Trish Travels: Eromanga to Olive Downs via Noccundra

Day 3 - Eromanga to Olive Downs via Noccundra

Friday, 21 September 2012

The lady in the pub last night told us of the scenic route to Noccundra so off we went. An area of old opal mines. It took us through an area of rocky outcrops and dry creek beds, right up our 'street'. Came across Daryle's mine and camp, not abandoned so we had to retreat and head up the track that took us up on to higher ground. Daryle had a very interesting letter box, in the fork of the a tree and a little while later we found ourselves on an airstrip. It took a while before we realised by the track was so wide and level :). I actually asked PAV what the little reflector strips were on either side before the penny dropped. We then ran out of runway and had to do a little detour to find the real track - by the tyre prints around, we weren't the only ones who had made this mistake. About 100km later we came back onto the main track south to Noccundra. We were only 35km south of Eromanga! Passed Pam and Graham who were parked up in their mobile home, guess it was morno's time. Re tried to call up Pam the Ham on the radio, but they weren't listening. Graham had bought Pam a hand held two-way, and the previous day she had used it for the first time and chatted to some truckies that she could see heading towards them, she was so excited, it was really funny. Like a little kid with a new toy.

We arrived at Noccundra, to see to Cesna's parked alongside the Aussie bush pub (yes it is in the book as well, so the obligatory drink was called for). The lady serving drinks, Mel, said they don't usually do food, but the manager was away, so she could make us a couple of rounds of ham/cheese sandwichs for $8! That will do just fine we said. Not long after Graham and Pam arrive, so it was another round of drinks. In the meantime another couple of planes (from BRoken Hill) with some tourists aboard dropped in for a drink. It was quite amusing to watch them walk out of the pub and climb aboard again, then the plane take off right beside the pub. One way of reaching a pub that is hundreds of miles from anywhere else. Had to say our goodbyes again and we set off for Olive Downs, which is 50km north of Tibbooburra. We stayed here last year.