Mystery Meander : Day 12 October 2 - A campsite off the road, up a creek in the Gammon Ranges to Wilpena Pound Campground.

After a lovely cool night, at our hilltop camp, I was up early in the hope of some nice sunrise colours, what started out in soft orange, failed to develop, so Reve and I resurrected the fire...and Steve set up his hotplate – which is now OH SO EASY to get out with his newly designed and constructed shelving in the back of the car.

Pancakes for us, with Berries built in, bacon and eggs and pancakes for others.

Then it was off south through the Flinders Ranges, we are certainly back in civilisation, so many cars on the road…very annoying. We stopped to photograph a tree and Col and Mary spotted some flowers, that was the beginning of the end. Col and Mary decided to slow down, take their time, and they might catch up with us further along during the day, this was not to be, we ended up at Wilpena Pound and they ended up in Arkaroola.

We had ditched the idea of Arkaroola that morning, given that most of us had been there and we needed to be heading south. We lunched at Chambers Gorge, then walked along the Gorge to see the Aboriginal Rock Art and amazing rocks walls of the gorge. After this, Meg, Stef, Peyton and Milani were leaving us to head home. Unfortunately as we all walked back along the creek bed, Reve took a tumble, she went down and landed on her face, which resulted in lots of blood from a blood nose, a cut above the eye and a bitten tongue. Reve is a good bleeder and there was lots of blood and very quick bruising. Poor Sarah got a fright to turn around and see Gram lying flat on her face on the gravelly surface of the creek bed. For many of us walking back a bit it looked like she was lying down to take photo. It was pretty scary as Sarah ran back to the cars for water and a cold can to put on the fast swelling face. Reve insisted she was fine and walked the final couple of hundred metres back to the car. Once there Steve and Meg did the best they could to patch her up. Reve has made a real mess of her face.

After finally seeing Stef Meg & co off, after Reve’s fall, we all then headed for a scenic drive through the Flinders to Wilpena Pound. Lots of amazing hills, rock formations, wallabies, roos, lookouts tc were seen, before pulling into the campground just before 6pm SA time, then quickly set up tents before heading off to the bistro for tea. Reve braved chips – which was something she could eat with her badly cut, bruised, swollen and bleeding face, she backed up with the most expensive dessert, a baileys, choc and almond ice cream in a brandy snap basket. Pretty good going.

Our campsite. With Toilet tent to right, always the last thing to be packed up. You wouldn't even know we were there.

Packing up the fire and bits and pieces. Once again Steve's fire plate was in high demand, it cooked pancakes, bacon, eggs and more pancakes and it now lives in a very easy to get at and put away spot in Steve's new draw and fridge shelf system. Designed and built by Steve.

Some small plants that ranged from red at the base through to yellow at the top.

The creek bed we drove through to find the campsite

The Davey's leaving camp.

Willshire-Morgan-Viney's leaving the campsite.

Ska parked while I take photos.

An unknown plant we hope Col might identify.

We both hit a puddle yesterday a little too fast - up and over the top it went...right over Phil's roof bag and well over the top of Ska.

Sign on the way out of where we were that day. Vulkathunha -The Gammon Ranges National Park

A couple of Wedge Tailed eagles in a tree beside the road.

A strange sandy patch on otherwise rocky hill. The aboriginal dreamtime story tells of the Sand Goanna (Vardna) entered the hill and laid her egg, leaving through the hill on the other side.