15-Apr-2011 -- Our journey took us on the “purists” route of the Oodnadatta track. This was the now largely disused section that commences on the Stuart Highway 50 km or so above Marla and proceeds west passed Granite downs station. The main Oodnadatta Track now commences at Marla.

While a Public Access Route (PAR), the road is not maintained along much of its length and the grass is encroaching. It still sees a bit of traffic though so wheel tracks were easy to follow and the track is still faithful to the Hema and Natmaps. These days other, more direct routes to Marla take the bulk of the traffic heading South.

It was a beaut day for the drive though as we headed east through the largely destocked country. At the longitude, a track took us almost to our destination and a quick walk of 70 metres had us standing in the midst of a thicket that signified a dry watercourse.

It was pretty scrappy in there and we were forced to take a few scratches for the team but we soon had the confluence located and photographed and we heading the short distance back to the main track to continue our journey east.