We made it! Such a long time since we left Adelaide this morning at 9.30a.m. It is now close on 8 and we have been driving all day. Oddly enough , we have only done 700 km. Six 4WD vehicles all following each other…..all sporting their NASA stickers and CSIRO(sponsors) and Mars Society of Australia. It was great!
A true convoy!
It was raining when we left Adelaide but , as we neared Wakefield , the rain slowed. I had been that way before when I drove to Port Augusta but I hadn’t seen it so green before- absolutely lush!
We headed away from the in road and caught the road to Quorn. This is a typical South Australia town - old stone buildings, wide verandahs and pepper trees….. Red dirt.
The roadsides have stunted vegetation - various really.
The road continued…… forever. I drove - tentatively. We all had a go cos it is a long way for one or two alone.
We were introduced to the ancient part of the old continent and the oceanic floor that had been laid down many years ago and became the Flinders Ranges. Its folded twisted sediments contort , manifesting the sheer power of the Earth as it pushes and pulls to mould the continents. The elements of wind, water and heat do their part by slowly eroding the rocks, flattening the curved peaks into smooth rounded prominences, and flaunting the strength of water with the carved gullies denying unblemished slopes. And the red dirt meshes with the desert vegetation and the light giving rise to the beauty claimed by the Australian outback - it is truly spectacular. I have not seen the same at another place or country.
We arrived at Arkaroola in the dark and it is time to eat - barbeque. I don’t mind at all!
It will be an early start tomorrow I am sure.
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