Flinders Ranges - Skytrek Trip ...The Journey Up

DAY ONE 27-10-01
Just on 9:30 we, Justin and I arrived at the appointed meeting place and met John and Jane, a quick dip into BiLo for a last minute essential and we were off to meet Ian and Ruth at Roseworthy, they joined in and became our TC for the weekend, or as Bruce would have us call it "our TEC" (tail End charlie)

We proceeded up the highway until Clare where we stopped for our morning tea break; then on to Jamestown for lunch. Jane had the first liquid Yiros I’ve ever seen (very wet). I did a little business dropping business cards under shop doors and then off again heading to Hawker via Orroroo, which is now almost 100% bituminised.

Whilst refuelling and comfort stopping at Hawker we picked up the Francis group on Mulpa radio and arranged for them to catch up to us on the road to Wilpena. As Paul had arranged a superior camping area for us we waited at the entrance for him to show us the way, five minutes later Paul, Barbara and Katrina arrived and led us into the camping ground and to a VERY well equipped site complete with hot water, gas BBQ, open fire, etc, etc.

Already settled and there to welcome us were Ted and Audrey (Barb’s folks).

Jenny was also well settled as she had arrived the day before to see the sights by air, and to explore the Pound. An absolutely fabulous experience says Jenny.

Another bonus was having our group unexpectedly increased with Bruce and Jill joining us they had been staying in the chalet with friends, no camping gear tho’ - no worries our resourceful TL, JC had a spare tent & we each had something to contribute by way of bedding.

After setting up our respective tents, trailers, swags it was time for the best part of the day - HAPPY HOUR or two.

Dinner - chat - drinks - chat - showers - rustle rustle - zip zip zip - sleeep.

DAY TWO 28-10-01
09:30 SHARP or there about we were moving in single file towards our main objective under the diligent guidance of our intrepid leader JC. Well that’s how it was supposed to be except for me having to make yet another quick side trip, (I reckon it was the pie I had yesterday), anyway I caught up to the group at the Willow Springs homestead where arrangements and payments were being made. Because we went as a club we each got a $5 reduction, good value. The first part was particularly interesting as Paul was able to point out ancient aboriginal etchings on the rock face along a creek, then we went on to another location where rock had been formed as part of the seabed (?) Then to Moxan’s Hut where we stopped for our morning tea break.

Pretty easy going so far and the wild flowers are great everywhere. We stopped next to a scraggy tree and our "bushee" Paul introduced us to a sample of Bush Tucker, some kind of pear we were told, about the size of an olive but dry and not much taste. Not at all like the pears that grow at the supermarket.

Proceeding further we arrived at the sign where it is recommended that 4WD is selected and from then on its very definitely 4WD country with a lot of low ratio being used to get up the inclines and to keep the decent safe on the other side.

We climbed steadily up and up towards the summit of Mount Caernarvon and what a spectacular vista we saw, the view is breathtaking. There is a cairn and a visitors book in which many of us added our comments of appreciation. It is a truly magnificent place to visit and a great drive to get there; and then it was down and down. After some discussion about visiting Skull Rock it was decided that the day could best be improved by heading back to camp and indulging in a relaxing posture holding a happy hour beverage - it had been a BIG day after all I must have looked too comfortable or just presented too big a target for the local birds as whilst I was relaxing I got blessed once and then shortly after once again by those pesky birds. (I haven’t won any raffles lately tho’). Now some call me the "Birdman" my new call sign??

DAY THREE 29-10-01
Refreshed, repacked, refuelled, reinvigorated we were up and ready to move out for our return journey. Skytrek was supposed to be the main part of this trip and it was great but what lay ahead of us today proved every bit as scenic, interesting and exciting, but I get ahead of myself.

We left Wilpena and turned left at the gate and travelled up the road to the turn off to Bunyeroo Gorge. Water, water along the creek we went, it was such a change from yesterday’s peaks and ridgetops to this deep gorge and the beautiful cliffs, river gums and clear water running under our cars. Taking a side trip on our way to Brachina Gorge we turned right then left into the Aroona Valley, to those who climbed the hill past the original homestead the view back down the valley to the south was reward enough for the climb. After inspecting the other points of interest it was quickly back on the road and on to our lunch spot on the banks of the Brachina Creek towards the other end of the gorge.

As we drove out of the Ranges we turned right and then up to the top of a fairly steep knoll which gave us our last look along the majesty of the Flinders as they rise up out of the flat plains.

Then it was on the blacktop to Hawker for more fuel etc before we moved down to Melrose via Quorn and Wilmington for what turned out to be the climax of the trip, "The Bridle Trail" (I suppose to be fair it was the second climax - Skytrek was definitely the first; two in the one trip - not bad going JC) Well that’s how impressed I was any way, and I don’t think too many would argue. With lots of radio talk we finally all congregated at the petrified seabed site on the outskirts of Melrose, then the reins of the trip were handed over to Jenny to lead us over the Trail, she knew the way all right, it was dare I say it again, beautiful country as we went up and over the ranges along some very narrow and rarely used tracks. Jenny found a part of the track that even she had not travelled before and led some of us to an "eagles nest" look out that was so high and so narrow that JC had to unhitch his trailer and turn it around by hand and then re-couple it so that he could come back down. But with all that the view from there was equal in magnificence to Mount Caernarvon and well worth the drive, but leave your trailers at the turn off.

We regrouped towards the bottom of the trail and headed west towards the highway which we connected with just north of Port Pirie. HOME, we moved down the highway as a loosely connected group staying in touch on the radio and pretty much in our original order with JC back as leader. Port Wakefield was a welcome coffee stop and then back on the road pretty much together until Adelaide lights and radio crapple marked the time to say our farewells.

This was a GREAT trip and one I am sure none of us will ever forget. Thanks JC and to everybody else who helped to make it so memorable.

Disclaimer : please note