Saturday 4th May – Mungerannie to Coward Springs

A nice slow breakfast and pack up as we are now on South Australian time and had an extra half hour before our departure time of 9am.

The Birdsville Track is in excellent condition and we’re making very good time sitting on 85 – 90.  Called into the Mulka ruins which was originally a general store servicing the area.

Passed Lake Harry which we thought was a mirage at first but is quite an expanse of water.  We then stopped at the Lake Harry ruins which was a date farm in the late 1800s.  From the thousands of date palms planted not one remains.

Called into Marree to fuel up (195 cents/l) and decided to have lunch at the service station/general store.  A very nice burger and no flies.

Tom Cruise Mail Truck at Maree

Marree is the end of the Birdsville Track and we are now on the Oodnadatta Track towards Coward Springs for our camp for the night.  The track also runs alongside the old Ghan railway line so there is lots of railway memorabilia.  Came across some sculptures in a paddock.  Quite a selection ranging from two small aeroplanes buried tail down to bits and pieces made from scrap metal and a water tank on the railway line turned into a huge dog with his head being an old car.

Also called into a lookout where you could look out over South Lake Eyre.  Quite a spectacular spot - after being full a few years ago there is no sign of any water now

Further along the track we called into Curdimurka Siding and one of the few railway buildings still standing.  Discovered a couple camped out the back who were busy sweeping out the buildings.  Apparently they had been on the road about 4 years.

Curdimurka Siding

We set up camp at Coward Springs a real little oasis in this very harsh environment.  Lots of trees.  Also showers and septic toilets with buildings built from railway sleepers from the old Ghan (and insulation cups from the old telegraph line as door handles clothes hooks etc) – lovely buildings.  Camping was $10 per person/night.  There’s also a small ‘hot’ pool but it’s not as hot or as big as the pool at Mungerannie.

Dinner tonight was a roast dinner, chicken (Margaret) vegetables - potato, sweet potato, pumpkin & peas (Jill) and a risotto dish (Karen).