We had an extra night in Maree waiting for the roads to open, the springs had to wait.

The trak from Maree to Williams Creek was interesting, lots of mud holes and sticky sections. The mound springs and coward springs was a welcomed break from the short amount of driving. Jamala and Kaiden loved the spring 'spa' in the desert. It was refreshing and at just the right temperature.

Onwards William Creek and Oodnadatta we past much variation in landscape and vegetation, oh and water laying on the gibber plains. I am begining to think I had taken a wrong turn somewhere and that we are now in a vast wetland area of Australia more than arid !

At Oodnadatta we wondered if we would go through the Painted Desert or head into Witijira National Park. We headed south and discovered the Painted Desert road was closed (more rain). Turning off the main trak and onto the four wheel drive trail into Witijira was a marked difference in road conditions, however the scenery and ever changing landscape was spectacular. A long this stretch we knew from travellers in Oodnadatta that they got bogged twice and needing to winch themselves out. So I was being cautious with gear selection as we crossed the many muddy water crossings. Our car and trailer before long was coated in yet more mud, towards the end of the trail Nicole had lost all vision out of her window that provided some welcomed shade.

Along the trail we were pleased to find Sturt's Desert Pea, something we wanted to see for a long while. Everything was so green and lots in flower. There was also a great diversity in reptiles and more flocks of budgies.

We looked forward to a swim at Dalhousie Springs to help soak in some more water. This spring was far from refreshing at 37-40 degrees, more like a hot bath in the baking sun ! None-the-less we went for a swim, all except Jamala. It was not long before I was feeling lathagic and could easily drift around in the spring until, well I guess I amy slip into a coma or something?

Feeling more tired than before I dragged my weary self up to the camp site to do some fun jobs like changing the brakes on the car and other maintenance work. Laying under the car in the mud, and heat after a swim in 37+ degree water, just wasn't giving me that refresh I was craving.... then I remembered I put a coopers beer in the freezer ! Yep that did it prefectly. Meanwhile, Nicole discovered cold showers at the camp ground.

Later that evening, a storm started to brew, Nicole witnessed the most spectacular lighting stike she had ever seen. Before long we sat around eating our dinner in the tent as the storm and rain passed over. We then had just enough time to cook some oranges filled with chocolate cake in the fire before the next storm cell came, it brang more rain than the last and the fire was over. We were all tired at 9:30pm anyway. HHHmmmmmmm rain at Lake Eyre and now more on the edge of the Simpson Desert, I am wondering about our late start to the Kimberlies, I know it is going to be hot, but wondering about how much rain might be up there in October?

Next is a tale of winching and a long day .... we are in Alice now