TUESDAY 25 MAY MARREE
Today was not as windy, thus it felt warmer.
I posted the letter to K, wondering how long the mail will take to get there from Marree.
We had earlier decided that, whilst passing through here, we would take a day and drive out to Muloorina Station and on to Lake Eyre. One can access Lake Eyre at Level Post Bay, on the Madigan Gulf section of the Lake.
It was a very interesting drive, in both directions, and well worth doing, on a good gravel formed track. The gate-opening passenger got a bit of a work out! The country was unremittingly flat, for the most part, with shrub and sparse tree lines marking out dry watercourses. This is certainly arid country.
Muloorina Station
Muloorina Station homestead is found by a very pretty waterhole on the Frome River – the same one that we had encountered at Angepena. It winds its way around the range country of the area, as a series of mostly dry channels, and northwards past here enters Lake Eyre.
Wetland at Muloorina, formed by bore outflow. Lots of birds in trees.
The Muloorina waterhole and wetland results from a bore outflow. The force of the water exiting this bore hole powers the 240v power plant at the station! It has created an oasis of greenery in the dry country – a place obviously appreciated by the birdlife we saw.
From Muloorina, drove on a track that took us to the shores of Lake Eyre South, then alongside the Goyder Channel that links this with the main Lake Eyre, and finally to Level Post Bay, the end of the track. This section of track was rougher, and slower going, and sandy in parts – but not enough that we had to let down the tyres.
The track near Level Post Bay
Lake Eyre was dry, of course, and we walked out on it, on the salt crust. It was so impressive, just to be there, in this salty immensity. We were below sea level by some 15 metres, here.
John walking on Lake Eyre at Level Post Bay
Taken from out on the Lake, looking back to Truck and the Information Bay
After our walkabout on the Lake, drove back to the Goyder Channel section and ate our packed lunch there.
The Goyder Channel that joins Lake Eyre South with the main Lake
We dawdled back to Marree, stopping sometimes to look at birds, and to take photos. Up close, as we wandered around a bit away from Truck, there were interesting aspects to the scenery – low hills, dunes, depressions and the like.
Interesting to see new technology arriving in the Outback
It was a great day out and an excellent drive. We covered 210kms.
The country we traversed on our day out at Muloorina and Lake Eyre
Back at the van, John settled in for an afternoon nap.
I read the Adelaide Advertiser paper, which I’d picked up from the shop earlier. Had an early shower and washed my hair – the local water is alright for that. I got talking to the only other campers here – a retired NZ couple doing a 4 month trip with a 4WD and camper trailer, going the same way as us.
John reported in to the 4WD Radio Network at the 5.30pm sched slot.
Watched the news on TV, and needed the heater on, even that early.
Tea was more of the kumara soup; bacon, egg, tomato and crumpets, followed by strawberries, which were awful.
This Adventurous Age 