The stove again
didn’t start with a glow plug error. Tried again at half speed and
it went through the motions but failed. The pump continues pumping
from I minute 14 secs through to when the stove shuts down 9 minutes
later. Which means it has flooded with diesel and needs to be open
and drained before it will start.
We decided to check
out the Lava Formations so drove on up the river bed. An interesting
drive. In places the sand was quite deep so dropped our tyre
pressure. It looked like the ute that came out full of firewood last
night got stuck a few times but managed to get out with some small
twigs under the tyres. 
The road left the river bed andinto the
scrub. We finally got to use the electric chainsaw! Though John did
need to sit on bull bar so he could reach!!
Anyway the track got
very scratchy so we turned in a very small spot and parked. We walked
2 km up the river bed and then cut across a headland. We ended up
above the lava formations.
There was a little running water which did
not flow far before it disappeared underground. Interesting and nice
walk but hardly worth writing home about.
Cactus skeleton!
Finally got back to
the main road about 13:00hrs.
Took the scenic route
towards Belen on an orange road, and after Campans it became dirt and
progressively got narrower. 25km after Tinogasta the narrow road
was half blocked with a bucket load of dirt, cars had driven around so
on we
went. However all the cars turned off and we continued to the
wriggley bit of road. After the first few corners we decided that as
there were no tyre tracks except motor cycles. We would not try our
luck. Decided to camp for the night. Great view. The road had been
well made with some rock walls supporting it about 3meters high.
went. However all the cars turned off and we continued to the
wriggley bit of road. After the first few corners we decided that as
there were no tyre tracks except motor cycles. We would not try our
luck. Decided to camp for the night. Great view. The road had been
well made with some rock walls supporting it about 3meters high.
262km