We left Adelaide on 17 April, a dreary, misty day all the way to Port Augusta. Then we realised that we were lucky – 50 ml of rain had fallen in the previous 24 hours in Port Augusta and 112 ml in Quorn, just 30 km away. Roads were cut and travellers stranded. Even luckier, only 12 ml had fallen to the west where we were heading.

Next day we drove to Iron Knob then left the highway and drove another 125 km on dirt roads into the Gawler Ranges. Typical outback scenery with grey/green trees and bushes, spinifex grass, red sandy soil and rocky hills. Spent the night at Mt Ive station; 9,000 sheep over 100 sq. km of rocky hills and sandy flats, reaching to Lake Gairdner in the north. Lake Gairdner is a huge salt lake, 150 km from north to south and 50 km wide – amazing!

We drove through the Gawler Range National Park and spent a night at Pildappa Rock, near Minnipa. This is a striking rock feature with great views north to the Gawler Ranges. The Rock looks fabulous late in the afternoon and early in the morning. We enjoyed happy hour with fellow travelers around our new fire bucket (thanks Pat and Tony for the inspiration).

We are now in Ceduna stocking up for a four-day trip across the Nullarbor; we could do it faster but we are not in a hurry.

Love to all

Ted and Jo