MORE FLINDERS RANGES PICS

Arid Lands botanic gardens, Port Augusta

Walking Alligator gorge, Mt Remarkable NP

The Narrows, Alligator Gorge

Blue gum flat camp, Mt Remarkable NP

Climbing Mt Brown conservation park

Mt Brown is part of a historical event 211 years ago. Read the info. Click on pic to enlarge if u can't read it.

View of Pt Augusta, top of spencer gulf, to the west from Mt Brown

Grass trees on Mt Brown summit

View of the Willochra plain to the east from Mt Brown summit

FLINDERS RANGES SA

Hi I am in Hawker atm in the flinders ranges.  Going to Flinders Ranges NP today for a fair bit,
not sure if I will get the internet there so you may not hear from me for a bit???

I have been on a few walks this last week in the southern flinders ranges.

Part of the Heysen trail in Warribara forest (10k's)

Sugar gum walk, Warribara forest (5k)

Alligator gorge loop track (8k's),  Hidden gorge loop track (18k's) both in Mt Remarkable NP.

Mt Brown conservation park summit return walk (12k)

The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park summit loop walk (11k)

Worn out after the last two walks to the top of the mountains!  But the views were fantastic of the
 surrounding Flinders Ranges.

The main Flinders Ranges NP I am going to today has lots of big walks as well so I suppose they will all get me pretty fit in the great outdoors.

The weather has been mainly between 15 - 20 during the day and a mixture of cloudy and sunny days with cool wind.  A Bit nippy at nite.

Oh yeah I went on a 4wd track called the 'Bridle Track" which went up high over successive hills amongst farming land and ended up overlooking spencer gulf, really cool, see pics, I camped 1 nite on the track overlooking the sunset over the gulf.

All over Sth Australia there are old houses/buildings built of stone dating back to the mid to late 1800's.

There are also ruins of  Pastoral properties too.  Most have lost there timber or corrugated iron roofs.  This one is in good nick but not lived in.

On the Bridle 4wd track, have come across the hill at right rear of pic. Fantastic views

As I was going through a farm gate on Bridle track, the sheep dudes came up to say hello.

Overnite stop on the Bridle track overlooking Spencer Gulf and York peninsula on the horizon, great views up and down the gulf

Sunset from the Bridle camp spot overlooking same view as previous pic

The Ghan trainline to Darwin from Adelaide.  I saw the ghan twice, it has about 15 carriages with the ghan name on the side and one doubledecker car carrier

Along the Hidden gorge track, Mt Remarkable NP

At hidden gorge Mt Remarkable NP. Not easy finding a flat rock for the camera to snap me.

At Pt Augusta, ringed by mtn ranges.

Stuart's sweat pea, emblem of Sth Australia, taken at the arid lands outback botanic gardens, Pt Augusta.  Great place to look around...

GOODAY FROM SOUTHERN FLINDERS RANGES

English elm grove, At Wirrabara forest old nursery, established late 1800's

Remains of buildings at Wirrabara forest old nursery.

Poplar tree, Wirrabara forest old nursery.

Walking around Wirrabara forest, The camera timer thing works well on fence posts

I am currently at Wirrabara forest inland between Pt Pirie and Pt Augusta on the Spencer gulf. 

Also spent a few days at Telowie gorge conservation park near here and Mt Remarkable NP.

Its been between 15 - 20 deg, windy,  raining and shwrs last few days which has freshenened up the place...

Been on some interesting bushwalks into a gorge, up a mountain and in forests...

Going shortly on the 'Bridle 4wd track' which goes over top of several hills with great lookouts up and down the Spencer gulf and inland..

Local wattle, Telowie Conservation Park. SA

Moon rise late arvo, Telowie Conservation Park.  SA

View over Mt Remarkable NP while hiking up the black range..

Local Galahs at Mt Remarkable NP on a wet day

Spencer gulf from Mt Remarkable NP while walking

PICTURES

Looking back at Cape Bridgewater town beach, Vic.  On a 1 hour walk along the cliffs to the cape to see a seal colony. freezing cold at least 40 knot winds on cape

Up approx 80 metres on cliff so zooming in wasn't the best to see this sleepyhead

Walking along glenelg river track. Lower glenelg nat Park Vic

Met up with Eddie Echidna.

Kayaking on Glenelg river, Lower Glenelg NP, Vic

Blue lake, Mt Gambier, SA

Cape Bank lighthouse, Canunda NP. SA. This was so cool, got to camp right next to a working lighthouse, see the light going.

Lake Bonney, SA.  See sand dunes on right.

All along Sth Aust coast great sunsets.

Looking over Rivoli bay, Beachport, SA. See all the lobster boats gettin maintenance in the boatyard.

HEY I'M LEAVING ADELAIDE TO HEAD NORTH UP TO THE FLINDERS RANGES FOR A MONTH..

Yes thats right leaving on Sunday for 1 month as I have to be back in Adelaide by 17th June for a job interview and testing with a federal government department which is the 3rd stage of a graduate application I made. Phew...  The final stage is being advised of a job offer or nothing by approx Jul-August to start in Feb 2014.

Never got to the 3rd stage before with a graduate job application.  Have had 37 straight job rejections which  includes last years applications!  

Tomorrow I am going to buy some black shoes, a work shirt and an acceptable jacket or jumper from the DFO at the airport...Havn't worn any work gear since 2008. Its gunna be a shock...

Also be buying supplies tomorrow...

After the interview the plan is to return to the outback and desert till maybe november unless other employers wish to interview me..

This morning I went to a pistol and rifle club shooting range in Adelaide with a friend.  I have never had a go at shooting guns before ever, so it was interesting.  Tried a 22 rifle and a 38 smith & weston handgun shooting at a target...Had to tape a cover on my glasses left eyepiece due to my left eye astigmatism (Google it??) thingy. 

Have still a fair few pics to upload on here......

22 rifle

38 pistol

Click on this pic to see my pistol shots! 1 in the centre, yowww, 3 9's, some 8's. Not bad for 1st go..Rifle shots were at bottom right black dot behind the date

GOODAY FROM ADELAIDE

Been stayin with 2 different friends this week.

Goin down to explore Fleur peninsula south of Adelaide for a bit tomorrow.

Have been busy stockin up with enough food, toiletries, amber fluid and other gear etc for approx 6 months travel in the outback/desert.  Will be leavin for the big trip a bit later in the month. Food is way to expensive in the outback.  Fuel is also expensive, last year I saw the dearest was $2.20 a litre but averaged around
 $1.80 to $2.00

Island approx 2k's off Portland Vic. Is a large breeding area for migratory Gannet seabirds.

Zoom in of island dotted with Gannet birds breeding for several months then they fly back o'seas

Lighthouse keepers house at Cape Nelson Lighthouse near Portland Vic.

Gooday from the cafe window at Cape Nelson lighthouse

Sunset on Lake Monigbeong camp, Discovery bay coastal park, Vic

Frosty lookin plant on the dunes , Discovery bay coastal park, Vic

Wind & Rain shaped rocks, Discovery bay coastal park

Endangered Hooded Plover in NSW & Vic

Cuttle fish patterns

More Wind & Rain shaped rocks, Discovery bay coastal park