Notes from the Saddle – Australia Encompassed Motorcycle Tour 2013 Back to News List
The Australia Encompassed Motorcycle Tour for 2013 is now on the homeward stretch and below is the update from Uluru (Ayers Rock) heading towards the Flinders Ranges.
A lot has happened since our last post from Uluru. After another spectacular sunset over the rock the group rode out next morning for the biggest ride of the tour from Uluru to Coober Pedy, in South Australia.
Arriving in Coober Pedy we quickly found ourselves underground, in the Lookout Cave, an underground hotel and our accommodation of the night. The following morning was spent at the Oldtimers Mine, an Opal mine from the early 19th century. 80% of the worlds opals are mined from Coober Pedy and the Oldtimers gave us a great insight into how the opal is extracted and gave us all a chance to buy some opal to keep our better halves happy!!! We soon hit the dirt of the Coober Pedy to Oodnadatta Track and rode through some spectacular desolate country onto the legendary Oodnadatta and the Pink Roadhouse. The riding was superb with huge vast landscapes, empty horizons and massive skies.
An evening was spent in the iconic Transcontinental Hotel in the “main street” of Oodnadatta, what could be more Aussie than enjoying a XXXX beer, while listening to Slim Dusty at the Transcontinental at Oodnadatta?
We hit the track the following morning bound for the remote William Creek situated within the worlds largest station of Anna Creek, larger than Belgium! The track that roughly follows the old section of the Ghan Railway was in great condition and provided riders with some interesting historic points as well as some excellent off road riding. A ridiculously large hamburger was enjoyed by all the the legendary William Creek Pub before we hit the track again for the last 200ks into Marree, the junction point for both the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks.
The next port of call is the spectacular Flinders Ranges National Park.
 A beautiful sunset |
 The road from Coober Pedy to Oodnadatta |
 Outback Beauty |
 Riding the Oodnadata track |
 The Pink Roadhouse in Oodnadatta |
 Trains in the Outback |
