomorrow – should be exciting