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We excitedly packed up today as we were off to the Flinders Ranges. It wasn't a long drive, so although excited, we took our time and moseyed along in the morning. We made our way back into Orroroo to fill up the Nissan, the price of diesel was now $1.59/L...
Driving up through the small town of Hawker to Wilpena was spectacular. After Hawker you start to get into the outskirts of the Flinders Ranges and you feel so small compared to the surrounds. Their color is vibrant and amazing reds with green from the bush and the contours of the hills is amazing.... I had no idea what to expect and l can tell you that l was trying to figure out what the universe was telling us with all the floods from rain and l now know what it was..... It was saying "stuff the other tracks, go to the Flinders and check it out!!". Am so glad we came, cant wait to get amongst it. As we were getting closer to Wilpena we were greeted with kangaroos and emu's amongst the landscape. I couldn't get enough of the emus and had to stop to get pics!!
We arrived at Wilpena Pound camping grounds at lunchtime and decided to stay at a powered site for $35/night. Bit pricey but we figured was the last paying stay for a while and we had heard good things about this place. We also had to pay an entry few into the park of $9, reasonable we thought. Meg was hungry, what's new, so we quickly unpacked and fed the animal as she was fading away to a shadow. Lol!!! Whilst unpacking a few kangaroos came out to greet us. I got a bit too close to one and it got up on its hind legs and started waving its paws about wanting a fight!! I cracked up laughing but the girls didn't know what to think, at least it might help them keep their distance!! Lol....
After lunch we decided to crack off a walk at the 'Sacred Canyon'. This is an aboriginal protected place for the Adnyamathanha people and where some aboriginal engravings on rocks are seen. We set off on the short walk, meant to be an hour round trip with the girls in toe. We made our way down the creek bank and walked up the dry stoney bed that had huge old gum trees scattered around. A few hundred meters up we came to a bit of a rock climb which the girls loved, both not wanting any assistance from Marty or l, bloody stubborn independent girls!! After getting to the bottom to a rock face covered with ancient aboriginal carvings all over it. We'd learnt the symbols on a sign at the start of the walk and Meg and Boo tried to remember them and recite them back. They did a good job pointing out the circle which meant water hole, a half circle representing shelter, a pointed arrow meaning emu and lastly two stick legs meaning kangaroo. Takes me away sometimes that we are looking at something that was done centuries ago and had been such a vital element in their communication with one another. After getting the pics and taking the moment all in we headed back to the car and made our way to camp. On our way back we came across half a dozen emus on the side of the road, one sitting in a huge muddy puddle. Looked so funny so of course we pull over for some pics and then off they ran out to the horizon. For some reason l think the way emus look running is hilarious and am becoming more fascinated with them the more l see them. Can't believe how many we have seen today coming to Wilpena, think South Australia must have them all as its the first time we've seen them in the wild on our trip.
Anyway, we get back to camp by late arvo and catch up on some laundry, boo's schooling and have tea amongst the kangaroos and settle for the night. Love being amongst the animals again. In the last month or so l don't think l have seen so many Australian wildlife in my life, totally amazing!! Before heading to bed l go to the toilet and look up at the night sky to see thousands of bright stars in the clear black sky. Am totally loving the night sky in the outback as we get more remote. Takes me back ten years ago when Marty and l did a trip up north and how brilliant the night sky was with such clarity and crispness......will only continue to get better, can't wait!!!
Bell Xxx
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