Paul Harris Canning Stock Route and East McDonalds Diary - 22 July to 28 August 2018
Paul and Sue Harris completed the Canning Stock Route on a trip lead by Rod Chapple with his navigator
David Box. Paul and Sue then spent a week in the East McDonalds before returning to Melbourne. This is
the diary of Paul Harris from 22 July to 28 August 2018 and points may be useful for people planning a
trip.
Sunday 22 July 2018
The Trip Leader and Tail End Charlie met at the Calder Thunderdome on time, exchanged personal
details envelopes, forgot a photo and headed for to Charlton for morning tea with our first unplanned
route change after the Trip Leader missed the turn off before Bendigo. By the end of the trip the Trip
Leader had gained a solid reputation for missing important landmarks! Next stop was the bakery at
Wycheproof to buy some rolls and then lunch at Sea Lake. We then drove on, filled up at Oyen and then
onto the Citrus Valley Motel in Renmark and settled in for the night. We ventured out to the Renmark
Club for dinner and back to the motel for a game of Crowns with a terrible pack of eBay cards.
Monday 23 July 2018
Left Renmark and drove into fierce wind and rain which did no favors to the fuel consumption. We then
went to the Gaslight Café in Bura for hot drinks before moving on towards Port Augusta. Lunch was
taken in Wilmington and then we went shopping at Woolworths in Port Augusta. There was a major hold
up in the car park when the Trip Leader was trying to fit the provisions in a small fridge, whilst the hot
cooked chook dripped on everything waiting for a spare shopping bag. Accommodation that night was at
the Eldo Hotel, Woomera in the backpacker wing. We had enormous meals for dinner and a round of
Crowns before the snoring competition started.
Tuesday 24 July 2018
On the road at 9.00 after a quick look at the rocket museum. Filled up at Glendambo and lunch at a way
side stop 140km south of Coober Pedy. Drove on to fill up at Coober Pedy, then on to Marla for an
overnight stop where we were kept awake all night by a truck.
Wednesday 25 July 2018
Egg and bacon breakfast and filled up at Erldunda. At this point we discovered oil dripping from the TECs
car, which turned out to be a loose oil filler cap. Then on to Curtin Springs for an entertaining night with
Peter, one of Rods old clients.
Thursday 26 July 2018
Another change of plan and it was decided to climb Ayres Rock leaving Rod to explore the artifacts at
the base. After a successful climb we filled up our jerry cans, did some last-minute shopping and headed
back to Curtin Springs. We had another night with Peter and then a sleepless night with the cows
mooing and heavy winds blowing bull dust over everything.
Friday 27 July 2018
Filled up at Ayres Rock service station, stopped for some photos at the Olgas and then drove the Great
Central Road which was in good condition. Stopped at Lasseters Cave, had a look at Docker River which
was a very run-down settlement, then on to Warakurna Campsite which was a great stay. The staff were
friendly and helpful and the campsite safe and clean.