Home again

We have just arrived home again after a 4 days & over 2000k transit run from Peterborough. Its good to be home, but things are very dry. A lot of maintenance is due to both ute & caravan & that will be our project in the immediate future. Both van & ute performed well & we were not bedeviled by constant small problems as was our January trip to Adelaide. Some minor problems were encountered, as you would expect, but these were dealt with as they came up.
Well thats it for this trip. No grand opinions this time but I will list my 5 favorite places of this long trip. Incidently we covered 17,191 kilometres & burnt 2,600 litres of diesel, thats why it is so hot now, because we have accelerated global warming.
My favorite places-:

.1. Lake Argyle WA
.2. Douglas Springs NT
.3. Turquoise Beach, Exmouth WA
.4. South Western Region WA
.5. 80 Mile beach WA

 Not long after leaving the green countryside near Peterborough, we were back to some familiar scenery heading toward Broken Hill.

 Manna Hill station the best building in Manna Hill. There was only 1 other & that was the store come pub.

 The old steam train filling tank at Manna Hill (there is no hill for 100k ) with a nice new plastic tank inside. The old tea add from almost 100 years ago is still visible.

 The only other building in Manna Hill. Looks inviting.

 We saw 100s of emus, both dead & alive. They have really bred up since our last trip through here, 12 months ago.

 More emus, a bit of a traffic hazard.

 Emus'

 At Wilcannia we found a caravan park on the banks of the Darling river for only $10 per night with great facilities & free washing machines. It was very pleasant & relaxing after along day driving & there was quite a bit of wild life.

 Who are you lookin at.

 Big bird came for breakfast.

 So did these fussy eaters. They didn't much like what I gave them.

 Throughout north eastern SA & all of western NSW there were wild goats, many thousands of them in every colour you can imagine & there were countless kids after last years good wet season.

 A small wier on the Darling at Wilcannia.

 The old Darling river bridge at Wilcannia built in 1888, with a lift up centre to let the paddle steamers pass.

 The new bridge beside the old one, no more need for a lift up centre.

 Wilcannia info.

 The Darling river, looks a little dirty & ordinary.

Our overnight at Wilcannia.

 The rest area 60k west of Cobar where spent a night last year. When we were here last this had 4ft tall lush green grass, this year it was dry & desolate.

 Deciduous trees near Glen Innes just starting to leaf up for spring. This was a pleasant change after all the arid country we have seen over the last couple of months.

 As above.

 A very small stone henge near Glen Innes.

 Bluff Rock rest area, we were going to stop here but decided to push on to Wallangarra.

 Some random pictograph at dusk.

 This afternoon on the Bruce highway between Tiaro & Maryborough. It was hot & very, very dangerous.

Home at last 3 hours ago.

Peterborough

The last day in Ceduna saw winds of 50 to 90 K/hr, so the ocean was no longer clear & calm. The wind however was interesting too, it rocked us to sleep & saved us at least $40.00 in diesel the next day heading to Peterborough as it was still right behind us. We spent the night in a free camp between Port Augusta & Peterborough, it was very pleasant & cold & the heater got another work out, making it a very cosy caravan. Today dawned still & blue & we spent the day exploring Peterborough & going through the rail museum, which I enjoyed heaps. There used to be 1800 people employed at the rail workshop here, now there is no one. The main line still passes through but trains don't stop here.
Tonight we are going to the sound & light show at the rail shed. I am looking forward to this, I don't know if Yvonne is. Too bad so sad. Tomorrow we head for Broken Hill & the transit home, no more major stops, we should be home by the weekend.

 A very windy day in Ceduna. A far cry from yesterday.

 As above.

 The good ship Adelie being loaded with wheat or salt or some other crap.

 There are plenty of these wheat silos at the end of the jetty, so I guess that was a fair indication.

 There were also big piles of salt, so who knows ?

 We had to pass right through the middle of Iron Knob, iron ore mine as the highway was closed as the mine was moving some equipment.

 More cyclists between Ceduna & Port Augusta.

 The giant gum tree at Orroroo, the only thing the town had going for it & it wasn't that giant compared to the huge trees at Walpole in WA.

 Another shot of the said tree, with Yvonne in the foreground to give scale. It was pretty fat.

 A giant Galah in some God foraken town that had nothing better to offer.

 Yvonne coming back from the shops at Port Augusta.

 The 'Ghan heading North to Darwin as we head South. This is on the South side of Port Augusta.

 Heading towards the range & Horrocks Pass.

 Here's another one about to cycle up the range.

 A couple of old steamers.

 The main street of Petersborough, very nice, very country, very Olde Worlde. Had a lovely morning tea at a coffee shop.

 Lots of rail history here. Trains on display everywhere. I loved it.

Info on above engine.

 A really short train.

 A lot of very histerical looking buildings in town.

 Someone went to a lot of trouble to make this at the town entrance.

 Inside an old first class coach.

 A big old turntable with 23 exits to the roundhouse loco shed.

 As above.

 Rail inspectors car. Has its own turntable underneath to turn itself around on the rails & no steering wheel.

 As above.

 I believe this is directly from Thomas The Tank Engine.

 In the inspection pits amongst some of the many steam engines.

 In the drivers seat.

 Gathering dust. Its very sad as this was parked here back in 2002 as a working engine & has not been touched since.

 Yvonne in the bowels of a diesel loco.

 Amongst the many historical carriages & we went inside every one.

 Inside an old sleeper.

First class carriage. Note the piano behind the guy on the left.