Quorn August 2014 (Devil's Peak)

The challenge to revisit the Devil's Peak was too much to resist. Eventually we did it immediately before returning home on the Friday morning. It is only a couple of kilometres but quite solid climbing. At the top of the climb we looked longingly at the last few metres climbing up and out onto the overhang but decided that it would be irresponsible without the presence/help of someone younger and more fit than us. (See. We do know our limitations.)

The climb

At the summit.

 Beth with the visitors' book.

 The last "wee bit" that we chose not to do this time.

 

The "Nerve Test".

 Pichi-Richi Pass from the summit.

Looking towards Port Augusta.
 

On the way down. The Willochra Plain - greener than we have ever seen it.

Quorn August 2014 (Saltia)

A trip to Saltia was essential. We used to drive past it twice a day going to Port Augusta for work.

"Barwell's Bull" on the Pichi Richi railway.

The gate where John performed the wedding ceremony of a young couple. 

 

Quorn August 2014 (Animals and birds)

Plenty of kangaroos.

Mr & Mrs Kookaburra.

"Corellas" or "Gallahs" (depending whether you are being polite or impolite about them).

 "Little Corella"

"Mallee Ringneck"

 

Emus grazing with sheep - Saltia saltbush country.

 An import - lone ostrich on a farm on the "Gunyah Road". 

(Remember when they were going to be the salvation of farming in Australia?)

And another import, so important to our past.

Quorn August 2014 (Powell Gardens)

Powell Gardens have been featured on Gardening Australia. They are a drylands botanical garden established by our old "Quorn Lions" friend Brian Powell AM and now maintained and further developed in his memory. They are in the parkland area near the creek and the golf course, just over the road from the old cottage that we owned. We visited them in the late afternoon of another perfect day.

Back to our temporary home as the sun set.

Quorn August 2014 (Dutchman's Stern)

First morning we awoke to frost and sunrise on the Devil's Peak.

Planned activity for the day was the 10km bushwalk around and onto the crest of the Dutchman's Stern (a repeat for us after 18 or so years). This time we took the circuit in reverse (clockwise) - a longer but gentler climb with time to observe the changing vegetation while we were fresher. Vegetation changed with altitude and aspect (south or north in particular).

 Flannel Flower in quite a large colony on the southern slope.

 View over the Willochra Plain from the southern slope.

 Lunch, just below the summit, overlooking the western plains Port Augusta.