"And on the Eighth day ........."

By day SEVEN we were starting to go a bit stir-crazy having visited all the attractions of William Creek – most of them several times. In a fit of desperation Sandra suggested we visit the local rubbish tip for something to do – we were really scraping the bottom of the barrel!

William Creek is surrounded by a cattle station called Anna Creek which has the distinction of being the largest cattle station in the world. At 24,000 square kilometres – or nearly six million acres – it is about the size of Wales. We met the cook from Anna Creek in the pub, a New Zealand woman who had driven to the pub for a bottle of wine, she had been there as long as we had and I suspect she wouldn't be there much longer than us – there seems to be a big turnover in staff in these parts.

Another distinction for William Creek is that it the smallest town in Australia

The pub continues to provide the only entertainment with Sandra becoming adept at chatting up big men in even bigger hats.

Sandra with men in Big Hats



On day EIGHT the roads had dried out sufficiently to allow help to arrive. Giving away our surplus food to a trio of young backpackers from Germany, Spain and Italy who would have to wait until the road was open to 2WD vehicles, we got the car loaded onto the tow truck from Coober Pedy and said good bye to William Creek.

Help finally arrives and the car is loaded up

"How do you get in to these bloody things?"

Arrival at the Coober Pedy Auto Centre

We are now ensconced in the Oasis Tourist Park in Coober Pedy. The car has been diagnosed with a single broken shock absorber and we hope to have the part up from Adelaide by Thursday and mobile again shortly thereafter. This gives us a few days to explore Coober Pedy.

About to set up camp and organise our goods and chattels in the Oasis Tourist Park

 

A final word about the NRMA with whom I took out Premium Care Membership - they  have been excellent. Very helpful and they have picked up the tab for seven night accommodation in William Creek, the cost of the tow truck for the 166k journey to Coober Pedy and have provided us with a hire car until our vehicle is repaired. Well worth the $185 or so I paid for membership.