Thursday 2nd April, 2015 – rain ! warm and cloudy

This is the first time in our trip that we have woken to rain.  Slow steady rain – There were showers overnight and some steady morning rain till around lunch time.

Low cloud over the ranges

  Looking down the creek.  The rain was welcome as it will freshen everything up after a hot summer and add some sparkle.  The reds will be redder and the green greener.

 

 

We are camped at Koolaman Camp Ground.  Further up the valley is Aroona camp ground.

We woke this morning to a Dingo howling – obviously celebrating the rain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch, we travelled up to Aroona Camp Ground and the outstation and settler ruins.  We didn’t drive up there yesterday and after seeing the camping ground, we are very happy with our choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we drove back to camp, we realized that he had not painted from the look out where they had the sign, but much closer to our camp ground.  When the weather fines up I am going to try for another photo of what Hans Heysen painted. 

The painting is in the SA Museum and is called the Three Sisters of Aroona.  It was painted in 1927.

We walked along the Heysen Trail for a short way and realized that we had left the NP.  That was why there was a NP sign (left) on the trail.

We had a look over the settler ruin – it was certainly a large home for its’ day.  There is a large fresh water spring half way up the hill and they had running water to the house and also to a bath house.  There are relic plants from the settlement.  A English Mulberry and Willow Trees.  These plants were planted in the 1870’s and are still going strong.  There were plenty of birds around as well.  They would love all of the fruit on the Mulberry Tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Still practising with the new camera. 

 

 

 

This is the English Mulberry Tree – it is very different from our Mulberry Trees.  The advantage is that the fruit is not on stalks and grows on the trunk making it easier to pick.  The fruit looks the same.  The leaf is also different.

 

 

 

 

We did catch some glimpses of sun and clear skies to the south.  It hasn’t rained this afternoon and we are hoping for some sunny patches so we can get some photos of the ranges in their full glory.