Mud Mud Mud

We now have time to record a hazardous part of our trip. When we arrived at Oodnadatta Roadhouse we were given permission to drive to the Painted Desert with a warning that although 2mm of rain was forecast overnight it was not enough to be a problem. We were also given information on a cattle station, Arckaringa Homestead where we could camp overnight. We had a great night sitting around a campfire talking to a group of men travelling together. Faye baked a loaf of bread in the hot coals and in the morning we shared it at breakfast.

The rain persisted all night but there was no negative road report as we headed back towards the Painted desert. Unfortunately we chose a road south of the one that would have taken us back to the painted desert. By the time we realized our mistake we were concerned about the deterioration of the road (having experienced the speed at which red dust turns to mud). We therefore decided to abandon our plans and head for the closest bitumen at Coober Pedy, 142kms away.

The first 42kms was a mud scramble. We slid on the wet mud and we were blinded as we hit long stretches of muddy water, varying in depth. We were most relieved when we reached the Oodnadatta-Coober Pedy track, but for the most part it was only marginally better.

On one extremely cut up section, the car skidded sideways at right angles to the road, and just before we crossed the verge David regained control and after a few more skids, pulled us straight forward. All this was happening whilst towing the Ultimate camper. I must say David’s driving skill on that occasion was brilliant, thank goodness he drove in hill climbs and mud scrambles in his youth. We found out later that 10mm of rain had fallen overnight instead of the predicted 2mm.




This photo was taken at the intersection of the Mt Barry & Oodnadatta-Coober Pedy track at Mt Barry Station. As seen in the photo it is an isolated area, desert as far as you can see.










We stopped to look at our mud splashed vehicles before proceeding.











Approximately 20 kms from Coober Pedy we stopped to take this photo, There was a large oval of brilliant green to the side of the road, the only colour in the dry surroundings.











The build up of mud between the bottom of the car and the running board.











Mud caked on the mudguards








On arriving at Coober Pedy around midday, the car was so laden down with mud we headed straight for the one and only carwash in town. Whilst we waited we filled two wheel barrows with mud shoveled from under the car. We then spent ($40) on a high-pressure wash to remove the rest.

Later that night we were not at all surprised to hear all unmade roads in the area had been closed.