Marla to Erldunda ...

Marla was just an overnight stop, so we farewelled Percy the Goose and headed further North. 

I watch the side of the road, mainly for lizards but spotted a feral cat, some wedge tailed eagles and then Sturt's Desert Peas along the way.

I saw several clumps of Sturt's Desert Peas as we drove from Woomera to Roxby Downs and then Andamooka (100km stretch of road). None were conveniently located for stopping - and I didn't see more till - about 700km from those spotted last week, so was very pleased we were able to turn around, pull over and get out to thoroughly admire them.

We crossed into the Northern Territory around midday and the landscape changed to rocky outcrops, whereas much of the previous day had been mostly flat, without much variation at all.

It's quite amazing all the different country we have driven through.  Each stretch has had something to see.  

Every so often there are dotterels, little birds that blend in quite well with the rocks and ground beside the road – running along like lizards, till they take off and fly a bit.

We'd booked a powered site at the Erldunda Roadhouse (aka Desert Oaks Resort) and arrived in the afternoon.  

We positioned the camper to create the best shade.  Other campers rolled in after us and it seemed some explored from there, rather than staying closer to Uluru.

Coober Pedy to Marla ...

We stopped at the IGA on the way out of town.  Despite how it looked outside, it was enormous inside with so much stuff!  

I bought Nick a freshly baked bread roll (cos I was mostly gluten-free during the trip) and some Deep Heat.  There was the largest selection of similar pain relief creams etc, no doubt due to all the opal miners suffering muscle strains.  The choice was overwhelming!

A flock of many, many corellas lifted off the side of the road as we headed for The Breakaways.

Kanku – Breakaways Conservation Park is Aboriginal owned and the entire park is a registered aboriginal heritage site. It lies 32km north of Coober Pedy and it consists of colourful low hills which have broken away from the Stuart Range, hence their name ‘The Breakaways.’

We drove through incredibly open landscape - and then The Breakaways were gorgeous, well worth our $12.50 entry permit.  Mr Dog was allowed to walk about with us, on leash.

Funny story, some tour buses had pulled up on a ridge area and set out various refreshments on long tables - with white tablecloths and ice buckets.  We were chatting to a passenger and he asked if we'd arrived on one of the other buses, with our dog!

We stayed at the Marla Roadhouse and were greeted by the resident goose on arrival.  He claimed Bandit's water bowl and was protective of the extension cords!