Oodnadatta - 5 August 2009

We left William Creek and drove to Oodnadatta where we stayed at the Pink Roadhouse. Oodnadatta means Mulga flower. Oodnadatta was for many years the rail head of the Ghan. It had a Hospital and an Aerodrome and was a very busy place. Camel Trains started from here and went to Stations up to 1400 kilometers further out. In 1928 the rail was finally built through to Alice Springs and Oodnadatta lost its importance.The Station is now a museum.

Now we are truly off road the Darwinian law of caravans is starting to apply. Throughout our trip we have seen thousands of caravans but only three Bushtracker vans. On the Oodnadatta track we have seen only four full size vans, plenty of camper trailers and two Kimberly Kamper vans. Of the four full size vans three have been Bushtrackers!

Following advice from the owner of the roadhouse we adjusted the tyre pressures in the Land Cruiser and the Van - 20 psi front and 26 psi rear on the Land Cruiser and 24 psi on the Van. Somehow tyre pressures did not go metric. It does make a difference, reducing the risk of stone damage and the modern tyres seem to take the flexing and not overheat. Mind you speeds for us are low, never more than 70 kph [42 mph] and sometimes as low as 10 kph [6 mph]