Time to depart the Flinders Ranges and head deeper into the Outback, first for abandoned (now historic) town Farina and then the Oodnadatta Track, our first bit of dirt track and proper 4WDing. This stretch was 297km and took almost 4 hours.
Morning sun over the ranges. Actually that’s a moon in the sky over Mitch which is a bit confusing. Mitchi Pichi Richi. We went for a quick walk before finishing the pack up, getting up the hills we’d been eyeing off for two days.Coo-eeeee! Very cool rocks. Some geologist please explain these to me.Rare Bennetts Wallaby sightingSee ya!
Sad face! It was time to bid adieu to our travelling companions, the Marinos-Cowells. They were heading onto Wilpena Pound. Unfortunately for them, we are now forged in a sacred bond of campertrailer togetherness that can never be broken and they will have to continue to hit the road with us for many holidays to come. I don’t make the rules.
Before heading off to Farina we quickly stopped in Quorn again and look, we passed a bookshop. I think it’s second hand, and is called Quornucopia (or that is the gift shop next door, either way I had to mention it). This town is ripe for puns with popquorn on the menu. Also hot tip: the vegan burger from the Quandong Cafe is 🤌🏼. Quorntastic? Unfortunately, Lux is sick. She slept and rested most of this day. Mitch picked up some more authentically Outback sunnies in Leigh Creek.After ill-advisedly wearing these for a bit.
Farina means flour in Latin which their pamphlets tell me demonstrates the original founders’ misplaced optimism that wheat could be grown there. Water was immediately and continuously a problem with the rains coming infrequently and the wells too salty or contaminated.
Honesty system at the Farina Campgrounds!Oli picked out this sweet little site! Surrounded by waddy trees and brush, with its own little picnic table and fire ring, it was perfect. Kitchen with a view (this will be another series, sorry).Popping out my Quorn stubbie. Who says you can’t stay zesty fresh while camping?Ominous?Dunny series! This was a cutie cylindrical number.First use of a donkey shower which uses firewood to heat the water
So Farina is famous for its restored underground bakery, the only operational building in an otherwise abandoned township. The whole area (including the campground) has been lovingly and carefully maintained by a group of volunteers; on the day of visiting the bakery, they swarmed amongst the crowds wearing hi-vis vests and slightly dazed expressions (are we the reason all these people are here?)
See, absolutely packed. Every nook and cranny had historical artefacts and placards and the bakery offered a bevy of doughy options: cinnamon scrolls, meat pies and pasties, cookies and bread. All pretty impressive really.Bakery from the outside. The old post office. The Finn house, still showing inscriptions of the seven daughters who lived there.Camels are a constant throughline in the Outback. I am fascinated in their stories and that of the mostly Afghan cameleers who introduced them after reading The Ballad of Abdul Wade by Ryan Butta.All that remains of the Anglican Church.Farewell Farina!
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