William Creek

We continue to tour through Coober Pedy, here are some pics that did not make it into the last post......

Mullock heaps everywhere. We think we are in Egypt!!

At the Old Timers Mine - historic museum, we got to explore a 1916 Opal Mine and an original underground home. The kids got their chance to do some noodling. Not the 2 minute variety, but fossicking for opals in the mullock. Mostly potch was found, but it kept them amused for ages.

Still at the Old Timers Mine, Timna having a go at using modern day mining machinery. It is a huge vacuum that sucks up all the rubble from inside the mines as the miners dig their way through looking for opals. The end Timna is at would normally be underground and the bit that you can't see in this pic is a big barrel shape. The piping/vacuum extends from underground to the surface, and the miners above ground will then control the machine to drop the dirt. It is this dirt that forms those big pyramid piles of mullock.

An example of one of the original underground homes.....perhaps we should have gone for this look in our renos?

Trying our luck looking for opals. It was potch all the way!

The breathtaking Breakaways. There are wonderful Dreamtime stories that explain its existence, however to all of us it is best known as the back drop for many films. Most well known being Mad Max. Apparently they are just about to start filming Mad Max 4 overseas. They had been waiting for the right time to film here...but with all the recent rain it is too lush for them!!!

 

Another view of the Breakaways.

Last day at Riba's, this is the Thunder Dunny, the only toilet in the park open 24/7. After our first experience with bush loos, Timna was a bit hesitant. This, however, is a regular septic toilet, just built inside an old water tank.

The start of the road to William Creek on the Oodnadatta Track. 160 kms of dirt road all the way down to the lowest point of the Australian main land. Oh my g-d all the red dust!! William Creek is the smallest town in Australia, and the closest point to get a scenic flight over Lake Eyre.

A Game of war helps pass the driving time.

The road ahead of us, and traffic to pass. The kind trucky eventually allows us to overtake safely after he heard our call over the CB radio...'please Mr truckie may we pass???'.  OMG the dust is unbelievable. A stop on the side of the road to check all ok with van - red dust layer in cupboards and kids bedding. Note to selves - would benefit from purchase of 1. duster buster and 2. a silicone gun to plug up any holes no matter how small or insignificant they appear. 

The desert suprisingly gives way to occasional bursts of colour and greenery. Evidence of the recent rainfall.

Even the GPS was not sure exactly where we were.

 

We make it to William Creek. Car handled the dirt track easily through the occasional corrugation and dips. Passengers enjoyed the ride, often sqealing as if at an amusement park. Driver enjoyed having his new BF Goodrich All Terrain Tyres. Caravan not so happy. She lost her water tap off the A Frame, lost all water out of rear tank when external pipe smashed off. She also lost the rear waste piping as it was also smashed off whether through rocks or bottoming out from a dip. Only plumbing damage and should be easily repaired when we get to Alice Springs. Otherwise....she is all good but she no longer looks like a virgin. 

 

We all get to take advantage of the rare time that Lake Eyre actually has water in it. It has had water in for the past 3 years, at its fullest 80%, currently around 50%. It is still receiving some inflow from the Warburton River, but at an evaporation of 2.5 metres every year, most of the lake will disappear in the next 12 months. When full it is about the size of Holland. It is 144kms in length and 77km in width. Unfortunately for all surrounding towns, it is not a suitable water supply as it contains 400 million tonnes of salt. Even at half full the water appeared to stretch to infinty.

 

Co-pilot Benj in our six seater plane.

Boaz, was most definately the one who enjoyed the experience the most.

The kids loved having to wear the required headsets. Their running commentary almost as enjoyable as the views. The pilot did manage to get a few words in ,  however he did admit that the kids' questions had robbed him of all his material before we even made it to the lake. The only silence was when the pilot Marcus, asked the kids to please be quiet while he tried to get us back on the ground.!!

 The horizon in this photo is actually level with the plane. The similarity of colour of the sky and the water makes you feel that the horizon is where the land is. Once safely back on land, our pilot shared with us a story of a pilot who wanted to show his passengers that he could take the plane below sea level ( remembering that William Creek is the lowest point of Australia). On his ascent he became disorientated between sky and water and ended up diving the plane straight into the lake. All survived, but the pilot, unsurprisingly, lost his licence.

A very special experience.

 

Off to the pub to celebrate being back on terra firma.

$4 for a can of drink, they can charge what they like cause there aint no where else in town. The pub is THE place. If you want petrol, pay at the pub, if you want a caravan site, go to the pub, if you want food or drink ........

Inside the pub....the plastic tub hanging from the ceiling says flick a donation up for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A back packer gave Timna a 50c coin to flick for her as she had been trying unsuccessfully all day. On Timna's first flick she got it in the shoe of the back packer. Her second flick landed in the back pocket of the gentleman pictured sitting at the bar. Third flick and in the tub it went!!!! Maybe netball if gym career fades!!

 

William Creek camping grounds. Doing journal writing on the shady side of the van.

Even the laundry can look awesome at sunset.

Rob was tempted for a game of golf... Anyway, it was time to head back to Coober Pedy to brave the dirt track once more in order to rejoin the bitumen for the next treck to Yulara (Uluru and Olgas ).