{"id":1483,"date":"2024-09-11T04:37:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T04:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aerowalsh.com\/cr\/?p=1483"},"modified":"2024-09-11T09:54:34","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T09:54:34","slug":"mon-9th-sep-wilpena-pound-resort-to-black-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cr.aerowalsh.com\/?p=1483","title":{"rendered":"Mon 9th Sep – Wilpena Pound Resort to Black Gap"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The great explorers of yesteryear uncovered unseen lands, felt the invigorating change of weather passing through their hair, drank water from different rivers and slept on new sands. They were sustained by persistence and cheered by discovery. But then there’d be days on the flats that are boring and long. And today was our day of boring and flat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk comes from the Wilpena Pound Resort, into the Wilpena Pound proper and then ascends and descends Black Gap. In the pound it is flat for hours with little change in flora. We widdle away the time with a heated discussion about religion. Unfortunately neither James or I are on the same intelligence scale as Declan, and relations devolve temporarily. It’s with a sense of confusion that I recall this argument, somehow, grew out of James’ daily update on How To Win Friends And Influence People. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Walkers Wool is a friend to our feet and necessary to stop blisters maturing. James, as Chief Medical Officer, is in charge of carrying walkers wool and applying band aids. For some reason, I am the only person in need of his skills. DW.
James is also fantastic at holding my poles as I scramble up\/down rocks. CR.
Declan applies the Walkers Wool himself. This is outside the remit of the Chief Medical Officer. JRT.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We met Graham Chapman at the artist’s exhibition on our rest day. He was out for a walk today and we coincidentally saw him at the old Wilpena homestead. This naturally meant we had to commission an artwork from him. DW.
Graham spends 4-5 weeks in the Flinders each year. He has done this for 50 years. I love that he wears his name badge everywhere. JRT.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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While chatting to Graham he revealed he had seen a family of echidnas (pictured) back up the road a little bit. Caitlin was overcome with monotreme love and wanted to race back and steal them in her backpack. DW.
All credit to Graham Chapman for this photo – https:\/\/paintersoftheflindersranges.org.au\/artists\/graham-chapman\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Bridle Saddle (named as it is only other location in the wall of the Pound apart from the main entrance that you could ride a horse through) is directly behind us and we walked over it later in the day. DW.
Cait and I are in trouble for talking to Wayne and Waynette for 30 mins. They are our favourite hikers so far. Wayne has my childhood dream job (remote controlled train driver). JRT.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Someone hates their crusts as well as juice boxes. DW.
Dek has a great time at lunch telling everyone we are behind schedule and taking unflattering photos. Two of his fav hobbies. JRT.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This little red bird was Caitlin’s favourite. DW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The green grasslands of the pound turned to a red earth as we climbed out of Wilpena over Bridle Gap. A fire had been through in the past few years. DW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A scrambly descent for the purported “easy day” as reported by the itinerary. DW. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The contrast in colour in this scene took me. We were approaching a small gully that provided enough moisture to keep these trees in good health. DW.
Nice photo dekkie. JRT.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The land opened up to cleared pasture near the end of the walk. This meant our speed increased to the nominal value. I was delighted. DW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Finally, our own echidnas in all their spiny glory. Caitlin was so excited she bumped her head getting out the car to pursue these into the undergrowth. DW.
There is a cute 2nd echidna hiding in the top-left of this photo. JRT.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Hot stuff coming through! DW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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These are the only fossils we see (aside from Caroline’s stromatolites). They are in the hotel reception. We don’t win any adventure points for this. I wanted to research what this is even a fossil of but lost interest pretty quickly. Fossils are less instantly gratifying than I expect. CR.
There are extreme differences in the\u00a0amount of detail provided by the signs at places we visit. There is seemingly no logic to whether a sign will exist, have 10 words, or 1000 words. JRT.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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