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Well the forecast was right, we awoke to grey clouds and it was so cold compared to the 33oC we had yesterday. We were planning on doing another walk but after Meg's efforts yesterday and the weather we changed our minds. Instead we were going to head up to the northern Flinders Ranges and explore some 4WD tracks. We'd originally planned to do a drive at Willow Springs until we found out it would cost $75! Instead we found some PAR (public access roads) to do which had some interesting things to see.
We piled into the car with enough food packed for the day and headed up to Blinman. Was awesome having the ranges on the horizon on both sides of us, totally in awe. Every hill looks different and spectacular in its own way, hard to describe but breath taking!! Anyway headed thru Blinman and up to our turn off at Glass House Rd. We went up a short way on the dirt road before turning off to do a measly 14km up to the Nared ruins. Couldn't believe that that 14kms would take us at least 45 minutes. Marty was in his ailment and loving the off road drive, all l could do was stare at the GPS hema map that didn't show us moving too far too quickly!! Anyway, we made it up to the ruins, an old evacuated copper mine. It's buildings were half crumbled away but still looking magnificent. The old chimney still stouts tall and strong. There were a few open cut mines still present, luckily fenced off. After having a picnic lunch of peanut butter sanga's and walking around the ruins we headed back down the 14km rocky track. Somehow we managed to get down quicker than heading up which was good.
We got back into the dirt road and headed to our next turn off to do a 4WD loop road crossing some unbelievable country. This was only 28km but took us 2.5 hrs!! A bite more exciting for Marty in bits with harder entry points and rocky crossings to work around. All the time seeing heaps of kangaroos snd emu's about... We drove what seemed like an eternity following and driving thru dry river crossings, opening and shutting gates as we came across them. By the end we were both over it but glad we done it all the same. The weather was still cool with little spits of rain during the day so this was the best thing to do on a day like today! The kids enjoyed the wildlife, the occasional puddle crossing made huge Marty speeding thru it and of course, their ds games!!! On one such muddy crossing l heard Marty laugh quietly and before l knew it he sped up and clumps of mud were coming in the open window all over me!! Ha bloody ha was all l thought, Marty was amused by his efforts though!!
We eventually got back to bitumen six hours after we last left it. It had been a long day but great all the same. We got back to camp late, heated up some left overs for tea and crashed in bed after watching some Mad Max (Marty's visit to Silverton has rekindled his love for the movies!!). Here's hoping the girls will sleep thru tonight as they've been waking to go to the bloody toilet the last few nights. Would be good to have a good nights sleep for pack up day tomorrow!! Heading up towards the Oodnadatta track tomorrow, Marty and l are getting excited and have had the map out the last few nights planning our itinerary. Hopefully make it to Marree tomorrow, see what happens l spose......
Bell Xxx
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