b'stay in a comfortable motel as it was our last night inworks halted for a while due to breakdown and fuel the real outback country. After a good meal we madeshortages. Goog put the track through to Mt Finke our way down to the underground pub where wethen a grader was purchased, and the local station played some serious hit and giggle billiardsAlanowners joined forces and completed the track ended up champion of the night. through to Malbooma in 1976. The sheep farmers Coober Pedy is often referred to as the Opalwanted the road to continue so they could get their Capital because of its quantity of precious opalswool through to the Port Thevenard, and Ceduna that are mined here, the town is also famous forfaster, however it was too tough and was abandoned. its sun-baked lunar landscape with thousandsThe track is approximately 200 kms long with over of mine shafts clearly visible from the road and300 dunes, some were challenging dunes especially scattered throughout the town, underground homes,to the inexperienced, some sections are very churches, motels, pubs, carparks, hairdressingnarrow with bush and scrub lined sections, some salons and a caravan park in fact if you name it, it iscorrugations and is now often used for a training probably underground in Coober Pedy. This is reallydesert sand driving track for those who would like something special to see and feel the stable climateto cross The Simpson Desert or The Canning Stock of these diggings. Route etc. It has many hill crests that are blind, so a In the morning we were all fuelled up, tyressand flag is recommended.pumped up and ready for the 250 km drive toOur first night was at Mt Finke, just before we Glendambo turned right into Tarcoola Rd which ranturned into the campground the sun was very low parallel beside the Trans Australian Railway Line,and, in our eyes, the track was narrow and, on a we crossed the line from side to side until we camebend, I didnt see a small stump on the edge of the to Googs Track.track and wrecked my rear tyre on it. Alan helped Googs Track was given its name from a farmerme change the wheel in the soft sandStuart and John Goog Denton who wanted to put a trackPeter were already in camp and set up for the night, through the Yellabinna Regional Reserve from hisit took a while to change the wheel just slow going. Lone Oak property to Tarcoola which basicallyOn arrival into camp a really nice surprise was halved the travelling distance. waiting for us, Stuart had prepared a meal for usTrack works started in 1973 with an old Fordsonwith a nice warm fire and a few drinks and nibbles Major tractor fitted with a front-end loader withit turned out to be a great night. Before turning in a blade fitted, later a bulldozer was introduced,for the night Stuart asked if there were any takers to 28 TRACKWATCH|March 2023'