Day 13 – 15 Aug

William creek also happens to be quite a significant centre for flight tours
over lake Eyre and we were surprised by the number of small planes on the airfield
and the amount of tourists that go through here. Back on the Oodnadatta track again
today and still no sign of wildlife. I'm beginning to think that there's more
kangaroos in Canberra than there are out here in the outback. We visited Anna Creek Station
which is the largest cattle station in Australia and had a quick look around before getting back onto the track.
As I've mentioned before the landscape is very dry, dusty and flat as far as the eye can see. But, surprisingly,
there are a couple of spots with natural springs that come up from the artesian basin.
We stopped to have a look at the spa at Cooper Springs and had a quick dip (as you do) and
the water was quite warm although very minerally (I think thats a word). We also had a look
at mound springs which is where the water bubbles up through the desert and over the
milinnia forms a mound of silicate type rock and sand which has its own ecology. Its
described as an island water in a sea of desert. We stopped at a lookout to Lake Eyre but
of course there was no water here and the last time it had water was sometime in late 1980's.
The beautiful sunset though was worth seeing and the clouds looked a bit stormy.
Our intention today was to take a slow trip and camp under the stars somewhere along the
track. We picked a spot about 80km from Marree
and proceeded to dissassemble a couple of dead trees for fire wood. Much to our
disappointment though the clouds in the distance seemed to travel quite fast in our
direction with a few lightening streaks thrown in for good measure. Sanity (and dedication
to duty) prevailing, we decided not to risk staying out in the open on rather soft
desert sand and made a hasty exit and headed post-haste to Marree.