was starting to feel like a relatively close distance after the isolation of Central Australia .
The next stretch of 255km from Coober Pedy to Glendambo required a fuel top up from the jerry can . We were heading for Port Augusta through windblown areas with large salt lakes . There were slight changes in vegetation as we were getting closer to the southern coast .
The amount of traffic was building as we approached civilisation . The town of Port Augusta was a place to celebrate the success of our trip through the outback . The motel here even had a quality restaurant where we toasted the success of our trip .
From Port Augusta to the big city of Adelaide was an easy 300km . It felt like we were in the bright city lights to be staying at a beach side entertainment precinct in South Australia ’ s capital city . We enjoyed a weekend in the Barossa with green rolling hills , vineyards , and
historic villages . Part of being back in civilisation was the return to the COVID risks we had avoided by being in the outback .
There were straight stretches of up to 37km as we headed up the highway to Broken Hill for a quick stop at Silverton , then on towards Wilcannia . A year of good rain , we were riding through corridors of colourful flowers beside the highway . After leaving the semi-arid areas of Western NSW we rode past luminescent fields of yellow canola and cherry trees in flower .
We had left on this trip in the middle of winter and now 10 weeks later we were arriving home in spring . Arriving home with the memories revealed by the red dust , so thick on my boots , it would stay as a reminder of our adventure for some time .
The plan for this trip had started with the closure of the Uluru climb being an opportunity to visit the sacred site at a time with less tourists . This turned into an even better opportunity with COVID state border closures . Every motorcyclist ’ s dream , 130kph speed limits , minimal traffic , and this great country to explore ... SD
1 . Albert Namatjira ( 28.06.1902 - 08.08.1959 ) was an Australian artist from the central area of the continent . A western Arrernte person , Namatjita was a pioneer of contemporay indigenous art . In 1957 Namatjira was the first Aboriginal person to be granted an Australian citizenship , albeit restricted .
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