leaving Ceduna, we wanted to head North again. Briefly toying with the idea of driving back up Googs track, we decided to leave a north bound trip up the track to a later date. Instead we would travel the Gawler ranges road, which we had done part of before. This time we would skirt Lake Gairdner and end up at Kingoonya.
Leaving the highway at Wirrulla, the gravel roads beckoned. There had been some rain in the preceding days and the road soon became muddy and slippery. Not until some 50k down did it start to dry out, it was getting late and so we found a roadside camp and mud-soaked Ned, and we, could rest.
Turning off the main road at Hitilba nature reserve, the road grew smaller. Sturts desert pea were flowering by the roadside and other wildflowers were starting to bloom. Thankfully the track was now dry and blue sky greeted us each day. At the toe of lake Gairdner we took a station track thus cutting the corner and some 8k off the journey. Again, the track grew smaller, now just a couple of wheel tracks. These we find, turn up the most treasures, as in spectacular views and unexpected finds, like the old hut and water tank we came across.
Camping just up the road from the hut we woke to a foggy morning, giving the place a mystical feeling.
As the fog cleared, a mob of inquisitive Emus strided up to the truck. Not being put off, they paraded about looking at this strange thing in their back yard. Feeling satisfied we wernt that interesting, they kept on their way.
Also, we had camped beside a cluster of wombat holes, one of many in this country. You could see fresh diggings and some footprints but, as we are usually in bed when they are about, we saw no animals.
Reaching Lake Gairdner, we pulled up at the campground, no one in sight. After a couple of days looking about and generally relaxing, we moved on.
Skull Tanks Camp on the corner as you come back onto the Gawler Ranges Road was our next camp. We found the spot we had camped at some years before and set up again. Another few days spent taking in the beauty of our surroundings and cooking up a roast amongst other things, then it was time to keep going.
Some way down the road, an old wooden wagon lay beside the road, inviting us to look it over and wonder at its past, and what stories it could tell, if only it could talk.
Just before Kingoonya, Kingyoona hill looms from the otherwise flat landscape, on top was a cairn like rock structure. Too tempting to leave, we crawled the rocky track up the hill.
At the top there was a BBQ, complete with a wood supply and table and chairs surrounding the rock pile with a weathervane protruding from the top. A metal box contained a visitor book, which we signed. Another of those unexpected bits we come across.