Flinders Ranges

On the 22^nd April we left Leigh Creek and went to Rawnsley Station via Hawker. Rawnsley is a great bush camp style caravan park and much nicer than the Wilpena Caravan Park. We have been having a camp fire most nights so far.

 

Next day we showed Jan & Ross the Bunyeroo and Branchina Gorge to Parachilna, then to Blinman and back loop. We did that trek in 2012 and so these photos never were in the 2013 blog. The landscape is amazing and you might recognize some from travel mags. Firstly a weird gum tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped in for lunch at the Parachilna Prarie Hotel. On the menu are emu, kangaroo, camel and goat dishes. Great stuff.

 

 

We stopped at the Stokes Hill Lookout for amazing vistas. A great day.

Arkaroola Wilderness Park - Flinders Ranges

On the 20^th April we left our free camp at Ororroo and headed to Arkaroola Wilderness Park. It was a part of the Flinders Ranges I had not yet seen. It was a different geological makeup compared to the rest of the Flinders. Arkaroola was formed more by volcanic activity whereas the rest of the Flinders was formed by sediment being packed under the inland sea and then upheavel of the sedimentary layers. The 600 hectare property has its own act of parliament to protect it from mining and fossickers etc. We went there to do the spectacular ‘Ridgetop Tour’.

Firstly though to get there we decided to go in via Leigh Creek. We were advised not to take the caravan because of the corrugated road so I left it with the caravan park caretaker, on power for $6 a night. I had kitted ourselves up with a tent and camping gear for these occasions. There had been a bit of rain but most roads were open. So we let some air out of the tyres and headed to our campsite at Arkaroola. It turned out the road was pretty good and I could have taken the van but testing out the tent etc was probably worth it.

 

 

Next day we went on the ‘Ridgetop Tour’. Not cheap at $145 per person but something we had to do and we were not sorry. Firstly we got a look at a yellow footed rock wallaby.

 

We were in the back of old Land Cruiser Troup Carriers and we were on serious 4WD tracks. The terrain was absolutely spectacular. We could see for miles out to Lake Frome which is the whitest salt lake in the country. Satellites set their bearings off this lake as it is so brilliantly white. I can’t do this justice without putting in a lot of photos so here goes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow what a trip. Next day we returned to Leigh Creek and had a great night around the fire with the caravan park caretaker and other guests.

Ororroo Free Camp

On the 19^th April we left Broken Hill and headed for the Flinders Ranges. For those readers who followed the 2013 blog this trip is sounding very similar so far. One reason is that we are showing Jan and Ross some of the great spots we went to and secondly, I have some unfinished business at the Flinders, such as climbing St Mary’s Peak and visiting Arkaroola Wilderness Park. Anyway more about that later.

In 2013 we found a great free camp on the way to the Flinders so it made sense to go there again. It is a rest stop eight kilometres out of Ororroo. This free camp had great vistas and I love seeing the trucks lit up at night barreling down the road.

 

To stir Linda Ross laid on the road for me. The photo is blurry as I had to take it in a rush because Linda was screaming for him to get off the road.

 

A great sunset here just like the last time.

More from Broken Hill

Not getting around to post this till the 27th but the following was on the 18th or 19th. Been to busy having a good time and socializing.

As Linda and I had previously stayed at Broken Hill twice it was a chance for us to get some blogging and maintenance done while Jan and Ross went sightseeing. For our last afternoon in Broken Hill we dried out from the rain we had and had a walk around the huge cemetery which was next door to the van park. Went and saw Pro Hart’s grave. He was a no fuss sort of guy and probably didn’t want such an opulent grave but apparently his wife did.

 

 Then went and caught the sunset.

 

Then had a look at the site of the gun battle which took place on a hill on the outskirts of town.  In 1915 two Afghani camel herders who were Turkish sympathisers opened fire on a picnic train killing some civilians. The Police and volunteer town people went after them and shot them dead.

Broken Hill

On Wednesday the 15^th, from west of Cobar we travelled to Wilcannia and stopped for coffee. Then on to Broken Hill and booked in to the Tourist Park. Surprisingly there were no powered sites left. It was nearly full so we took a couple of non-powered sites. But then booked in for four nights all up. We had bad weather on the way and I needed to be on a powered site as there would be no solar for my panels. Decided not to run the fridge on 12 volt while travelling. To much of a drain.

I had to visit the medical centre as my foot had become infected from a mozzie bite that I had scratched way to much. Fair dinkum, only three days on the road and I have to see a Doctor. It had got so bad I could not put a boot on. That was one of the reasons we decided to stop in Broken Hill for a few days. I needed to get my foot better before hiking up mountains around the Flinders Ranges where we were headed next.

Of course people interpreted my plight this way, “Pete had to see a Doctor because he had a mozzie bite? What a whimp’.

On Thursday we took a drive around town. Went up to the line of load and the miners memorial. The coffee shop up there had gone out of business unfortunately so we missed out.

 

 

They make seats big around here or we have shrunk a bit.

 

We went on to the Palace Hotel for lunch. There are murals all over the wall. They need some touch up as they are showing wear & tear. The verandahs on this old hotel are amazing. The views are up and down the street are also from that verandah.

 

As Linda and I have already been to Broken Hill a couple of times we took the opportunity to catch up on blogging and some maintenance while Jan & Ross had a look around at the sights. The rain has been bucketing down. Great to see it for the sake of everyone here and around about as the drought has been bad.