DANGGALI TRIP - October long weekend ....

Leader: &nspb;      Les       Trip Leaderess:       Joy
Trippers:       Paul C, Rick & Cindy, Iggy & Jocelyn, Robroy & Gareth, Chris & Gordon.

We met up with the early starters at the River Bend Caravan Park in Renmark on Friday night. The caravan park was nice and clean and should you wish to stay at Renmark it is quite good. Come prepared because the owners appeared to be quite new to owning the caravan park.

To entertain ourselves that night we had what turned out to be an Alzheimer’s quiz. Only certain members of the Early Renmarkian Outer Club sub-branch of the Wanderer’s can conduct these quizzes effectively. One question can last a whole night and if you remember the question can continue into the next day and for best part of the trip.

The next day we met the other part of our group - to be known as the Late (Tardy) sub-group. We only have to mention the word 'Rick' and I’m led to believe that most people will know what this means. Once on the road (not the 9.30 start that was advertised) chatter on the radio soon turned to the newies in the group and the question was asked "Do you have a computer?" Let all new members to the Wanderers be aware that this innocent question leads on to you having the task of writing up the report. After this trip I would love to write a handbook for New Members of the Wanderer’s Club.

After leaving Renmark we soon left the bitumen behind us and it did not seem to take long before we were at the Ranger Station at the Danggali Conservation Park. Les talked to the Ranger and Rick was told not to go bathing in the nude just incase he scared the wild life.

After a short trip up the road we soon found our camping site next to the dam. Apparently one of many. It is here that the Outer Wanderer’s appeared to have a camping ritual. You drive around to find a good spot to erect your tent. You have to be quick to park your car because when the last car (Robroy) tries to approach another camper, the male species at the camp gives off a fierce roar of "Bugger Off". This deters the driver, but whilst seeking a suitable spot if he should approach another camping area once again the ritual of shouting 'Bugger Off' begins. To Gordon and I, this seemed quite ferocious and we didn’t dare move from the spot we were in just incase we got 'Bugger Off' shouted at us. This was quite contrary to what the Trip leader had just said, "Pick any spot you like and put your tent up there". The 'bugger offs' continued until the last member of the camp found a site literally miles away from the rest of the group.

After all tents were erected we were then invited over to witness Rick’s new erection. It did not take long before Rick completed the erection of which we were all impressed. It soon earned the name of Jimmy. As you can see we did not take long before we all wanted to try it out. Just make sure that the next camp you go on that Rick takes Jimmy along with him.

After lunch we decided to go on a short outing to explore the place. We decided to go to the Morgan Vale Ruins. On the way we stopped and inspected a few dams. The ruins were of quite some interest especially the old cars, a Hilman Minx and a 34 Ford.

After an enjoyable day we headed back to camp for the night.

The camp fire was very good as the Ranger left plenty of fire wood. Les experimented with a trial recipe ready for the damper camp bake off to be held the following night. This had all been arranged through the Wanderer’s forum. Len earned a whopping 10 out of 10 for presentation. He truly needed these points because it was very hard to comment on the taste. During the night Robroy asked if he could spend a penny with Jimmy. He took a torch & after much searching he asked if Gareth could come and help him find it. Rick had definitely hidden it in the bushes. Gareth returned by himself & after quite some time Rob returned saying that it was money well spent. Note Rick is still waiting. After much merriment it was decided to make it an early night ready for the next day. This was a fatal mistake as we soon learnt.

Next morning (god knows how early) we were woken by what sounded like a fierce wild animal. No one could identify this animal but hoped that Cindy had some protection from it. Next we heard a couple of men talking and as you were just about to close an eyelid & catch a few extra minutes someone decided to play the bagpipes at full blast. Since this did not have the apparent effect on the troops the next thing you hear is this big brute of a 4wd start up and its horns start blaring. Somewhere amongst all this Rick’s empire (his tent) came tumbling down - since I am led to believe that he was the instigator who had woken everyone up & had decided that it was too early & should go back and catch a few winks. Now there is a new camp rule - everyone stays awake until the last possible minute before anyone can go to bed.

Since there had been heavy rains during the week we were limited to where we could go in the Conservation Park. This did not dampen our enthusiasm & we set off along the Nanya Pad Drive (2wd circuit). This area had once been completely cleared of all vegetation & used as a water catchment area. Hence there were quite a number of dams in the area. The first part of our trip the scenery was covered in senna & hopbushes. The most incredible part of journey is the scenery. You did not have to travel far before it changed - reds, greens, blues. Your senses were continually being invaded by this change in colour & native habitat.

Next we visited Nanya’s Wurley. Nanya was an Aborigine who inhabited this area during the mid-late 1800’s. For 30 years Nanya & his Lubras lived in this area. Although it just looked like a pile of firewood it was hard to believe that it was home for these people over 100 years ago.

We then traveled on to see the Musterer’s Hut. The hut had been erected by sheep musterers during the days of pastoralism & it would have been used annually during the mustering season.

We then entered through a pearlbush claypan. Pearlbush plants grow specifically in soils containing high levels of clay. Rick wanted to stop to make Cindy a pearl necklace but our trip leaderess insisted that we carry on. The scenery once again changed to blackoak woodland. These trees grow on shallow calcareous soils and are characterized by a sparse shrub layer. The next dam that we stopped at was Toby’s Dam. This was unique because the dam was sunk using a team of bullocks during the early days of pastoralism. This showed how hard these people must have worked with limited resources. Since there had been plenty of rain we were able to identify different animal tracks left in the mud. We did manage to see a few kangaroos and lizards.

The next time that we stopped Joslyn could not help herself but wanted to try out the porcupine grass. Next time you see her ask her what porcupine grass is like. I’m sure she will tell you not to go tramping through it.

Our next stop was at the Birthday Hut which was constructed in 1918 & was the main Canopus block homestead until 1920. (only 2 years). Inside the hut were old implements & utensils which had been put onto display.

The round wooden structure that you see in the picture on the left was used as a water tank and is another example of the ingenuity of these early pastoralists. It is at this stage that we stopped for lunch and had a walk around the stockyards.

After lunch we continued on our way and followed the 4wd track to Tipparary Hut. Although this was marked as a 4wd track most on the trip would say that a 2wd vehicle could have safely traveled along the road. During this part of the trip most of us were carrying out good observations via the two way radio when unexpectedly our leaderess jumped into the conversation with "I spy with my little eye something beginning with P". Being good little Wanderers and not wanting to upset our leaderess we enthusiastically joined in the game. After exhausting our imagination on what the P word could be, young Gareth said, "OK we give in, give us a clue." No response. So we guessed some more. No response. Gareth then pleaded, "Please. Give us a clue." You should have heard the pleading in his voice. No response. Gee, I thought this leaderess is hard hearted in not wanting to respond to poor Gareth. Then out of the blue this voice says, "Can you hear me?" Turns out the trip leader’s radio had not been working. They were sat in silence all the time thinking that we lot had been extremely quiet and not wanting to join in with them. After this we decided that we had seen enough dams and returned to camp.

Happy hour was enjoyed by all except the contestants for the Damper Bake Off as they were getting ready for the big event. All those who were not participating were given the job of being the judges. You know how serious it is when you don’t see anything of Rick all through the happy hour and you are plied with drinks by Cindy. After much discussion and tasting the judges were happy to announce that the research that Joy had done on the internet had paid off and she by far had the best tasting natural damper. Please note the word natural. We had to open another category for Rick - most creative damper. Nuts, scotch finger biscuits - anything that he thought would sway the judges was included in his damper. I must say that his tactics worked. Les got the best presentation for his damper the evening before. The last entrant to gain a price was Gareth in the Junior category. He certainly had the know how. At this stage we must all thank Margaret for her contribution to the camp dinner.

After dinner we had to have the blackening of the kettles ceremony. A note now to all new Wanderers when going on camp for the first time. All new equipment is frowned upon especially when it shines or looks new. When buying a camp kettle try & avoid the prissy, whussy, whistling type. OK if it is a K-Mart special but all efforts must be made to make it look like it as traveled for miles, looks as though it as been on many camp fires, dented through being thrown in the back of the 4wd without any care, been in constant use & better still if it cost less than anyone else’s.

The next morning was a sedate affair compared to the previous morning. We packed camp and headed for Morgan. This was along the dirt track which once again you could not help but comment on the changing scenery. It was time to get a few of the 4wds muddy. It was noted that there were a couple of 4wds that remained pristine and you would not have thought he had been away for a weekend. You could say that we really did not have to do much, if any, 4wdriving.

After a stop at the Morgan Bakery, Rick took the position of leader taking the group down to the river to eat our lunch. This trip was approximately 500 meters and he managed to loose our TEC who finished up in the lead twice. Shame Rick Shame.

We had a quick look around the Morgan Quarry & then headed for home. To say this was one of our first tastes of a bush weekend without any modern facilities we had a whale of a time. The company was great & wish to thank everyone for making us feel part of the group. We wish to thank Les & Joy for being fantastic trip leaders & organizing everything so well, including the weather.

Chris & Gordon

Disclaimer : please note