The rain stopped and a couple of cloudy cool days with some wind soon dried out the track enough for it to be reoopened.  We gave it another day to let it dry out some more before we tried it.  Where there were wheel tracks through the soft stuff we could follow along quite comfortably but in many places the wheel tracks were all over the place like tangled spaghetti.  Still areas of water across the track and later on the inevitable corrugations.First stop "Plane Henge" which is an area of very imaginative sculptures made from all sorts of , mostly waste, materials.  Innovative and quirky.  Fun.  Tonight we camped at Coward Springs.  Rather quiet. Only a few rigs, some having been caught there when the rain came.  The four of of us toddled down to the "spring" and climbed down the ladder (uip to Kaye's neck) and had an immersion I guess you would call it.  Hardest thing was climbing up the ladder to get out.  Another one of Dennis's lovely fires tonight. 
We woke to a beautiful morning and were aaway by 9 am.  First stop William Creek which doesn't impress.  Further on we stopped where the old Ghan Railway is close to the road and picked up a load of broken up sleeper bits for fires.  Found a good lunch spot under a windmill about 10kms south of Warrina siding ruins.  Next stop Algebuckina Bridge. Arrived Oodnadatta about 3.45.  Kaye discovered a minor hassle.  She hadn't locked the fridge door so had clean up to do.  Also their fridge seems to have moved slightly. 
We spent two nights in Oodnadatta because we went out to the Painted Desert the next day.  The land forms and colours are so unusual and striking.    It really is a must see. Yellows, reds, oranges, purples etc wth sheer cliffs and steep slopes.  Did a walk up to the top to look out over the vista but the flies were once again in plague proportions.  Spoke to Lynnie Plate (owner of the Pink Roadhouse) about thee road conditions to Dalhousie Springs and Mt. Dare.  She said it had been graded 3 weeks ago and was good.  And so it was as far as Hamilton Station the next day.  Once we turned off towards Pedirka Ruins and Dalhgousie the track became rather on the rocky side. Steady slow driving and we reached dalhousie Ruins where we stopped to inspect the conservation work going on there.  Unbelievably, the flies were even worse.  The next 12 kms to Dalhousie Springs were extremely corrugated. Real teeth rattling stuff.  Once we arrived and set up though it is a good place to be.  The spring is a very large pool 36degC and about 150metrres long by 50 metres wide.  Deep mostly with areas one can stand up in , with a soft squiddgy bottom.  A very popular spot.  Dennis still seems to have a bit of a fridge problem.
It is only a fairly short distance across to Mt. Dare (about 70kms) but it took us 3 hours to navigate a badly eroded road which was through a gibber plain and pretty wel down to bedrock.  We just crawled over the rocks expecting tyre damage but none eventuated.  The original hotel at Mt. Dare has been demolished and a new establishment has been built. Friendly nice people running it.  We were the only people there (I wonder why) but later another two rigs arrived.  The most  remote hotel? in Oz they say.  Diesel is $2.25 a litre.  I wandered down to the pond behind the hotel late afternoon to see what birdlife was around.  100s Galahs, crested pigeons, zebra finches, a few black faced wood swallows, a whistling kite, white plumed h/eaters.etc.  But the crowning glory was a large flock  of about 70 (at least) red tailed black cockatoos who screeched their way in and chased the galahs out of their preferred trees.
Talked to Karen, the manager, about the Old Andado Track, which is part of Binns Track, and she gave me a detailed description of the first section out to Old Andado Station. Said her information was pretty recent but boy was she wrong!  On the strength of her info and others we decided to do it.  After the fi rst few kms the track became rather over grown and we had to take our towing mirrors off,then soft sandyy areas and bulldust.  Then the crowning glory a stretch along a river bed in deep soft sand ending in a slope on a curve.  Thank goodness we had the 200 Series because it was stretched to the limit. Kaye and Dennis didn't make it quite the first time and had a second go but thankfully got there.   Unbelievably, at the top on the flat are cattleyards and a road train and two utes were therre loading cattle.  We thought, oh good, surely that means the road will now be better if he got in.  Some parts yes but others we dragged our bellies through the soft sand and bulldust.  Stopped for morning tea at a bore and the truck ground its way past us. But the road then improved and we made it to Old Andado Station and Molly Clark's home for lunch time.  Molly Clark was a wonderful old territory character who lived out here on her own and when she eventually had to go into Alice Springs she just walked out and left everything.  So visitors are welcome to walk through her house and look in the cupboards etc to see all her treasures and just how she lived. Even the bed is made up.  What a hard hard life.  We had intended to camp there but it was 30deg so decided to keep going until it became cooler to find a camp spot.  Along the way we drove into the MacClark Reserve to see the very rare Acacia Peuce trees.  Trees only found here in the entire world.  Worth doing.  Continued on and for a while the road was terrific.  Sadly, it didn't last and before we got to Alice we had every type of condition one can imagine thrown at us.  The terrible corrugations went on forever, bulldust, mud, rocky sections etc. etc.  Later in the day we were almost despairing of finding a camp spot but we did in the end.  A beaut spot, flat and clear with trees at the back and a perfect spot for a fire.  It was  glorious night, clear, calm,warm, with amazing stars.  Dennis's fire was perfect as usual.  Unfortunately, the story inside the vans wasn't so perfect.  Kaye had a 2 litre bottle of milk in the fridge and it had worn a hole in the bottom and leaked out all through the fridge and under it as well.  Dennis had suffered a broken Brass bolt which connects the gas bottles to the van and had no gas as a result.  Never seen a brass bolt break before.  We had a microwave problem.  The innards of the micrwave had torn free from the casing. The screws had torn out the metal and it was coming out.  The casing was still securely attached to the wall but Bill had to remove the whole thing and rescrew the microwave back together then replace everything.  A big heavy job.  The microwave still works!  Thank goodness Bill the improviser and handyman always carries quantities of tools screws etc. etc.  The next morning we set off carefully and after a long slow rocky stretch and some bad corrugations the road improved.    However, worse news was to come.  We stopped on a nice flat stretch for morning tea and when i oopened the fridge discovered all my eggs except one were smashed and leaking through the fridge.  However, that was nothing compared to what K and D found when they opened their door.  The fridge had moved onto the coolant pipe and smashed it so the van was full of evil smelling coolant.  They also had a tyre that went flat as we stopped.  What a mess.  They cleaned it up as best  they could but van is unusable because of ammonia fumes and damage the coolant has done.  Thankfully, this has happened on our way into Alice Springs not earlier down the track.  It was a relief to finally make it into Alice, get set up, have a lovely shower, and think about the clean up tomorrow. Took ourselves out for a "celebratory" dinner at Barra on Todd. Such luxury.
D and K have left van in caravan park after taking it for insurance quotes and gone up to Tennant Creek for the weekend to see her sister.
Alice Springs.  Have had a thorough clean up inside and out and we look respectable again.  We were filthy.  Took the van to the Peter Kittle car wash and then Bill took the truck in.  Did a big shop as stocks ere getting a bit low.

It is only a short drive from Orroroo to  Bendleby Ranges Station so we were ensconced well before lunch in the Pines campground.  All looked the same as last year.  After an early lunch we went 4x4 driving with Bill at the wheel.  Rugged harsh country with sometimes challenging tracks but the cruiser handled it all beautifully.  Wonderfully extensive 360 deg. views from the summits.  What an amazingly expansive country we live in.  The emus were prolific and have been everywhere so far.  Must have been a very good season for them..  After dinner Dennis we sat around the lovely fire Dennis had got going.  A perfect evening, stars, no smoke from good wood, and no breeze and no one else around.
The next day, Sunday, we set out for Farina Ruins.  Through Belton along the back roads to Hawker for morning tea.  As Kaye and Dennis had never visited the Panorama we decided to revisit it.  The Panorama is an amazing painting of the Flinders Ranges in a circular form.  Viewers stand on a platform in the centre and it is quite an amazing 3D type eexperience.  It took the artist a very long time to create but is definitely worth a visit.  Visited the pub at Parachilna and treated ourselves to an ice cream.  Good to get out of the flies which were in plaggue proportions.  Went into Leigh Creek to fuel up and found the Ratex Rally had taken over the service station.  Old Volkswago combis mostly.  Eventually got fuel but couldn't get near the water so toddled off to the caravan park where the manager very kindly allowed us to top up our water tanks.  When we arrived at Farina it was jumping.  The restoration group was in residence and they are doing a marvellous job of conserving the ruins and doing some restoration work.  They have got the old undergound bakery in operation and each day (for the 6 weeks they are there) are producing the most beautiful bread, rolls, finger buns, foot long pasties, etc etc.  Needless to say we took full advantage.  We had a rest day here the next day  and passed  a delightful day  relaxing and inspecting progress, walking etc.
Overnight there was a light shower, just enough to settle the dust, but as we ttravelled towards Marree the heavens opened and  in no time at all the road showed signs of slipperiness.  Stipped in Marree and considered but made the decision it waould be foolish to go any further.  Sure enough the Oodnadatta Track was quickly closed so in Marrree we stayed for the next three days,  No mobile phones, Internet etc. The very friendly helpful people at the roadhouse showed us round to the Caravan Park and we parked up on the roadway because everywhere else was under water already.  Our stay in Marree turned out to be rather pleasant.  The locals were  pleased to have us among them and the roadhouse owner is also a baker so he makes some bread and cakes each day which we enjoyed along with the coffee they made. It got to be quite social.  We did lots of reading and had time to really get to know an outback village that one would usually pass through quickly thinking, golly, I am glad I don't live here!

The trip is well under way now.  When we left Melbourne the weather was somewhat inclement and continued that way for most of the day.  However it magicallyy cleared as we approached our first night's camp at Hattah lakes Camp Ground.  Only two other parties there besides our party of two couples so it was a quiet peaceful night with lovely starry skies.  The next morning the four had a pleasant walk before leaving towards Renmark.  An uneventful drive with better weather.  Did a big shop to stock up now that we are through the Fruit Fly Check point.  Spent the night on the banks of the mighty Murray in the Big 4 CP.  A beautiful morning today with the first stop in Waikerie at the Nippy's Factory to buy oranges and a few other goodies.  $4.00 for 5kgs of navels seemed a fairly reasonable price.  After morning tea on the bank of the river we decided to cross on the ferry and go up past Lock 2.  Had a look at the lock, then lunch in Morgan also on the river bank.  Tonight we are in a nice little park in Orroroo and tomorrow are going up to the Bendleby Ranges.

We are leaving on Wednesday for our 2013 caravan trip and if friends are interested in following our travels I invite them to log in and read all about every thing. Hopefully I will be able to update my blog at regular intervals.