Week 11 - William Creek to Maree

Beresford ruins

Bathing in the desert - Coward Springs

Beresdford siding

Gavin cooking - Coward Springs

Lizard - shingleback

Sausages for lunch

Maree - train station

Dog proof fence - SA

Brearded lizard

Tom Kruse mail truck

Taipan??

Emus

The first stop today was at an old railway siding called Beresford. They built a lake and a lovely sandstone house for the workers - now abandoned. I was bewildered at the thought of running a steamtrain across the desert. They created a line of springs to travel through.

Next stop was for lunch at Coward Springs. There was a pool feed by bore water - very warm. Gavin cooked us sausages under the trees.

We then travelled to the old railway town of Maree. The original Ghan railway passed through here. They have a small number of relics of that time in the centre of town. The Afgans really did help to open up Australia. They helped to cart mail and deliveries across Australia. There is a remanent camp hut there and lots of tributes to their service.

Gavin was fascinated with the old mail truck driven by Esmond (Tom) Kruse MBE, to deliver mail to north to Birdsville. He read a book about him years ago, (The back of beyond), and the truck was the original Leyland Badger.

The kids were fascinated with the wild Emus and lizards on the road. We also passed the dog-proof fence.

Off to the Flinder's Ranges now! The weather forcast is good - clear skies and warm temperatures.

Post note - on our travels to FRNP we saw a snake that had been run over by the car in front of us. We think it was a Taipan.