Wednesday 8th May 2013 – Coober Pedy to Tallaringa Conservation Reserve (Anne Beadell Highway)

Up fairly early this morning to pack up.  Took a bit longer as we had put up the awning, fly screen walls etc.  Filled up with water and headed for the coffee shop (John’s Pizza Place) by 9 am to meet up with everyone else.  Coffee was good too.

At 9:30 we headed off for the Anne Beadell.  Turning off the Stuart Highway we were initially in opal country – lots of mullock heaps as far as the eye can see.  At this stage the road was pretty good and we were able to get along pretty well (up to 80km/h).  Came to a sign to announce the start of the Anne Beadell - “Remote Desert Wilderness – Well equipped high clearance all wheel drive vehicles only".  No habitation or services for next 1300km”.  We were looking forward to it.

The adventure begins

From here the road began to deteriorate and by the time we hit the dog fence, at the beginning of the Tallaringa Conservation Park, was becoming quite corrugated.  We had a three kilometre track south through the gate and then another three kilometres back to our starting point on the other side of the fence – a bit of a strange situation.  Pulled off the track for lunch (with the flies), then back on the road.  For the rest of the afternoon it was slow going, never more than 30km/h and sometimes less than 10. We knew there was going to be corrugations but at this rate the five days planned for the crossing just won’t happen.  Passed a 4X4 heading back to Coober Pedy with destroyed shock absorbers.

Stopped at several markers along the track and also Talaringa Well.  The well was there but these days full of sand.

Camp for the night was just inside the border of the Tallaringa Conservation Reserve and Maralinga Tjarutja Aboriginal Land.  Before dinner Jill and I went for a walk up a nearby sand dune to a trig station.  Barbecue dinner tonight with salads (potato, bean & garden) prepared by Karen, Kay and Jennie.

A very mild night.

Camp for the night