South to Adelaide

Jan 4

It was another crystal blue day in the outback. John woke a little chilly as the dry air gets quite cool overnight. The cabin was nice if fsirly rudimentary.

After getting Janice an instant coffee and himself a cup of tea, they decided they would once again tackle the walk up to Wilpena Pound. They made a breakfast of Weet Bix along with toast and jam and then set out. The previous evening they had walked up a trail trying to find Wilpena Pound but had to turn back as twilight was approaching and you don't want to be on a trail in the dark in a country with poisonous snakes, lizards and even insects with names like 'fire ants.'

They got their bags packed and headed back to the Flinders Ranges national park. This time they stopped into the reception centre and got a map and directions. It turned out that the previous evening they had been close to the lookout but had just taken a wrong turn on the path.

As they walked up the same path at the start of the walk, they saw that the same trees, streams, and plants looked quite different. Since they were early enough in the morning they saw other kangaroos, one with her joey, as well as a wallaby feeding near a small stream.




This morning there were more people around and they said hello to all those they passed. They only saw two people coming back when they were going up the trail but many people going up when they were coming back.

They took the path to the Hills homestead and read the history of the family since the late 1800's. The original settlers had discovered this natural amphitheatre that had only one path, the sliding rock path, in or out. They bought it for 200 pounds stirling. Surrounding this completely natural enclosure that they called a 'pound' were very high hills that the sheep couldn't get over. So, they took their sheep up to graze on the plants.

Unfortunately, the sheep ate all the salt bushes and the area became unuseable for grazing in only fifteen years. The family still lived there but allowed the native plants and animals to return.

The trail continued from the homestead only some 600 metres but they were all uphill climbing along a steep trail made of bedrock and steps alternating with each other. There was a choice to be made - the low lookout or the high lookout. The two friends decided that the low lookout would be good enough. Even so they were some 200 feet above the homestead that looked far below.

John did a pan around the part of the pound that they could see from the low lookout but the flies bothered him the entire time, around his ears, under his hat, and even into his eyes. So the pan was very uneven because John was batting them away as he tried to record the scene.

After returning back to the car, they headed off towards Adelaide. At first it was the beauty of the Flinders Rangies gleaming in the sunlight that turned once again into the stark open beauty of the plain at the edge of the outback. They stopped a number of times to take breaks because the drive was a very long one. Janice reminded John that even this trip that will likely cover over 2,500 km is just a small part of this great southern land.

Janice's GPS became essential because it proved impossible to buy a map of the state. They don't make many maps anymore because there is little demand with GPS devices in most people's cars. It is too bad because a map can show you the things that surround you in a way that GPS systems cannot.

They were going to Hahndorf, a pretty little town that Janice had visited only once before, many years ago. The GPS took them almost into the centre of Adelaide before taking them on a lovely drive that had scenic hills and a modern tunnel through one of the hills. Hahndorf is very picturesque and it is Australia's oldest German town.

After finding a suitable motel room, they went to a McDonalds in a neighbouring town, called Mount Barker, so that John could upload the previous day's post. Janice left John to look at the shops while he did his email and uploading.

Side fact: McDonalds in Australia uses the nickname Macca's.

Then it was back to the motel. Janice called her cousin (from Queensland) who is visiting her son for Christmas. They made plans to see each other tomorrow before John and Janice leave to see the famed Barossa Valley (famous for its wines) and start off down the coast to Portland and Warrnambool on their way back to Melbourne.

TRB