Safari 2019 September 4th

September 4th 2019

Early morning houseboat trip

Clouds have been passing us by all day. Some are dark and a little threatening. People here need the water but it is not much fun camping in the rain.
As well as watching the activities on the Murray River we had a walk along the dusty paths of the Morgan Conservation Park before we left the area. Our camp was very close to the massive Pumping and Treatment Plant for the water prior to it being sent north to so many places that need this valuable asset.



We were lucky to see a small flock of Regent

Pelicans & Ducks painted on Waikerie Silo

Parrots showing off their beautiful yellow plumes.

We travelled along the Murray River on and off all day. We lunched in the park  at Waikerie and watched the ferry carry vehicles back and forth across this mighty River

Car Ferry crossing the Murray R.

By chance John noticed Silo Art in Waikerie. The 3 or 4 silos have been painted by two artists and were very interesting. 
We are now in the Murray River National Park which is south of Barmera and have camped on Katarapko Creek which is an Anna branch of the Murray River. There are still clouds about as evening falls.

Safari 2019 September 3rd

Tuesday September 3rd 2019

This mornings drive east and south has again been interesting. We followed gravel roads from Robertstown. The country is suffering severe drought. Mallee bush and salt bush paddocks dominated our views. There were many, many deserted and very neglected homes. One example was so very severe that I couldn't bare to photograph it. All buildings were literally falling down with the rafters and thatch slipping into the sheds contents of rusted machinery. The people who had tried to farm the area would have long left with broken hearts and broken backs with no rewards for their years of hard toil with little hope.

We lunched and purchased a few groceries in Morgan The Ferry brought us across the River Murray. Our camp for the night is here in the Morgan Conservation park on the banks the mighty river. Whistling Kites can be heard constantly over head. I even saw one flying after a crow. While we were enjoying lunch we watched a magnificent pelican flying in to land on the water. It reminded us very much of a plane coming slowly down to land.

Steep cliffs along the Murray

Safari 2019 September 1st & 2nd

September 1st  2019

We had chosen a very peaceful spot to camp in last night. The day dawned ‘bright blue’ despite the fact that we had two light showers of rain during the dark time! I will refer to this free camping spot as ‘Pekina Free Camp’. We did not see the owner but the sign on the gate invited us to camp for free. That is what we did. The property is directly opposite the Pekina Creek Reservoir. Our morning walk took us along the tracks around the dam wall and empty dam. There was no water. It appeared to have been dry for a number of years. I did not find out where the township of Orroroo now sources its water from, but the drought is severe across these properties. It would be difficult if you were one of the sheep that live in the bush here!

Empty Pekina Creek Reservoir

 We travelled south through undulating hills, farmlands and crops. Gradually the crops began to appear much greener so presumably there has been more rain fall. Father’s Day lunch was enjoyed at Mount Brian which is a small township that has the notoriety of being amongst a large windmill farm. There is a single, huge blade from one of these windmills, on display, in the park in the centre of town.

 

Map of Heyson Trail

Burra is a town we have visited on many of our trips north. Originally it was a busy copper mining area. The miners cottages are still available for accommodation…from past experience we found them to be extremely cold. This visit we walked along the ‘much improved’ street of shops which were open for Father’s Day. All John scored was a chocolate coated icecream!

On reading the noticeboard on the creek bank we realised we were again traversing the Heyson Trail which, I think, I mentioned earlier is 1200 km long, beginning at Parachilna, of ‘Prairie Hotel’ fame and goes south to the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula. 

Tonight we have settled in a delightful camping area which actually has running water. It's name is ‘Worlds End’ and is situated in the Burra Gorge on the Burra Creek. A number of family groups were celebrating Father’s Day with a picnic in the sun. It is a perfect setting. The park has an amazing collection of huge red gum trees (Camaldulensis Obtusa) Some would be at least 400 years old and maybe older. They are gnarled and bent, burnt out by fire and no doubt used by many creatures for nesting and shelter. 
NB later, John has discovered that some of these trees are the same type of red gum that we have at home ( Camaldulensis Camaldulensis)

 September 2nd 2019

Heyson Trail marker on a tree trunk

World’s End Camping Ground is a most attractive place to stay. We have decided to stay a second night. There were up to 10 other rigs here with us last night. Most continued their journey early this morning, but already by midday several new rigs have arrived, I presume in readiness for tonight.

Hooray, we have actually walked a tiny section of the Hans Heyson Trail which we found crossing this camp ground. Our mornings activity took us for a 4km walk along the Burra gorge and creek. The creek has a steady flow of water in it until it disappears underground. It was too wide to cross the water, each time we were tempted. The tracks (of which there are many) wander along the creek, sometimes across gravel and other times over the green grassy banks but always under the wonderful red gums that grow along the creek. These trees are healthy and large due to the permanent flow of water. Even if the water is underground the Red Gums would be able to access this with their huge roots. They have been living here for many years, so are well used to the seasonal changes from hot summers to cold winters.

A pair of wonderful old red gums

Wattle found in Burra Creek Gorge

Safari 2019 August 31st

Saturday, August 21st 2019

Late yesterday and last night  several vans arrived to fill the vacant nearby camping sites. There were lots of little kids about, all having a wonderful time especially as there was a small kangaroo keen to be near the campers, no doubt in the hope of being fed.
We left the Wilpena Resort about 9.00am and only had to drive a little way before we took the turn to Arkaroo Rock.  The track to the artwork was 3kms in length and the notice board said it would take 2hours....I needed all that time to walk up, down and over the large and small rocks which made up the path. John waited patiently for me. The actual Arkaroo Rock was quite large and had some great drawings on it which were either painted with ochre or drawn with a sharp stone. There were two layers of drawings and maybe three layers in places. We have known that the Rock Art Artists of old often drew over earlier artwork with their own work. Some symbols and drawings were much clearer than others. It was difficult to photograph because of the light. Around the whole site of the artwork there was a very strong wire and piping 'fence' to guard this special old work from modern day graffiti artists of our own race. We felt the fence was rather artificial when we first arrived at the site but soon realised its necessity. I will post  a few of my photos, but they are not really clear.

After our walk we continued on to Hawker where we had lunch at the 'Flinders Food Co'. We were both a little weary, especially me. To night we have continued south to Oororoo where we are camped on a private property just south of the town. It is opposite the town reservoir. We are finally leaving the famous Flinders Ranges after 9 days in the area enjoying the views and wonderful walks and scenic drives. Sadly we did not see as many wild flowers as we saw on an earlier visit.

Safari 2019 August 30th

Friday August 30th 2019

The new invention of wire about 1860

 Another cold morning with a delightful day to follow. Washing was foremost in my mind! Once this was done we drove out to visit the old Wilpena Homestead site. It was most interesting. Buildings have all been renovated with care for the style in which they were built. The sign boards were very creative in their wording. I took particular interest in the blacksmith shop, mainly because I clearly remember being with my father and using some of his blacksmith equipment. Blacksmithing is unheard of in today's modern life except when an artist develops the skill of making sculptures.

Some comments about blacksmiths and their tools were very pertinent to farming and life in the 1800s 

 Old nails and horseshoes preserve the vanished Smithy's story. As souvenirs, these items lose their voice and the story fades'

Blacksmiths put shoes on horsed and slippers on working bullocks. They repaired the wagons and drays that hauled stores & produce between the runs and distant trade centres.

As an artist and craftsman, the Smithy understood the language of fire and hammer. He worked with colour and sound, shaping gates, tools and nails, shepherd's crooks and hoes, well buckets, horseshoes and knives. 

 Carefully restored old Wipena Homestead

One last comment on the story boards, which made me smile...
Hymn Books and Prayers....Religion on the early runs was lean, like settlers and the lives they lived. Ministerial journeys began as early as the 1860s to remote & isolated settlements.

Lonely Wilpena Station Cemetery

In the bush in a far away corner of the Home Paddock was a very small cemetery. There were only 2 tombstones visible but no doubt there have been more folk buried there, some of whom did not have a memorial tombstone - some whose lives have been forgotten.

We had a quick 'take-away' lunch, did a rather large shop at the IGA store (in readiness for leaving tomorrow) John walked again this afternoon along the rod and up to Hills Homestead again and up to the Lookout. He was weary on his arrival back at the van. I walked part of the way with him and read the notice boards and counted the bird nesting boxes..of which there were 4. Maybe used by Lincoln Ringneck Parrots, Galahs or Corellas

Photo of tiny Dunart taken from the information board

 Tiny Dunarts live along Wilpena Creek...in the many holes among the logs and in the root spaces.