Cool change overnight – morning temp was 15C and stayed around 20C until lunch time and gradually climbed to 31C late afternoon. Lots of cool breezes. Fine with clouds.
We left camp at 8.20am and drove the loop section anti-clockwise, after Organ Pipes we headed south to Minnipa and then back up to resume the rest of the circuit. We were going to take the trailer out of the top section of the loop, but the road across to Minnipa/Yardea Rd is slow going, so we will use the much better (faster) road out of the south
We drove north anti-clockwise on the loop – just as well as it turns into a one way track circuit.
Our first stop was Pondanna Outstation. This was a thriving farm in the early 1900’s. They grew a lot of hay to feed their stock plus supply to the other stations, a few crop failures and the motor replacing the horse, saw the farm decline by the 1930’s.
This is the layout of the homestead area and a photo of the farm house in 2000. It has been restored by the friends of Gawler and took 6 years.
This is how it is today. It is hard to imagine how much it has changed from when it was producing acres of fruit & vegetables and hay. There is a newly planted orange tree in the front yard and it is thriving without attention. The farm house can be rented for short stays. Mind you this is in the middle of no where and the accommodation is very very basic – yet they want 2 night minimum stay and at $90 per night. I don’t know how that is working out for them, because most people on this track are totally self sufficient and would only consider staying there as a novelty but not at those rates.
There were heaps of story boards on the history of the farm house. There was also a display of equipment that was used at the time.
There is underground water here and this was once a lush oasis. It is now a farm of kangaroos and prickles. Yes those are prickles in the foreground.
After we left Pondanna, we came down into a valley and there was a sign board about the sand dunes. We couldn’t really see what they were talking about from the board, but as we drove through the valley we could the see the sand dunes. The dunes were there 4000 years ago and were blown up and over the ranges. The dunes do not move much these days because vegetation is halting them.
This is the start of the walk to the Organ Pipes. We walked there and up to the top of the waterfall. You can see it in the “V” of the horizon.
What I could do with those rocks in landscaping. It’s a pity they are so heavy :(
Above (left) all of those rocks sticking out in different levels reminded me of Superman’s hide out at the north pole or was it the south pole – okay you need imagination, but lets just call this the west pole.
Looking down the valley (Right) – our car is in the car park and you could see it as plain as day and now it is impossible to see in the photo. ?The car park is where the hill on the right meets the flat greenery.
The photo above is looking down the falls and you can’t visualize the height, the photo on the left is looking back up to the top. It was easy walking as all the broken blocks are like steps. It would be fantastic to see in a small flow.
Verdict: They are not the biggest that we have seen or the most exact in shape, but certainly the sheer volume is spectacular.
Another track buddy who was happy to pose. This one is very similar to the one I photographed yesterday – the markings vary but they may from individual to individual.
We then diverged on our way to Minnipa to Pildappa Granite Rocks. This is a large granite formation rising out of the plains. A bit of a minature cross between Uluru and Wave Rock. It immediately reminded us of the “Haystacks” but the explanation on the notice board was nothing like how Haystacks were formed. So glad we went there because when we spotted them it was a bit of a “wow” moment.
Above right – on top of the rock - Glen in the distance.
I had trouble getting footing on the steep incline to go up and kept slipping down. I looked at the soles of my walking shoes and they are now smooth – this will be the second pair that I have worn out – so some new ones when we get to Adelaide. There was a nice shady picnic area, so we stopped for lunch. Next stop was Minnipa to refuel and then head back to complete the rest of the loop.
I didn’t notice, but Glen pointed it out. They have incorporated a kangaroo using the R of Gawler and the R of Ranges. After refuelling, we did a quick message check on the internet and uploaded a couple of my blogs. This was another very cool and shady picnic area.
Some very nice stonework, from write ups it does fill in spring – the area only receives 300 mm a year. Apparently in spring there are yellow wildflowers everywhere. I have seen quite a few dried paper daisies around. Being here at the driest time of year makes the park look more arid than it would be in other seasons. It would be good to see it in spring but with that would be rain and we can see how quickly the tracks turn ugly in the wet. We are constantly driving around deep ruts.
This is a different lizard – It has grey legs and vivid orange around the ear openings and black and white on the back. Similar size and face.
The son-in-law of the original station owner lived in this 4 room cottage – 2 bedrooms with his wife and 11 children.
The new homestead is now occupied by park headquarters.
Photos from inside the cottage.
It is a bit like time has stood still.
We then headed up to Policeman’s Point. There was no sign of any buildings but it may have been very basic as they were only stationed there for around 6 years in the mid 1800’s.
The location would have been for the water source. There was a natural dam at the base of the slip falls.
Harsh life – on the way we passed a grave containing two small children and near the entrance to the walk to Policeman’s Point another grave of a 17 year old from the late 1800’s.
That completed our check off on the loop tour and we headed back to camp. We had locked up the trailer and it was pleasing to see it was only 31c inside even being closed up for the day. Tomorrow, we pack and head north on our way to Woomera. We will be passing areas that Len Beadell would have travelled when he was surveying for the rocket range and opening up inland Australia after the war.
Finally caught our free loading mouse. We noticed a mouse had jumped on board at Memory Cove, but we couldn’t empty the trailer out at Port Lincoln because of the slope near the trailer door, so we waited until we got to Gawler Ranges. The first day we emptied the trailer and found it but it got into the washing machine – of course the last thing in the trailer. We put the washing machine outside the trailer but sneaky mouse was only coming out at night and returning to its new home the washing machine. We were hesitant to put the washing machine back in not knowing for sure that the mouse wasn’t in it. So last night I set a mouse trap and we caught it overnight. Breakfast for the crows.
