Talc Alf, Farina and Marree

Set off from Leigh Creek after breakfast and a proper coffee from a coffee shop a couple of chaps have set up recently.

Then stopped at Talc Alfs. Alf is a bit of a character who carves in sandstone. Alf's designs are mostly modern, impressionist and with a realist touch, reflecting both his individual outlook on life and his keen perceptions of his environment. Alf is a great admirer of Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson and naturally Australia's National Song,

Next we drove off the main road to Farina for morning tea at the bakery. It was a thriving town when this was the railway terminus. As the rail line was extended the town lost all importance so withered and was abandoned.
The town has not been inhabited since 1967 but there is a keen band of volunteers who come for 2 or 3 months every year in 2-week blocks to preserve the remains of the buildings left and the underground bakery operates for only those 3 months. Their dedication is amazing. One of the volunteers explained about the underground kiln, the train and preservation of the buildings. They are not restoring, just preserving. John had coffee and an apple turnover, I had a hot chocolate and a date scone.

Then 30 minutes up the main road we had a quick stop at Marree where the pub had a room dedicated to Tom Kruse, a postman who delivered the mail along the Birdsville track for many, many years. There was also one of his old trucks across the road from the pub. We walked to the Post Office and posted some postcards.

Then we set off along the Oodnadatta Track toward William Creek.Read more