Thursday morning
Port Augusta in the state of Southern Australia is considered the gateway to the outback. It is at the north end of Spencer Gulf which is part of the Southern Ocean. When we got to the edge of town I saw a motel but we had passed it before we could turn in. We went on into this tourist town and were found a motel with no available rooms and the host said it was like that everywhere. So we returned to the first one, got an inexpensive room next to the highway. For the savings we can put up with the noise from the trucks. But at 9PM the trucks quit traveling and it has been quiet all night.
Port Augusta gets it's water from the Flinder's mountain range. We followed a large pipeline yesterday for may miles that I assume was the water supply for the city.
We met another Far Rider yesterday in Mildura. That makes 3 since Sunday. He was also an IBA member. Not far from Port Augusta we stopped at the memorial plaque for Davo Jones, the founder of the Far Riders who lost his life in the 2009 Iron Butt Rally after hitting a deer in Idaho.
We saw a sign for a steamship in Paringa so we stopped for a look. Jeff wants a picture of a steam ship with smoke coming from the stack and I worked the ship's boilers in the Navy so I have an interest in steam machinery. Too my good fortune we were allowed to go aboard and look around. Too bad for Jeff though as the ship only operates on the first Sunday on the month.
Last time in Australia I did not get a good picture of a 3 trailer "road train". After passing a couple of them yesterday we waited on the side of the road and took pictures when they passed by. There are road trains with more trailers used for mining in the outback but are not used on the public highways.
While debating which GPS to follow at an intersection 2 flocks of wild parrots flew by. Naturally our cameras were in our pockets, hopefully later we can get pictures, These were white and red, not the red/blue/green we see at pet stores in the states.
It was lonely on one 200 km stretch of road yesterday but from today on we will discover the true meaning of a lonely road on the Stuart Highway. Yes, we are carrying water.
Port Augusta in the state of Southern Australia is considered the gateway to the outback. It is at the north end of Spencer Gulf which is part of the Southern Ocean. When we got to the edge of town I saw a motel but we had passed it before we could turn in. We went on into this tourist town and were found a motel with no available rooms and the host said it was like that everywhere. So we returned to the first one, got an inexpensive room next to the highway. For the savings we can put up with the noise from the trucks. But at 9PM the trucks quit traveling and it has been quiet all night.
Port Augusta gets it's water from the Flinder's mountain range. We followed a large pipeline yesterday for may miles that I assume was the water supply for the city.
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| Pipeline at right side of road |
We met another Far Rider yesterday in Mildura. That makes 3 since Sunday. He was also an IBA member. Not far from Port Augusta we stopped at the memorial plaque for Davo Jones, the founder of the Far Riders who lost his life in the 2009 Iron Butt Rally after hitting a deer in Idaho.
We saw a sign for a steamship in Paringa so we stopped for a look. Jeff wants a picture of a steam ship with smoke coming from the stack and I worked the ship's boilers in the Navy so I have an interest in steam machinery. Too my good fortune we were allowed to go aboard and look around. Too bad for Jeff though as the ship only operates on the first Sunday on the month.
Last time in Australia I did not get a good picture of a 3 trailer "road train". After passing a couple of them yesterday we waited on the side of the road and took pictures when they passed by. There are road trains with more trailers used for mining in the outback but are not used on the public highways.
 |
| 24 wheels on each trailer |
While debating which GPS to follow at an intersection 2 flocks of wild parrots flew by. Naturally our cameras were in our pockets, hopefully later we can get pictures, These were white and red, not the red/blue/green we see at pet stores in the states.
It was lonely on one 200 km stretch of road yesterday but from today on we will discover the true meaning of a lonely road on the Stuart Highway. Yes, we are carrying water.
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