The last couple of days have been quite warm into the early to mid 30’s and 20c overnight – it is not going to last long as in the next few days the temperatures are going to drop to the mid to early 20’s C and down below 7c overnight. We had a sprinkle of rain overnight and the morning was overcast which is perfect for us to walk. We caught a lift down to the start of the Acacia Ridge walk – yes another familiar name. This name is for the ridge which has acacia plants on it. The walk is uphill for around 3kms and it was warm walking.
We had two other walkers doing the hike, so we let them go ahead as they were younger and probably fitter. The girls didn’t get far without having to stop to catch their breaths, so we soon caught them – they called out to me “you go girl”. They were obviously on holidays and this was a challenge for them, where as, we have had heaps of training for these walks, so our fitness level is quite good. All our hard climbs are paying off because it is getting easier to do these walks and more enjoyable.
After the 3kms you are near the summit and there is a side walk of 400 metres return to the summit. We sat up there for quite a while as you had a 360 degree view of Arkaroola. The rest of the walk which is around 2.6kms is down hill back to the resort, with a small section of around 400 metres uphill.
We started at road level and I have taken photos of the original station homestead at various levels. It is just below the hill in the centre of the photo.
Our view high view of the homestead – we have now walked around and along a couple of ridges climbing all the time.
Once we climb to the summit, we will be descending along this ridge line to the village along this road in the distance.
Just 200 metres to the summit. We return to this point to start the down hill section.
On the summit – we sat up here for quite a while enjoying the views in every direction.
Hillary, I mean Hopes at the top – it is only 550m a little short of Mt Everest.
The rounded peak is Mt Painter where uranium was found.
The panorama at the top. On the right you can see glimpses of the road into Arkaroola.
Above is our way down along this ridge. You can see the road below. You can just see the roof of the resort to the left of the tip of the ridge.
Looking back on the opposite side of the ridge opposed to the road side.
Above, Glen sitting on the rock face of the ridge. The rock face is only about a metre thick.
Looking back to the homestead from the rocky ridge.
Looking straight over the edge to the road below.
We returned to camp for lunch and after lunch we drove out to Paralana hot springs and ended up looking for wild geese. Well that is Glen’s version, as we were on a wild goose chase. The thermal springs were a bit of a disappointment, as I guess we were expecting to see a deep spring with water bubbling up where it is water soaking to the surface through sand and runs off as a small stream. The water is hot and all sorts of algae are growing in it. The water is slightly radio-active, so no swimming (as if you would want to) and no drinking it. All of the kangaroos looked okay, they only had one head.
Another pound, on the rim of Welcome Pound and above right a photo of the pound. It is small compared to Wilpena.
The determination to grow. This gum still has the original main trunk in the middle which has now died, however from the base there were six other trunks from the tree surrounding the old main trunk. They are now basically all individual main trunks.
We stopped in the shade of the gums in the riverbed for a cuppa. At the base of these two rock outcrops there is a deep spring.
Looking down the creek – story book clouds.
Hot, slimy and radio active with poisonous gases – in some spots you could smell sulphur.
Basic life forms need only apply for accommodation here.
We could see rain in the distance on our way back to camp and had some sprinkles on the windscreen. We saw a lot of the yellow tailed rock wallabies on our way through the gorge. There was a lot of lightning and some thunder with light rain overnight and steadily increased into the morning.
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