On Easter Thursday we drove to Blinman (the highest town in SA). We started the day with a visit to the Wilpena Panorama, a 360 degree painting of Wilpena Pound (in Hawker) and then drove up the eastern side of the Elder Range and Wilpena Pound, stopping at lookouts along the way. We had time for a quondong iceream in Blinman before heading back to Rawnsley Park, our camping ground for Easter.
There are many walks originating from Rawnsley Caravan Park and Barbara tested at least one out every day. Christine limited herself to two in total because "I only have so many walks in me for the trip and I don't want to use them all up in the first two weeks" To be fair Christine did walk about ten klms up hills and across rocky tracks during those two walks, plus there was at least 1 klm a day to and from the bathroom.
Whilst walking we were treated to great views of the Flinders Ranges - finding out we could get mobile coverage on the high hills was an added bonus. On the flip side we spent a lot of time avoiding unwanted protein - open your mouth and a fly would go in. Bushman's extra strength repellent does not work against flies! We quickly learned to put vanity aside and wear the hats with built in fly netting.
On Good Friday afternoon we went on a sunset tour by 4WD up a high hill to toast the sunset with canapes and sparkling wine. Saturday was spent walking, house keeping and relaxing and on Sunday we took the 4WD Sky Trek tour. This tour covers 79 klms of rough track through Willow Springs Station. The highlights were the ochre cliffs, a site of some significance for aboriginals, and the track across the high hills. At times the bulldust was so thick it was sheeting in waves down the windows of the 4WD. At the end of the tour we saw our first big red kangaroo.
We took the opportunity on the last day to take a tour to Bunyeroo and Brachina Gorges. This was our favourite tour as the gorges themselves were beautiful and we spotted several rare, yellow-footed rock wallabies. We got some great photos of the Pound, the Cazneaux Tree and grass trees silhoueted against the deep blue sky. The wedge tail eagles were souring too high for us to get a good photo.
Today we made our way to Woomera via Quorn and Port Augusta. We will spend more time in these two towns on our return from WA. There was a fair bit of driving and grocery restocking which left little time for touring and photography though we did spot some small salt lakes south of Pimba. The countryside still looks green but we have been told that we should start to see some desert country as we get close to Coober Pedy tomorrow.
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