Flinders Ranges and Tumby Bay

 

We reached Rawnsley Park Station in the Flinders Ranges around 3 pm after our long drive, gasping for a cold beer.  The caravan park was located amongst mountains and not far from the National park.  After being in the outback it was nice to see trees and grass again.

 

Our plan was to spend a couple of days here, relaxing and bush walking, so the next morning we headed out to do our first walk from the caravan park to view a local waterfall.  Our orienteering skills are not the sharpest as it took us half an hour to fine our way out of the park to the amusement of the park staff and other campers.  When we did finally get on the right track, we soon discovered that it was bone dry and can only be viewed immediately after heavy rain.   It’s a shame we had already walked 3KM to get there before we realised.  James entertained himself (and me) by trying to communicate with some wild goats.  He was actually quite good.

Undeterred from our first walk we decided to go view something that is not affected by the rain! 

Arkaroo rock is aboriginal shelter that has paintings including bird tracks, snake lines, waterholes and people, created in red, yellow and white ochre and charcoal.  The site has been dated as 5000 years old. The walking track was fairly easy and as you can see from the pictures below, the paintings were very faint and it was hard to make out what we were looking at.

 

Back at the caravan park and James had discovered from their information booklet that we were allowed to have camp fires if there wasn’t a total fire ban and wood used was purchase from their shop (Red Gum Sleepers). So that evening around 6pm James was in his element, armed with matches and hand full of firelighters he set about getting the camp fire going (I’m sure his a pyromaniac!!!) . He successfully got the fire going without losing his eyebrows or setting his beard on fire to my and our surround neighbours relief. With the fire alight, it was only a matter of time before it was hot enough to cook a few snags and burgers on the hotplate or so we thought!. As night fell and the rest of our fellow campers had their dinner, wash up and retired to their caravans, tents etc. We were still huddled around the campfire waiting for our four bloody sausages and three freaking hamburgers to cook!!.  It was around 9pm before we were finally able to sink our teeth into some meat slapped between some slices of bread. Katrina had also made Damper which we placed on the now glowing ambers.  So as we sat in almost complete darkness, stinking of smoke and waiting for the damper to be ready we looked up at amazing clear skies and bright stars and we both agreed this is the life, but maybe tomorrow we light the fire a little bit earlier!

 

 

Over the next couple of days we went on  a few walks at Wilpena Pound and visited the mine at Blinman, before heading back down to Port Augusta and on towards Tumby Bay.

 

 

This picture is for Colby

 

 

Tumby Bay

Tumby Bay is a coastal town situated on the Spencer Gulf, on the eastern coast of Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, 45 km north of Port Lincoln. This town was recommended to us by people we met at the last campsite. The coast is know for it’s predominantly white, sandy beaches although we arrived after some recent storms so the beaches we covered in seaweed .

However it’s a quiet little town with friendly locals who advised us of some up coming events this weekend such as boat racing,  farmers market and a vintage car show. So we decided to hang around until Monday to see these before heading off to our next destination.

 

Until next time… “ Keep on Trucking!!!!”