View of surrounding outback country from the "rest area" where I spent the night. As I took this photo I was thinking that this area just might have some opal...maybe I should have a look??

5/19/08: Stopped in Port Pirie for groceries and money, so I wiled away a few hours running errands.  Got back on the Stuart Highway just after a nice fish and chips lunch at Barnacle Bill’s restaurant in Port Pirie. With fading daylight I decided to spend the night in a rest area (camping is permitted in the very large, though basic, rest area parking lots along the Stuart Highway) just south of Glendambo in the good company of 3 other Australian camping parties.  Sat around the campfire with the crew and exchanged stories of our lives.  It was a beautiful star-filled evening with great company.  I love the stars down here…much different than what we see in the north…the southern cross constellation (on the Australian and New Zealand flags) was displaying itself with pride.