Sat 7th Sep – Wilpena Pound Resort (Rest Day)
Rest day’s main activity is buffet breakfast, which takes us through to 10.30am. This is the first time in a week that James has accommodation to himself. In a rush of independence, he blasts the aircon all night, which is actually really unnecessary as it’s a very cold night.
I have a moderate freak out about the ‘Glamping’ tent accommodation but the team helps me through this and the rest day is a big success. I’ll attach my subsequent email to Auswalk in the comments for a case study into why no one should open a business that deals with the public.
After breakfast (and also after brunch, which by virtue of time passing happened in the same restaurant), we have a little relax. After lunch (known to us only in time, not food, as James sure as hell isn’t eating two hours post breakfast), we walk to an art gallery where James is mistaken for a great artist himself and are late to a scheduled Welcome to Country. The Aboriginal representative thankfully isn’t fussed, later telling us the first part is boring anyway as he just reads out the sign at the front.
Another third plate of food follows. And yes, James had two big coffees to himself. This is a seriously impressive volume of breakfast. We hang out for a minute or two after breakfast deciding day plans but it’s cut short by James promptly declaring he needs to use the bathroom. CR.
We burnt over 20,000 KJ’s yesterday. I’m concerned about wasting away. 7 sausages was about right. JRT.
The books James has perused are: 1. Six Thinking Hats (quickly discarded). 2. What is History (a small book for the hiking pack that hasn’t had a chance to shine). 3. How To Make Friends and Influence People (pictured). We’ve been getting daily updates on the latter and it’s been a preferred regular segment. CR.
Book review is a daily highlight for me. There is lively feedback on the strategy of how to make friends. JRT
More of a limp than a walk. JRT.
We meet Graham, a lovely artist, who’s favourite colours are Cobalt Blue and Chromium Red. JRT.
The business model for buffet breakfast is based on an anticipated cost per customer versus revenue per customer. I’m worried that James by himself may have broken this operator.
I would like to have in one frame a photo of James sitting in the middle of the bush with his juice box and the one today at breakfast. A case study of extreme emotions within a similar timeframe.
Cait, what was your main complaint about glamping.
Are the strategies for how to make friends realistic and achievable or vague and silly.
Many years ago someone told me the name for gum trees is widow makers. The photo perfectly shows the reason why they have earnt that reputation.
Is anyone suffering with blisters or chaffing from all the walking.
Declan’s photo from the shearing shed wins best photo of the day. Would make for a fantastic and difficult jigsaw.
I’m not sure if it’s intentional but the photos and blog don’t seem to discuss if there are many other tourists around. Seems like your group is holding the local economy together.
I have heard of Wilpena Pound but never really knew what it was. It’s stunning! I assume the accommodation is inside it not just near it? Glad to see James making the most of buffet breakfast – it’s an art that only some men conquer. Usually to their own detriment. Hopefully the seventh sausage didn’t cause too much harm.
Are you reading much Cait? Do you get double chart stars for books read after a long hike?
No real news here. TV broke and stove broke so we are in our appliance rehabilitation era.
Loving the blog. 5 stars. Would recommend. 😘
Reply to dad:
I can confidently say that James got maximum value out of buffet breakfast. I respect him even more now!
I have terrible blisters, all across the top of my toes. Declan has photo documentation of his ‘walkers wool’ to help prevent blisters but it’s not 100% effective.
There were a lot of tourists around at Wilpena Pound Resort – big corporation actually. They get the big tourist buses that run up and down Australia. Outside of that the other accommodation is really predominantly walkers (smaller groups like Auswalk group guided). When you get out of the resorts, the roads seem really empty because the drives between places are so long.
We are boosting the economy – our meals are paid for but we often order extras – wine and chips are common add ons.
My email to Auswalk as follows:
Hi xxx,
All three of us have had a brilliant time on our trip. The service and hospitality from Dave and Caroline at Angorichina was outstanding, and we all loved the accommodation at Rawnsley.
The Wilpena tents though is extremely disappointing. Every aspect here has been disappointing actually:
1. We have our rest day here with no car (this is stationed at Rawnsley as per Auswalk arrangement). There are no tours running during our rest day at Wilpena, except for plane trips, which are prohibitively expensive and we cannot afford. Apparently no tours run on weekends. So we are just stuck on a camp ground for our entire rest day.
2. Both our tents were at the back of the set up, and neither really had views of the bluff. The views we both see are predominantly of other tents. This in particular is a big negative, as it makes it feel a bit like we are just staying in a camp ground.
3. It was about 2km of walking to find the reception after coming out of the Heyson Trail. This is very poorly documented in the Auswalk guides (the map image is unreadable) and there is no on the ground signage. After hiking more than 25km with not a huge amount of packed lunch, we were absolutely exhausted.
4. There is not sufficient water in the Wilpena tents. So we have to walk more than 1km to get a 10L carton of water and then hike back 1km up a hill lugging 10L of water. We will need to do this each day. This is crazy not to have water at the accommodation, given we are walking average of 20km a day.
5. No one has booked dinner in and the earliest reservation was 7.15pm (1.5 hours after arrival). We are starving after a wrap, an apple and a muffin for a nearly 30km day. The receptionist made it seem like we made an error not booking in advance.
I hope this feedback helps for future planning. Personally, we would have much preferred to have our rest day at Rawnsley (much nicer accommodation) with our car.
Regards,
Caitlin, James, Declan.
Reply to mum:
The Wilpena Pound Resort interestingly not in Wilpena Pound but is just outside.
I am actually not reading too much this holiday. Because the drives and walks have been so long there is not much spare time during the day. And if we go to bed early I’m pretty tired. The three books that I have read (two only partially) are, with more details to follow when I get back home on the book blog:
1. Paradais – Fernanda Melchor. Finished. I liked it.
2. Wake in Fright – Kenneth Cook. About 30 pages in. A small novel that I carry on hikes in case we are early before being picked up. Really enjoying this.
3. Death Valley – Melissa Broder. About 30 pages in too. This is okay so far, not an obvious stand out at this stage.
So sad to hear about your appliances!!! What a disaster. You may as well live in a cave motel!
Hey Paul. We agreed they are realistic as they are mostly reminders of common courtesies. They include: smile, greet people with their name, ask them about things they are interested in, actively listen, show genuine interest in them as a person, and make them feel important. The ideas don’t feel revolutionary, so I was a little surprised to learn how popular the book is. It was agreed amongst the group that you are an example of someone who exhibits these traits
Hey Maria. Buffet sausages are my weakness. I was in clear ‘detriment territory’ by the 7th. I scaled back the next day (3)
Potential response from Auswalk to your email, as per your numbering:
1. It is called a rest day for a reason. Rest!!
2. What is it with Sydney people and this obsession with real estate?
3. We are very conscious of our impact on the environment, and the way that we impact on this pristine and ancient place. We felt a two story concrete office block with neon signage immediately adjacent to the point of egress to the track was not consistent with our values;
4, This is actually intentional. We do it to provide people with a cool down stretch after a physically demanding day. Most people thank us for providing this additional service, and for the fact that they are actually able to walk the following day as a result;
5. Surely James had some of those fruit drink boxes squirreled away? Or was he holding back? Auswalk cannot be held responsible for any pathological behavior traits of walking companions that you have chosen.
Let the record show I was against sending the email at all. I think this is further evidence of James and Caitlin being rude to rural hospitality. A systematic issue with people (often in finance) who have never done an honest days work in their life!
Ra ra ra