Daily distance: 18.2km
Total distance: 1054.7km
It was bright and sunny this morning when we left the motel hotel to start our second last stage from Hawker to Wilpena Pound. Packs were not heavy as it would be a three day stage and we could also not get all the supplies we wanted so we got what we could. This has helped keep the backpacks lighter!
The helicopter that does the scenic flight over Wilpena Pound was warming up and pre-flights were being done which was testament to it being great weather. On the way out of Hawker we walked through the old railway station, which has been done up to a cafeteria but was still fast asleep. We walked along the main Parachilna (our final destination 85km away) Road for 5.5km before turning north east onto the Dairy Road, past the old Wonoka station ruins and finally into the Wonoka Creek. Dee did a really good impersonation of the 'beware of the kangaroos' sign I had to take a picie.
Once in the creek we walked north with the Wonoka Hills rising out of the plain to our east. It was still bitterly cold so we were still both rugged up with gloves and all until quite late in the morning. We followed the creek for about 4km, staying on the eastern bank, before getting sight of the Wonoka Station in the north west. We spooked quite a few Euro's (Wallaroo) feeding in the scrub as we passed and bumped into a couple of herds of sheep. Dee pointed out some camels watching us from a hill as we moved passed the station. Mayo Hut popped out of nowhere on a steep bank in a bend of the creek. It's an awesome little stone hut which was built in 1899 by the Mayo family and restored for the Heysen walkers in 1986.
These little huts have got so much character and have been so well restored they just look fantastic. This one has a fireplace inside, bunk beds, and beds in the loft, mattresses and also has a toilet outside. Pure luxury!
What a privilege to be here, doing what we are doing in this amazing place. The fire is going, Dee is sorting dinner, I am writing this and a Southern Boobook (owl) is calling outside under the half moon...........
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