The Gunbarrel Highway " old section"

B

Today was one of the toughest days on the road. We came up from our overnight camp at Warburton, and headed for the Jackie Junction, named after another of Len Beadell's daughters, and then headed east across the Old Gunbarrel Highway. 

This road on the Hema maps is notated with the word  abandoned. 

It is an important historical road, as it links the Bomb site with Giles, which was and still is the most remote meteorolical station in Australia. It's purpose was to tell the bomb people when the wind was blowing the right way to safely let off an atom bomb, and not blow radiation filled clouds towards the eastern states. Reasonably important I would say. 

The road is now not used, and is in pretty rough condition. To make matters worse, a very strong hot wind has been blowing all day, and the temperature reached over 36 degrees. 

The road corrugations were extreme, and there were heaps of termite nests in the road, which if hit was just like hitting a large rock at speed. 

On the road at various intervals were Len Beadell aluminium plaques attached to trees, which Connie is maintaing with fresh paint and a quick polish. 

It seems heaps have been souveniered, and now they use tamper proof screws. 

The road was so rough I really feared for the camper hanging on to the tray. 

The most amusing finale, at the end of the road was a sign pronouncing the road "Closed"

Tomorrow we are off to visit Giles, the meteorological station.