It is a deep red sunrise, and the temperature is cold, that kind of weather that when you jump out of bed one needs to move quickly to the bathroom. It is probably about 4°C.

We continue north along the Oodnadatta Track making a diversion to the Peake ruins. What a fabulous place this is. The Friends of Mound Springs and the South Australian government have put up some excellent informative signage at this historic site. The explorer John McDouall Stuart passed this location. The geology of this area is exciting, the rock formations are sharp, jaggered and unusual, the mineralogy is equally interesting. We spend time exploring the old copper smelter, its slag heap and unused copper ore. The mound springs that perhaps attracted early settlers to use this site as a telegraph station attracts many and varied native birds. The date palms were a settler addition. We attempt to work out who made the bricks, pretty good bricks. In 1870 the telegraph station was the most remote settlement in South Australia. We take plenty of photos. Then to cap it off fellow travellers we met on the Googs Track drive in as we were about to depart, we have a good yarn and hope to catch up again. Good to see you again Bron and Neil.

We stop again at old Ghan rail line infrastructure at Algebuckina, the creeks closer to Oodnadatta have water in them and the Neales Creek was still gently flowing. What an oasis in what is a stark harsh landscape. Despite the challenges this country presents, wildlife can be found, we saw dragons and Red Kangaroo.