Looking out over the large south Lake Eyre which, although it is seasonal is big enough to show up on the VFR charts so this served as my first waypoint

Approaching the distinctive peninsula jutting out from the north shore of Lake Eyre South, which will be my cue to take a new bearing more west

Starting my journey westwards

Beginning to descend for a closer look at upcoming points of interest

Leveled off at 1,500' and passing over the dried-up bed of what might be Anna Creek

Beresford Dam, an historical landmark

I do not recall if these features were planned on my route or I noticed them and chose to investigate. I can't find anything on them but I did circle them. I guess out of curiosity

Once again passing Beresford Dam as I set to follow the road labeled as the Oodnadatta Track on Google Maps

Following the Oodnadatta Track leads me to a bend I know points towards Strangway Springs

Passing over the colonial settlement of Strangway/Mound Springs, back in the day this was an area rich with springs from artesian ground water

Threads of past rivers and washes flowing out of Anna Creek

Distinctive as this dried up river bed is, I still can't find any identification for it on maps so I guess it's no longer active even in the wet season

Stepping down to a lower altitude to better see ground features I can compare to Google Maps satellite photos to help ensure I'm not drifting too far off course

Cruising now at 6,500'

Whoever thought bare terrain could be so beautiful?

Not at all sure what this is, possibly some kind of mining site, but it and the nearby airport were easy to identify on the maps so I could adjust my heading slightly

Time to duck under the clouds

Now cruising at 2,500'

One of many unlabeled outback roads cutting through a dry lakebed

The flatness doesn't help me georeference my position, in addition to not many large distinctive ground features

Spotting Lake Anthony and Half Moon Lake

Passing right over this uncharted airport lets me know I'm still on track as well

Very please to have made it to this spot in the middle of nowhere using only compass bearings, even if I did have GMaps to back me up for assurances sake

Looking back at the Eunikworam Golden Pyramid - which I now realize I could have made into a semi-passable POI by just deforming the terrain mesh upwards to give it some depth. Ah well, like the real deal it's actually pretty insignificant. I just happened to notice it during flight planning and figured it'd be a good target to try and hit

Weather starting to close in as I continue west towards my destination

Beginning final descent - would like to look around the area because this used to be a nuclear test facility but I'm running way low on fuel and need to get on the ground ASAP

Spotting a windsock to confirm my runway as this is an uncontrolled airport (actually it's closed IRL)

*sigh* and this sock shows a different direction... just going to go with what windy.com says...

Running out my downwind leg and starting the turn onto base

Well turns out windy.com was correct on the wind direction and speed - crabbing in like a boss with the wind coming from the right at 19kts

Short final into Maralinga

Kicking the nose straight before touchdown

First contact

Second contact and whhoaaa losing coordination a bit

Managed to straighten the ship and clear the runway intact

Taxiing to parking

Weather is looking iffy later in the route but should still be able to make decent progress so getting ready to head out from Izumo

Taxiing out straight to the runway center

Approaching Mt. Sanbe, king of the peaks here at this section of the massive Chūgoku Mountains range

Spotting an elevated bridge of the San-In Expressway passing over the Tagi River valley. The coastal city is Oda

Looking down on the peaks that surround the caldera of Mt Sanbe

Looking out over Kurashiki

Coming around to head back to Takamatsu

Looking out towards the main metro area of Takamatsu

Downwind for Takamatsu Airport

3-point landing so a little bit of a thump down but otherwise a decent return to the earth

Taxiing past the main terminal to the general aviation parking

Couldn't see a marshal anywhere so just found an open spot

Sticking to the Yamato River to slip between the mountains

Closer pass to downtown Osaka with the Umeda Sky Building in front of me