In the Desert
We went for a day drive from Wilpena to Lyndhurst, stopping many times on the way. The further north we go, the less there is...
We first went to yesterday's lookout point for sunrise, but it got cloudy minutes before the sun came out. Dispointed, we left for Hawker where we had breakfast at the convenient store/restaurant/post office. A nice lady hassled the staff for us to get served, which was weird.
Our first stop is Parachylna, a minuscule village that served as a train station. There is nothing there at all except a pub, which we learnt later is actually famous (probably because it's the only place to get food within two hours drive).
The atmosphere is eery: there is no-one outside, the sun is hot, and soft country music escapes from the pub. It's like the set of a western movie, the bad guys must be just about to come and attack the train.
On the road again...
Shortly after Leight Creek, we find the coal mines. The coal is carried to Port Augusta where it's used to produce electricity for the city. They're open mines: basically a huge valley has been dug. Leight Creek has been moved three times, as each time they found more coal under the city.
Lyndhurst is another of those barely existing villages. That's where the road ends, and the track starts.
On the way back we take the 17km open track to Beltana, an abandonned village. There's everything here: a pub, a church, houses, a station. There's just no-one left.
And back on the road, we return to Wilpena, which we'll reach long after dark.
Cows in the sunset!
