PA to PI and on to CP

Heading north from Port Augusta to Pimba ...... this was all NEW TERRITORY for us. Again the softly coloured harmonious landscape intrigued us. We could see mauve-pink coloured mesas [flat-topped hills] in the distance, but we've been confused by these since driving through mining areas and seeing piles of overburden the same size. Are these ones God-made or man-made ones?

With the sunlight behind us, the brown-red sandy soil merged with the grey-green foliage and dark trunks of the mulga. We've left the white and coloured trunks of the trees behind in W.A. Mauve, white and pink wildflowers make an appearance at times, studded with the blue-grey saltbush. The desert acacias were in flower – their yellow flowers brightening the scene. Then quandongs, some of them with bright red/orange fruit, made an appearance.

Although we’ve travelled thousands of kilometres, we haven’t seen many livestock; just a few cattle in places. But now there are some sheep! And then a ewe with twins, about 10 days old! Are we still sheep-breeders at heart? The newer meat-only breeds confuse us. Were these the Dorper breed? They were shedding their wool, not needing to be shorn.

The weather forecast was for the north-west winds to increase in strength, so we opted to stay at the free stop alongside Spuds Roadhouse at Pimba. Next morning, with the wind turned round to the south-west, we headed for Coober Pedy, using it to reduce our fuel consumption. Pimba, and nearby Woomera, are on a plateau 240 metres above sea-level – now wonder it’s windy! As we set off all the landscape was flat ... flat for the 360º around us, with not a tree in sight, just low grey stunted bushes. But soon we descended to a lower level with the more attractive scenery predominating.

Proceeding on to Coober Pedy, salt-lakes made an attractive distraction. What amazing countryside.