14,15/6/21

We enjoyed pies at the Blinman bakery and took the dirt road to Parachilna, enjoying the picturesque gorges as we passed through.

Then we had a quick stop at Leigh Creek ( for fuel 50c /l cheaper than at Maree) before heading on to Farina.

We beat the rush into the campground ( just) -arriving at 4:30 and snagging ourselves a little circle of campsites with a fire spot in the middle which we used for our communal fire.

It was a mild night with a lovely clear sky. Our washing dried on the salt bush surrounding our campsite to the stage where we could travel with it inside with no fear of drips.

In the morning we had egg and bacon pies and cream buns from the bakery run by volunteers and sat admiring the restored buildings outside the newly completed Patterson House which is used as a shop. Apparently Dick Smith is coming on Friday to do the official opening.

We met Marc Turner there (from orienteering). He is on his way to Dalhousie with some other Jeep’s who are going to cross the Simpson.

If old farina’s stones could talk
They’d have some tales to tell
Of a bustling healthy railway town 
And summers as hot as Hell.

Of the sturdy folk who came out here and toiled through the years
And families so bent with loss It’d bring us all to tears

She’d tell of desolation, of struggle and despair 
And then she’d tell of those who came and treated her with care

Who built again her buildings
Restored her breath again
Remembered all the history
The boom days and the pain

Now a thriving, happy campground
A refuge to lay your head
A place to purchase sticky buns
And good wood oven bread.