Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Hit the Track, Jack

Work is done and dusted, for now.  What a great experience!  Great people.  We had a farewell get together back at the Farm a few days later where we had a photoshoot with all the workers and machines.  They put on a huge amount of food and drinks and we partied until late.
The next two days were spent reveling in not having to get up at 5am, getting cleaned up and ready for the road, then the next two days were spent socialising and chilling with fellow workers in the Caravan Park and then we were ready to Hit the Track, Jack!
Our first day took us through Mildura and Wentworth and we spent the night 64 ks out of Broken Hill.  We were back to the outback skies and the stars were amazing.  The next morning we drove into Broken Hill (Easter Friday)  and had the town pretty much to ourselves!  The Visitor Centre was open so we grabbed some information and set off on a self guided walking tour of the town - it was raining and cold - something we hadn't experienced for a while so we rugged up and grabbed the brollies.  The weather cleared up as we made our way around town and visited some of the Art Galleries etc.  By lunch time the sun was out but still a bit brisk and more people were out and about.
We drove out to Silverton and looked around and stayed the night in a bush camp there.  From there we drove along the Barrier Highway back into SA and on our way to The Flinders Ranges.
Tomorrow we plan on visiting Wilpena Pound and some of the other fascinating areas in this wonderfully beautiful part of our great Country.

On our way for the photo shoot

Good luck to the Cameraman trying to get this unruly group to co-operate!

Some of our team

Peter and me next to my Sweeper No. 8

Pete and Marty with a V-Sweeper


After the photoshoot, we were presented with T-Shirts commemorating 
the first Almond Harvest by GFMS

time for a BBQ and Beer

We all left the park going in different directions

Before and After cleaning my boots

The Junction of the Darling and Murray Rivers


Wentworth.  They have made a garden on a hill and it copies the streetscape behind it.
eg  the roofs are on real houses behind the garden

See, the tree of the garden follows the tree of the street behind it - 
and the electricity pole and palm tree etc

Broken Hill from the top of the old mining lode 

I told you he was a child!

Miners Memorial to pay tribute to the 800+ who lost their lives at the mine

Miners Memorial and Restaurant on top of the old mine lode

Mad Max Museum.  This film was made around the Silverton area

A stage setup in Silverton 
The famous Silverton Hotel.  
Many movies and TV commercials have been filmed here

Over the border to SA!

Olary Hotel, just over the border in SA

Yunta Hotel.  We had Bangers and Mash here and stayed 
the night in a free camp across the road

Peter driving the train in Peterborough

This Giant Gum Tree is about 500 years old and has a 10 metre circumference!

And it looks so healthy and vibrant, near Orroroo

Our camp, 10 kms from Hawker, at Sunrise

The really long coal train.  
We have heard it can be up to two kilometres long


The old Railway Station at Beltana. 
 The Ghan stopped going through in 1980

On the road to Beltana Station and old Beltana Township
A convoy of campers leaving after the Easter weekend

Part of the old Beltana Township, complete with ruins and only 
dirt roads leading to far away towns.  People still live here

The Hotel ruins in Beltana township

The Entrance to Beltana Station.  It's so windy the big metal sign is flapping!
It's still a working Station but they welcome visitors and have a museum set up in the old shearing shed.  We had yummy scones here.


View of the Flinders from Beltana Homestead

The railway leading to Maree

An Emu on the stroll at Lyndhurst

I've always wanted to do the Strzelecki Track!

We did 10 ks along it and 10 ks back.  It goes all the way to Innamincka

Had to visit Talc Alf in Lyndhurst

He is definitely a character

The ghost town of Farina.  

A volunteer-run restoration program is underway 
here and they are doing an excellent job.

Pete found some new wheels - except there were no wheels



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