Today I hitched up the trailer – almost entirely by myself. First attempt, and nailed it. Just couldn’t get the jockey wheel off on my own. Otherwise a success!
AND – I also backed the trailer. And then drove it for about 250km. Not that the driving thing is very hard. The trailer will pretty much follow you. I learnt that towing the trailer of kayaks back from Albury one time.
But the hitching and backing stuff…..feel free to congratulate me.

This is a setting moon that we have been watching. But Harry’s star still rises.

We pulled off the highway a few hundred metres along the Davenport Ranges turnoff, then into the red sand and the spinifex.

Here’s a rare sight.

Now I might get found out by one or two people (Sam?) but at this particular spot, the Todd receives a boost from some storm water run off. Other areas were trickling along though.
Anyway – all I’ve ever seen in the Todd is ….sand.

It was still raining after the Transport Museum extravaganza, so the plan to ride out to the Old Telegraph Station was abandoned. Instead we opted for the bakery lunch (indoors) and a drive to the Telegraph Station. It’s only 5km from the centre of town, and also the site of a start and a finish for the mountain bike race we hold here each year. In all those 6 visits, we’ve never taken the time to browse through the serene buildings (the very first white settlement in the Central Australia). So today was the day!
They could communicate with London in about 8 hours!
Here are a few photos of this beautiful place.



And here’s a photo of the boys at the weather station. And guess what the manual recording was? RAIN.

Just south of town is the Old Ghan Museum. It has the biggest collection of memorabilia I think I’ve ever seen. Now I’m no train buff, but it really was very interesting. They had everything from photos of building the train line, to old tickets, timetables and menus, the original plates, cutlery, linen, staff uniforms, training manuals – even the dinky shampoo and soaps for passengers. Truly a remarkable collection. These train fans sure do hoard their stuff.
Right next door is the National Road Transport Hall of Fame Museum (with the added bonus of the Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame). Who would have thought there would be such a thing? I took a look in the door and saw a large number of old trucks, and left to get a coffee. The boys have all gone in for a look. That was an hour ago. It’s still raining.
They loved it. There must be some genetic connection between diesel and testosterone.


They took MANY photos in there, but I won’t bore you with any more.