Bye Liz, Bye Port Lincoln, Hello Flinders Ranges

Bye Liz, Bye Port Lincoln, Hello Flinders Ranges

The Next day we slept in. No alarms needed. Liz was heading back to Texas and I was having an official Dead Day. For those of you unfamiliar with this term, it is a day of nothing, a day of sloth-like behavior, a day of all around uselessness. Did I update the blog? Did I get the postcards addressed and mailed? Nope. I sat around, watched horrible Ozzie television, and slept. It was well needed and past due. I did walk to the marina restaurant to have more delicious Coffin Bay oysters. Damn they were good!

I woke up this morning before dawn and updated the blog, packed all the crap I had temporarily stored in Liz’s car, double checked my route, then went down to the marina restaurant for brekkie. My usual routine is to have a good brekkie, snack for lunch, then have a good dinner. Once brekkie was finished it was time to hit the road.

I didn’t travel far today. Only 380 miles. The reason is the Outback. There is no way I am traveling at night when the majority of Australian animals are nocturnal. I have seen countless animals dead on the side of the road but today, I caught a live one! I couldn’t resist pulling a u-turn to take a photo.

Pretty little skink. It was molting and actually about a foot long. I also saw an emu off in the distance but no live roos or wallaby.

Pressing on there was a sign that said Welcome to the Outback! Oh the joy I felt. The landscape has changed through every mile I travel. Today was red dust, scrub brush, then the mountains appeared. It was breathtaking. Pictures do not do these spectacular rocks justice, but here they are.

Such beauty in a rugged and harsh way. Again, the pictures don’t do the mountains any justice.

I pulled into Rawnsley Part Station for the night and had made a reservation at the restaurant on site for later in the evening. As it happens, I met two other motorcycle enthusiasts riding BMW’s! I had to introduce myself! They were both retired nurses with some great stories to tell. I also got suggestions of places to see along my route to Lightening Ridge. I was invited to join them for dinner and oh my was it delicious! The Woodshed is well known for it’s lamb and after tasting it, they earn that title!

This was a lamb platter for two so trust me, there was plenty of take away for brekkie the next morning.

This morning, I woke up and was happily surprised! I finally found my Huntsman!!!

Today’s short trip takes me to Broken Hill where there are several museums to view! Lightening Ridge is next! I can’t wait to see the opals!