Ranges we call the Flinders

Sorry for the late post we have been extremely busy usually ending in long working nights and late dinners. Haven’t had the time to just sit down and take a breather.
The story goes something like this...

Dave and I were lucky enough to get a few days off work for the Easter holiday weekend as the station had their seasonal gathering of family and friends. We decided to head directly east of our location to the Flinders and Gammon Ranges but there was one problem; there is a massive salt Lake named Torrens directly in our path. So instead of it taking 150km as the crow flies it took us around 450km down south to Port Augusta then North East from there. Unfortunately, it was the LONG way around. We needed to stock up anyway which was an experience in itself. For example: Dave was filling up fuel when beside us rocked up a brown, very dirty, sedan of some sort with some locals and three kids. The kids were climbing everywhere around the car, screaming and carrying on, when one of the mothers yelled at the top of lungs “SIT DOWN YOU F#%KING C*%T S!!!” It then proceeded with another mother coming back yelling something similar then quickly praising them with chocolates. Hmmm, didn’t really understand that moment, probably slightly scared as well.

We knew this period would be busy so heading off early Wednesday morning gave us a head start into the national park. The sites within the NP are very well maintained with clean toilets, great camp fire pits (plentiful wood), and large individual sites. The area around us was absolutely spectacular with views of both ranges and gorges not far from us. The highlight was the ability to drive through Brachina Gorge having 70m sheer cliff faces on both sides, the sight of 100 year old gums lying flat on the ground from the pure force of rain water, and the great 4WD tracks through them. The photo can describe better than I can.

Friday came and so did the holiday makers, so we headed further north to the Gammon Ranges to escape the mad rush. We based camp at Arkaroola Village which is pretty much a reception building which has all the facilities like accommodation, bar, fuel, general info centre etc. The caravan park was basic which meant I literally had to take a back pack with my shower gear up to the toilets. Along the dry creek bed then up heartbreak hill just to have a shower, it was compensated by the breathtaking views thankfully. We also noticed how vague their driving signs were; something stated as 2WD was instantly recognised as 4WD with lowered tyre pressure. There were many creek crossings which had sharp rocks and vertical climbs which needed the extra traction. It just wasn’t us either; many of the other travellers were commenting on how difficult it was considering what the driving signs were suggesting. All Dave’s driving and my stressing because of the vehicle angles did pay off in the end when little oasis’s popped out with luscious greenery and fresh water gorges.

Dave and I agreed, to anyone that is travelling through South Australia, the Flinders AND the Gammon Ranges are a must! For us it was pretty easy travelling but if there is a localised thunder storm prepare yourselves for numerous creek crossings and low range 4WD. Our friends Tim and Nat were a bit unfortunate to travel these areas in the wet but I’m sure they found special qualities in land from the rain. 



Bit of a yuppie hotel.
I'll soon show you all what a real Outback pub is like!



Easter bunny found us



RMW boots



The Pinnicles - Gammon Ranges



Yellow wild flowers. Growing in their thousands around the area



Sheep station farmhand duties

“A day is a good day when you come back learning something” This is something that Dave and I are truly living by out in this country. It’s all about maintenance and being a general handyman; able to fix anything with whatever gear you’ve got which is a great quality to have. On a small scale, I’ve seen many of times how to change a tyre and to unhitch a trailer but its here where you’ll do it at least once a day and get pretty quick at it. It’s where you learn how to reverse a trailer, learn to ride manual dirt bike, and learn how to read the roads; although, to this family it’s just in a normal days work but to Dave and I it’s something that we need. We needed this experience to hit us over our heads so we could get a grip on something other than what is expected in a normal 9-5 office job. This is the whole point of our adventure; to discover something different and learn from our experiences.



Their planning something. I can see it in their eyes



The third day on the farm involved fixing another windmill which wasn't pumping water through to the boar. I now know the inns and outs of a working windmill and roughly how to fix it. It's amazing how many different parts are required and the amount of effort to pull out a 50ft pipe out of a well to check the pump at the bottom. Another skill Dave and I have learnt is the art of cementing. Given the chance, we are now able to make a decent load of wet cement used for either a wall or holding a pole in.

The farmer has a massive 'to do list' which today including unplugging a pipe which runs from the boar to the trough which the sheep drink out of. We pulled apart a lot of gear to get to the open pipe which then required a long steel rod to be pushed all the way through to unblock whatever was in there. A long story short and without me jumping into the boar we got it unplugged. Once you see beautiful clear water running into a well cleaned trough it has a definite feel good/sense of achievement :)

There is always a general to-do list out on the farm which Dave and I are getting pretty use to. The only difficult part of this job is trying to remember all the roads and where they lead to. Luckily I have a compass and a map of the station which can be of great help when you’ve lost the boundary fence and we’re in the middle of nowhere and EVERYTHING is the same. Amazing how all the horizon lines look the exact same as the one beside it.

During the weeks we’ve had a go at many things but the most challenging would have to be the dirt bikes. These are manual, 4 speed Honda/Yamaha 250CC bikes which are quite powerful. I had a little difficulty starting with the clutch but Dave jumped straight on and went like a rocket into the horizon without a hitch. Me, being the conservative woman I am, I stayed close to the house understanding the clutch and first gear and foot starting the bike once I stalled it. One day out of the blue, the farmer’s son Will asked us to help muster some 100 sheep out of one paddock into the drafting pen where they would be divided accordingly. Put us in the deep end and learn to swim. We were up and over branches, in and out of sand ditches, and bloody through thousands of prickly bushes while trying to scout out any mobs of sheep. We use the fence to guide the heard with me behind to push them along and Dave on the side to stop them moving sidewards all the while Will and Josh scout out more mobs of sheep and add them to ours. We ended up with a few scratches but thankfully didn’t bruise our pride having everything going to plan. Came back learning something today!

It became difficult to take photos when you're on a job like that. I was only focusing on finding sheep and not falling off. Sorry. Here are some others.



Something you have to get use to



Sunset over the country



Storm rolling in



Southern Cross windmill, made in our local Toowoomba

 

Internet here is very slow which means epic fail on uploading vidoes. Sorry, had one feeding lambs, Dave on the bike, and us going out on a job.