REST DAY
Coober Pedy - South Australia

REST DAY - COOBER PEDY

Even though my "body clock" has me waking early, I think we all slept a lot better knowing we didn’t have to be up early and on our bikes! It was wonderful to spend a leisurely morning around camp – for me – still catching up on emails and facebook!!
 
Pat and I then took a break and headed into “town”. I have always been fascinated about seeing Coober Pedy and yet when I had spoken to Australians who had been here – most of them had described it as “a bloody dusty hole”!! Well dusty it certainly is!! The IGA shop in town was unbelievably well stocked so we were able to top up all supplies. Great fruit and vegies, and as well a huge hardware area so everything could be bought.
 
We got the van topped up with petrol at the Caltex Station – one of 3 in the town, and then took a short drive around to get a feel for the place. Lots of tourist opal shops, evidence of the mines, museum, dust, hotel, dust, water vending machines, dust, car wash, dust, bakery, dust – yup it sure is dusty. I can only imagine how horrible it is here in mid-summer!!
 
After returning from “town” we pre-cooked a couple of meals for the next days and are looking forward to steak and onions on the lovely clean BBQ at the camp tonight.
 
Bette and Barry sussed out a nice bakery where we went for coffee and pastries, and then they went on a sight-seeing tour which sounded fantastic. I have already decided that there are so many fascinating things along this route that Pat and I will have to come back (without my bike) at some stage to explore a lot further. Trying to combine it with the bike ride is just too busy. For me though – I thought I do need to “rest” as we have been n the bike for the last 8 days, and have 4 days before our next rest day – 2 short days and 2 long days!!