Leaving Uluru we intended to drive as far as Marla today then to Coober Pedy the next day however we changed our itinerary and decided to go straight to Coober Pedy….best decision ever made as there was nothing  at Marla…it was a dive!

The landscape along the Stuart Highway became more arid again south of Erldunda…As Trev drove along nearly at Marla…potential disaster…a large bolt dropped onto his foot ?? from the steering wheel…Branch kindly held onto it until we could stop at Marla to sort out the issue…fortunately it was just off the trim not anything important and easily remedied.

After a quick lunch stop in Marla…we continued on…the road straight and land arid on both sides. We passed the commencement of the Oodnadatta track and continued south determined to make Coober Pedy before nightfall.

As we drove into town at sunset the landscape was very surreal…..almost lunar…with conical mounds of sandy dirt from all the opal mining!

Driving through Coober Pedy to the caravan park we got the impression that this place was a very different and unique environment!!730kms done today!