The Outback, Finally!
On the 4th day of driving, I did finally enter what I think of as the outback of Australia. The trees pretty much disappear, the roads get far emptier, the temperatures soar, and the horizon is limitless. For most of the next ten days or so, this will be my setting. When I note that the trees are now gone, they do not really reappear for 1,700 miles!
America is of course a very large country. Australia is only 2/3 our size, but with less than 20 million people, or less than Southern California. So, there are vast areas of emptiness. Probably 90% of the total area is essentially uninhabited.
Below, I included a photo of the Barrier Highway. This is the one direct, paved 2 lane road between Sydney and Adelaide or Perth. (3 of the 5 largest cities) There is just one road across all of Australia. And it is empty. I passed an oncoming vehicle about every 5 to 10 minutes!
Today, I did 500 km (300+ miles) between Cobar and Broken Hill. The temps hit about 102 and the road kill were everywhere. This is sad, but it is a part of Australia. Road kill of kangaroos. Probably 10 per mile, sometimes more. They are pretty blind at night and I think the headlights actually attract them. It is why no one should drive at night if it can be avoided. Fortunately they are prolific breeders as there remains no shortage of them.
Feral goats. Thousands of them along this road. In this case, they took over a rest stop. Not stupid as it was so hot in the sun and they are shaded and comfy. And, when you approach them along the road, they back off, unlike the roo’s. I do not think I ever saw a goat killed along the road.
1880’s government building in Wilcannia, along the Darling river. Beautiful stone work.
The Darling River in Wilcannia. Hard to image, but 500 miles inland, this was the 3rd busiest port in Australia in the 1890’s The river rose to the point that barges could traverse this far inland. It was lined with warehouses. Implement’s and supplies coming in, wool going out.
An 1896 drawbridge over the Darling. Quite rare according to the signage.
Dust storm.
Classic outback view.