Day 3: Eagle Waterhole Shelter to Tapanappa Campsite

Daily distance: 10.7km
Total distance:
Time taken: 7 hrs

The day dawned bright and sunny... AWESOME.... and we headed out with packs literally hanging with wet kit off the back to dry. Once again the start was straight up out of the hut... Aussies have a sense of humour.... Cresting the hill we had awesome veiws of the Southern Ocean and the tip of Kangaroo Island. Jeff stayed with us this morning...... I think he is feeling it..... as we headed towards Tapanappa. The track took us into some thick vegetation which was dripping wet, so much for drying the kit, and down an exceptionally steep almost cliff. We slipped and slidded down and realized the decision to stay back yesterday and not walk was the correct one.

At the bottom of the slope we stopped for some breakfast at a stream before heading off up the, just-as-steep, opposite slope. This section was really tough going  and we climbed higher than we moved forward for an hour or so. The veiws of the ocean were spectacular which almost made the climb worth it..... almost.....  We kept finding messages in the sand Jeff was leaving us which helped us know where he was and how he was doing.

At the vry bottom of the lowest valley we ere going through the stream was in full flood from the rains the day before. Dee and I dropped pack and I headed across to see if we could make it. Got across with dry feet, turned and headed back to fetch Dee. Half way across just jumping from one rock to another I looked up and just saw legs, very short shorts and a blond smiling head looking at me. That was it, feet wet! Picked up Dee and headed across with her pack, came back and got mine and we headed off. We stopped on the path for a bite to eat and "legs" and her side kick came trotting past heading in Jeff's direction. Both Dee and I said "wait till Jeff sees them"!

Much later on in the day we topped out on a crest and had a gentle uphill slope into Tapanappa Camppsite. Being a Saturday it had alot of people in however we did manage to find a spot close to the toilets and made a lovely camp under some trees. Dinner was a feast of pre-cooked rice with some salami in. Spicy!

Sleep was awesome and came very quickly.....