Guess what……I got to pat a wombat this morning. The lady in the room next door is a wildlife rescuer and she had a wombat in care. It had nails that any deva would be proud of but was so cute and soft and just a baby. Giving it a cuddle was just out of comfort zone though with those talons.
Today we are headed to Blinman – Alpana Station to be precise. Where’s that you say? Well, it’s well and truly in The Flinders Ranges just ~60km north of Wilpena Pound and 5km south of Blinman town itself. Why? Again another good question. I read these books by Australian author Fleur MacDonald and one of the books was about this outback town in the Flinders Ranges called Blinman. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it ever existed (being fictional and all) but Mr Google said “looky here Kimmie, there is a town called Blinman”, so naturally when the opportunity of the Border Run came up this was a “must” to visit on the journey home.
First stop though was on Horrocks Pass Way to pay respects to Davo at the plague and get that iconic banner shot. Due to the wind again today though I couldn’t park up on an angle.
Now Smurfette kicked up another stink cos Dudley was grabbing all the limelight, so here she is with that big smile on her face.
Winding my way through Horrocks Pass – the first “real” twisties I’ve seen since….hmmmmmm can’t remember and I’d love to take a pic but for the first time in ages there is traffic behind me so I sit back and just enjoy the change in pace. This pic is taken heading into the Pass.
It doesn’t take long and you pop out at Wilmington but today we head left and take the road to Quorn (pron. Corn). I look at Dudleys ODO and he’s gonna have a birthday today!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUDLEY!!! Unfortunately, there wasn’t a safe place to pull up for the pic until 24km after the fact. But still it’s a nice milestone for him. Now we are both in the 50 club…he he he.
I love it out here, well out of suburbia into the wide open spaces. The air has a different smell about it….what is it now – ah that’s it FRESH!! The scenery is unbelievable and at times it hard to imagine people actually living out here. However they do and there are remnants of times gone by dotted all over the country. Here’s a little one that doesn’t need much work. Maybe another consideration??? hmmmm
As you can see there are quite a few trees around and not far down the round one of these so called trees decided to run out on the road…..EMU!! I think we both had a “deer in headlight” moment as both the whites of our eyes bulged from our heads and thankfully it turned around just narrowly not connecting with us….phew! It certainly helps you put things back into prospective – eyes wide Kimmie.
Yikes!!
Then in a blink we are into Quorn and seek out Emily’s Bistro also known as The Great Northern Emporium for a morning coffee. This place is full of ye olde worlde stuff and all things yummy and cakey baked right there on the premises. It’s also renowned for the Quangdong Pie, which I have learnt is a little berry type fruit that has a big seed and a small amount of flesh that is a favourite of the locals. It apparently has a taste not to dissimilar to rhubarb.
On the Flinders Highway and the Ranges seem to encompass you from out of nowhere. Then you find yourself in the middle of nowhere with nothing but a flat horizon and saltbush. Views so worth it!! No stress, no fuss, just the open road and wide open spaces that fill your mind with the wonder of this country. This is heaven!!
You cross so many dried up creek beds out here and signs that say “flooding”….Whadta?? Flooding out here, yep, it does and when it does you are pretty much cut off – isolated from the bitumen that leads you back into civilisation as we know it. Quite frightening when you think about it really. But this is a life that people choose to live and they make the most of what they have and go without if they have too! Inspiring!!
You cross so many dried up creek beds out here and signs that say “flooding”….Whadta?? Flooding out here, yep, it does and when it does you are pretty much cut off – isolated from the bitumen that leads you back into civilisation as we know it. Quite frightening when you think about it really. But this is a life that people choose to live and they make the most of what they have and go without if they have too! Inspiring!!
A little bit of work and she’d be good as new.
The Wilson Homestead
10 minutes later and we arrive in Hawker. Hawker is pretty much the last fuel stop before Blinman (apparently you can get fuel at Wilpena Pound but I have not confirmed this and wasn’t taking any chances). I was surprised at the size of the town to be honest. Teagues Motors is the place to go for fuel (they have premium) the other 2 places only have unleaded and diesel. Allo and behold they have an art gallery here by local artist Jeff Morgan. Naturally I have to go have a look. Some people are just so talented and if they can make a living doing what they love – then why not. Before I leave town and head into further unknown, I ring Karl. The more I go away the more I miss him and know my life would mean nothing without him. I let him know and the world of FB that for the next few days I probably won’t have any communication due to the location. I let Karl know that I’ll ping my SPOT once I’ve arrived and set up……hope you got it Sweety.
I don’t know who owns the Africa Twin but it’s pretty new and doesn’t seem to have been off-road very much.
Jeff Morgan Gallery
You really can’t get lost out here….there is only 1 main bitumen road so you just follow your nose and the signs….lol
The Map….lol
Heading into the Flinders Ranges and who knows what I am going to see or find. Thanks for the welcome.
The Flinders Ranges
The area out here is mostly unfenced and the roos and emus run ramped. After this mornings efforts, I’m taking it nice an easy just in case I have to stop suddenly. The road weaves around and through, up and over, down and out the ranges with sign posts denoting “twisties” not that I’ll be hitting them with speed – eyes wide! Past Wilpena Pound turn off and I think about the story I read yesterday in the Wadlata Centre. These 2 snakes that gobbled up the humans and drank so much that their bodies dug trenches through the ground forming something like a mote around the ground and formed a pound – hence the name (my short version of the story).
~60km down the road and more twists and turns and I finally reach my destination – Alpana Station. Yes, that’s more “allergic” dirt but it’s not much.
Alpana Station
Checked in and Camp Kimmie set up again. Sally and David make you feel so welcome to their property which is a working sheep station with ~3000 head of Merino sheep.
I can’t believe it made it! The holiday really has just begun. Had a bit of trouble pitching the tent due to the wind which as it turns out only got worse the further the night went on.
The reception building and I think some accommodation out the back.
It’s a magical place.
The Shearer’s Quarters
I meet my neighbours – Drew and Sherrin and while away the afternoon chatting before I leave them to get some shots of the sun setting. There really aren’t any words that I can pen here to give you a true perspective of how awesome the land is and the feeling of “peace” it gives you.
Sunset – Alpana Station Blinman
Then it’s time for dinner. Very flash tonight, Continental Fried Rice cooked in the Trangia camp stove.
dinner
I tell you what, it tasted bloody good too!!!
Listening to the howling winds outside and I wonder to myself “girl what are you doing?” Anyway, this is what I chose to do and it’s all about the experience. Dudley was tucked up for the night but I was more worried about him than anything else (as I had to leave him on his side stand). The wind lifted the edges of the tent with me in it and I had to add weight to the inside and pinned my towel across the foot end to stop the gale winds blowing through. Don’t think I’ve ever been in winds that ferocious and never ever slept in anything like that before. Thank goodness, for the thermal sock liner and Kebin-the hot water bottle.
