Pt 2 - Day 61 - Back to Port Augusta

This morning we got up early again.  On the road by 6:45am, which was probably a bit early as the sun didn't come up until 7:40am.  We were a bit worried about the roos,  but there was no bush for them to jump out of for the first 100km so it really wasn't a problem.  We had a brief stop at Glendambo, we got a bit of a laugh out of this sign as you enter the town.

Then we went off the main highway at Pimba, about 5km into Woomera where they do a lot of missile testing and rocket launching.  This place is also quite amazing.  Not very big, but the information sign lists every possible sporting facility you can imagine from a softball oval to squash courts, to swimming pool, footy, netball, you name it, they had it.  Obviously a lot of money sent out this way.  We figure that it is due to all the testing the area is used for.  They also have a very impressive outdoor museum with a lot of the weapons that have been tested, on display.




Anyway, we had lunch at "Spud's Roadhouse" then headed back to Port Augusta with everything crossed that the van was still in one piece.  As we approached the park, the weather starts to get wilder and wilder.  The wind picks up, it becomes very overcast and the dust blowing around increases. We get back to our van to find it intact, much to our relief.   After two minutes of being back, the kids are off to find their new friends who aren't at school.

It is too late and the weather is turning bad so we can't move on even if we wanted to.  I quickly put a load of washing on and jump in the car to go down and collect our last mail pick-up.  I do another grocery shop and get fuel.  By now, thunder and lightning are in full swing and the odd hale stone hits the road in front of me.  I head down the road to the main drag and an enormous branch off a big old gum tree falls across the road about 20m in front of me and into the front yard of the house opposite it.  A bit scary.

When I get home, the van is full of kids with muddy feet!!!! Our guests are dear children and help me unload the groceries.  I have to ignore the mud they are bringing back into the van and all over the car as they climb in to grab the groceries. The storm is fairly short lived, thankfully, and the kids go off to play until we call ours in for tea. Glen and I can't wait to get out of this dump as it would be the worst park we have seen so far.  Isn't it amazing though, we see filth, dirt, a rubbish dump in the park, kids not attending school, broken down washing machines, old playground equipment that would no longer meet regulations.  The kids see new friends, an adventurous playground, hidden treasures in what other people have thrown away and they don't want to leave!!!