Port Augusta 1 March 2007

Up early to go on a morning tour of OneSteel Steelworks and we were very impressed with the tour and the views of the milling of long pieces of steel directly out of the furnace - it was so fast and hot! Unfortunately that was also one of our first hot days! The town is pleased to have a new industry with a large find of magnetite under the ore that will give them a new big boost, as the town has been in decline for 30 years since the closure of the ship yards. The CBD is very tired, as its just too close to the iron pellet production and has turned the town to a rusty colour. There is another part of the town that is more pleasant that this area, with trees and attractive homes but first impressions were not exciting! Got to live there to know it! Augusta also had a long list of op shops that kept us on the move for a bit! We always find a little something! Only problem is that when we get home we will need to throw out something for every new item we bring back!
Left late in afternoon to JUST make it to Port Augusta for the mail! “Port a Gutter” seemed like an old friend as this is where we started our Central Australia trip last May. Interestingly, we seem to be seeing lots of motorhomes and caravans heading north and west for the winter migration already! Seems we are going in the wrong direction!
Parked for the night on a lay-by outside of P.A., with another motorhome that we recognised. We first met them last September near Broome, as they headed east to QLD and we were now passing each other as they returned to WA! Very warm night with a hot day predicted.