The Temperature Rises

Yesterday was quite a kangaroo day. We saw them on four separate occasions. One was bounding along the boundary of a field spooking three black horses into a gallop. Kangaroo day was spent driving through the Adelaide hills stopping off at lovely little villages that Jeremy described in yesterday's post.

There was a point in yesterday's late drive that we turned a corner at a place called Sandy Creek, and the warm air hit us and it has stayed since. I don't know if it's just that the weather has got nicer or it's because we're advancing north, maybe it's a bit of both, but the cold stinging thighs aren't so much of an issue anymore. Instead we're getting quite red noses and cheeks. Sun cream has been applied but obviously not enough, the sun still gets through our visors giving us strange owl like markings.

Today was always going to be a longer drive, I think it was about 188km from Clare to Port Augusta, which compared to the next few day is a doddle, so it's good to know that really it is very doable. Sore bum, but still.

After the cosy rolling pleasantness of the Adelaide Hills the landscape opened up. Today was a mixture of wide open wheat fields with a few hill shapes on the horizon. We passed through small seemingly empty towns, although the fact today is Melbourne Cup day (kind of like grand national day in the uk except a bigger deal) might explain the deserted appearance. Under recommendation we stopped in a town called Melrose. We went to the museum which is in the old police station and read all about this old frontier town and about the struggle of the pioneer farmers who against advice tried to grow crops in this drought prone land.

After Melrose we had to drive through the Horrick Pass through the Flinder's Ranges. Twisty turning roads dodging lizards, I think Jeremy loved it! Beautiful pale gold steep rising hills on each side, warm air rushing through the vents in our helmets, THEN we emerged from the hills at a high point with the most exceptional view. Thankfully there was a lay by to stop and take it all in. Below us was the Spencer Gulf glistening silver in the late afternoon sun, flat topped hills enclosing round the west side of Port Augusta and down the opposite coast, to the north flat plains stretching hazily into the distance and right in the middle of it all was the blurred industrial shape of Port Augusta power station.

We swooped down the final long hill and into Port Augusta and found ourselves a spot in the water hungry caravan park beside the tidal river.

Tomorrow we ride into the desert. I really don't know what to expect, but I'm looking forward to it.