Big day today, we have driven well over 300 kms to the Stanley  rest area. This morning we surrendered to the dust, you know the story discretion is the better part of valour. The DeGrey Rest Area has been plagued by strong winds which have turned it into a dust bowl. Yesterday we, mainly Elaine, cleaned the van twice then had to clean it again in the evening and when we got up this morning there was more dust everywhere despit being closed up all night.

I got up this morning and walked along the railway line away fron the railway bridge which crosses the river to try and find out more about the line. We already knew that it has had major work done as late as 2013 from casting dates on the concrete sleepers. However, judging by the rust on the lines it is not in use. I walked some distance and came across piles of line made up with steel sleepers, piles of unused line and heaps of unused blue metal. The only information that I managed to gleen was that it is over 85 kms long, I came across a switch building of some sort with solar panels and a sign that said 'node 85 km' and, separately, a sign that said that the access road belonged to BHP.

Back to the van and Elaine was going on about the dust and the need to move, I agreed and looking around so did most of the other people around us. So off we went stopping at Pardoo Roadhouse to have a good clean up, refill a gas bottle and have nice chat with the owner. Then on to Sandfire for fuel, water and lunch, which we ate on the run. Finally on to Stanley where we will spend the night and probably tomorrow.