Kangaroos and Emus

Thursday, 31 May 2012


We have to say the school group last night were very good – no noise at all. The sky was clear this morning and we had sun until lunch time. The temperature even reached 20 degrees!

We left Burra at 8.30 am, heading north through more sheep, wheat and wind farms. There were thousands of windmills just disappearing into the distance for the first 50 kms, then it was just wheat and sheep, then it was just sheep and saltbush as we climbed into the Flinders Ranges. The road actually improved the further we went.

During a stop at Peterborough, we came across a statue to Bob, the Railway Dog. During the 1890s, Bob would ride trains all over South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, jumping on and off and the whim took him. Cat also found a little train to keep him amused. During the drive we spotted a kangaroo and two emus (to add to the fox we saw yesterday), as well as a couple of wedge tail eagles. Definitely getting outback now.

We arrived at Wilpena Pound at 12.30 pm and had no trouble getting a powered site for the next three nights. The caravan park and camping grounds are huge, and are run by the Wilpena Pound Resort – everything here is at resort prices of course. All sites are in a bush setting, with plenty of room. The only downside is that one needs a GPS, backpack, cut lunch and water bottle – and at least 30 minutes warning – if the amenities block is needed. We actually used the car to drive to the laundry. Not long after we set up, a flock of six emus wandered past our door and a kangaroo has invaded a camper trailer opposite us. There were lots of shouts and loud noises for a while before the lady of the house belted the kangaroo over the head with some Tupperware (a use never mentioned by the sales ladies at parties).

The weather is deteriorating but we are hoping to get in a walk to the actual pound tomorrow. There is no television reception, so we might have to find a DVD tonight – or talk to each other.