Day 3 - Kingoonya to Lake Gairdner

 Day 3

Kingoonya to Lake Gairdner

Davo had a restless night. He was OVER trained – with lots of railway activity on the line which kept him awake.

After packing up our camp site, we headed for Tarcoola. Tarcoola was named after the winner of the Melbourne Cup, and was originally established as a mining site. Not much at all in Tarcoola, the pub, police station and hospital are all closed.

We drove around town (about 5 minutes) and had smoko under the shade of some trees near the train station.

On the way back to Kingoonya we checked out some tanks and wells, and photographed the railway siding Ferguson. We also saw one very large hairy-nosed wombat that had his burrow on the side of the road.

We had lunch in Kingoonya, where we also re-fuelled the Raider on a machine which would not co-operate. The local indigenous residents had a master card which enabled us to get our petrol, then on to Lake Gairdner. The road was rough, but Raider can go anywhere.

We camped on Lake Gairdner, at a camp site called Waltumba Tanks.There we met the same lot of campers who shared the town common with us in Kingoonya. They had had a falling out and were camped at opposite ends of the area.

A twilight walk to the lake before tea, then a ‘nice fire’ with roasted marshmallows

Main Street of Tarcoola

Lots of sand on the way

Another pub with no beer at Tarcoola

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Raider beside tank and well and Ferguson

Skull Tank - a human skull was found there years ago

Lake Gairdner National Park

Our camp site at Waltumba Tanks

Marshmallows by our "nice fire"

all set up for the evening

Davo using the pump which still works

    

Our Camp site

Day 2 - Woomera to Kingoonya

Woomera to Kingoonya Monday September 17^th 2012

Once up we decided to have a good look through Woomera. The History Museum was closed, but when the lady at the Visitors Information Centre heard that we wanted to look at some of the history of the village she arranged for the place to be opened/

We looked at heaps of photos and back issues of the Gibber Gabber. Unfortunately they only have from 1967; earlier stuff will needed to be looked at through the State Library.

Davo was excited to find out details about the Woomera Railway Station. No one is sure where exactly it was located, just near the donga somewhere, but we do know that it closed April 1^st 1978. All freight etc. then needed to be left at Pimba siding.

Early lunch at the Outback diner, in Woomera, then off to Glendambo. We stopped off to look at Island Lagoon, then Lake Hart. Davo met some other train enthusiasts and there is a great photo of the three of them perched on a hill waiting for a train. How sad L

First re-fuelling at Glendambo then off to Kingoonya. Bit of a rough road, but Raider can handle anything. If Andrew Wood can do it in an EH Holden, we can do it too!

Kingoonya is now a ghost town. The pub is closed – the owner died. And little else is left, although the progress association have done a marvellous job with the toilet facilities. We decided to make camp here, and have a beautiful spot in the bush – Davo is especially excited because it is near the railway line. What joy.

A freighter came through earlier, and Davo has found what he thinks is the Kingoonya Railway station.

Beautiful tea – chick coriander stir-fry –and now listening to some music. We now have company as several other tourers have discovered that the local caravan park is closed and have joined us on the town common.

On to Tarcoola tomorrow.

History Museum

From the Gibber Gabber

Lisa on Lake Hart

Raider looking out over Lake Hart

The walk down to Lake Hart - Lucky Lisa has been breaking in her new hiking boots

Lots of salt from the Lake

Lake Hart with the railway line

Blurry - but Davo with his new train spotting friends.

Glendambo Roadhouse - 1 of 2

The rough ride out to Kingoonya

The pub with no beer - the owner died and now it is closed - Kingoonya

Kingoonya Railway Station

not many hills here

Our lovely camp site

Too late for coffee and cake here

Big spiders here

As the sun sets slowly on day 2 of our adventure.

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Day 1 of our great adventure

Information about Range View

All packed and said our farewells to Caity the Cat and Amber Loco Cat. They looked sooooo sad.

Morning tea at Port Wakefield, where Lisa gave a wet tea-shirt and strip tease to the patrons (including Harley Davison Bike Group) at BP. Lisa’s coffee cup squeezed and coffee went everywhere. Did get a free drink from the service station.

Lunch at Wadlata, then on to Pimba with a stop at Range View.

Davo was very excited at seeing a STC freight train coming into Pimba.

Set up camp in Woomera then a stroll around the sights. Lots of empty blocks and houses, but the local emus are happy. Saw the church where Lisa was christened, now the local history museum.

Very windy at the moment, hope our little tent can take it .Bacon, eggs and crumpets for tea – just what Davo really likes

Davo with his iced coffee at Wadlata

Range View looking back towards Port Augusta and the Flinders Ranges

Davo being an adventurous driver, showing where we are going

STC freight train - Davo had to stop at the Pimba crossing - he was soooo excited

Our camp at Woomera

The missile rocket heritage park

and a plane

This was St Barbara's Church of England Church where Lisa Was Christened

A 'goonie bird' camera like the one Lisa's mother use to operate

Ready for lift-off

Nearly Ready for departure

All ready for the next great adventure. Children have been briefed on caring for the plants, pets and post.

spades

plenty of water

food

boxes of essentials

roof rack added and loaded with spare tyre and fuel

ipod for travelling music and the UHF radio

and Amber the Loco Cat, who thought that she was coming for the ride

All packed including Crow Bear
Destination Woomera for our first stop-over