Broadview to Woolshed Flat

Another cold morning the mercury bottoming out at -4!!
The convoy from Quorn to Waukerie Creek and then an anxious wait for the bus.

An anxious wait for the bus

Twenty minutes late, the first bus had broken down, and we were all loaded and on our way to Broadview.
Some excitement when the bus stalled on the railway crossing at Quorn and then an interesting three point turn with a pause for the driver to answer his phone, stall the bus again and finally arrive at Broadview.
A very short oration, then off up to join the Trail, followed by an early morning tea, as Karen had misplaced her cameral, and needed to back-track to get it.

Caterpillar with a butterfly!

Then the walk through some truly wonderful creek lines, water flowing and caterpillar crawling!
After a slight navigational mishap, it was up, past Catninga Tank and onto Mount Brown.
Happily, Heather and Brian Daniel were working at the tank and were more than happy to chew the fat as we paused to catch breath.

The climb to Mount Brown was, as usual, quite exhausting, however the rewards are great with all round view and a very welcome lunch.
Then it was all downhill from there, via the well graded National Geographic Trail until we met Waukerie Creek at Olive Grove where a short rest was taken.
We were all pretty tired at that point, yet we had to negotiate the Creek back to our cars.
Long drive home, arriving in the dark.
 

Horrock's Pass to Broadview

We arrived in Quorn just after four on Friday, checked into our B and B and then had a look around town.
Frankly, a ghost town had more happening at that time on Friday. No-one at the pubs and virtually no cars, yet at 6.30PM Emily's was buzzing the E2E 5 arrival all vying for a meal.
Great atmosphere and would ne a great place for our Saturday dinner, if it hadn't been booked out. Them's the breaks.
Saturday morning and Quorn turned on the best winter morning possible, cold, crisp and frosty.

Cold Quorn morning

Then off to Broadview to meet the bus, a new company from Port Augusta, and the trip to Horrock's Pass and the start of the walk.
John Babister excelled on the previous weekend away producing home made Madeleine's and justly received the Heysen Hotshots Award.

Hotshots Award to John.

It was then across  to start the climb up Cudmore Hill and the ridgeline we would follow most of the day.

Looking back to Horrock's down Cudmore Hill

Then followed the usual ups and down of the ridgeline with great views to the east, west, north and south, in fact panoramic view. There are benefits of cold still nights-clear skies and great views.

Lunch was taken on a log, well a bloody big tree really, and it was delightfully warm in the sun.

A sign of the times

 The obligatory lunchtime group photo then off.
There was a dispute as to which side of the fence we should be walking, which lasted most of the afternoon, and was resolved by our arrival at the turn-off to Broadview. One party was clearly WRONG!!
Then the very pleasant walk off the Trail to the cars and Broadview
Dinner at the Austral Hotel, an old favourite of the Friends, and the viewing of the various TRAIN themed costumes.
There are the enthusiasts, the mildly interested and the can't be bothered groups with regards themes. Unfortunately, the can't be bothered's rule in numbers at least.
Thankfully the regulars made up this group with the "Afghan" and the "Engine Driver" being the stand-outs, with some rather esoteric (intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest)  "Flying Scotsmen", a man with a regal "train" and a man who had tickets on himself!!
Bed to sleep to dream, as tomorrow is a big day!



Murray Town to Melrose

With rain overnight, hopes weren't that high for a dry day. Poking a nose outside the accommodation confirmed the idea that drizzle was in the air. The clan gathered outside the Northern Star, the site of the previous night's infamy!.
In spite of the overcast day, spirits were high for a good walk, and so the group alighted at Murraytown and after a brief sermon, in which Russell pointed out that next month's theme "Tour de France" could include anything French (but not condoms) we were off.

The green road reserve, out of Murray Town

Some pleasant road reserve walking ensued with the weather remaining clement and some better view of Mount Remarkable were obtained.

Mt Remarkable sans cloud (that's French you know).

In parts, mud was still sticky on the track, and it was good to find some patches of grass in the off the road proper.

John with muddy road.

Finally, we were able to get off the road for a while and cross Yellowman Creek, circuit alongside a rather nice, albeit too short, gorge to emerge onto some fields.
It was then back onto the road to Melrose, with a rapid traverse, a group photo at the BIG tree and then to the cars.

The BIG tree

Everyone seemed in a hurry to be home, though our sights were set on Café de Laura for a pie.
Next month THE MOUNT!!
 

Wirrabara to Murraytown

Second walk of the season for E2E 5, and it starts with a gathering of the clan at the Mt Remarkable Hotel for dinner.
We are scattered all over Melrose and some are even further afield.
The weather does not look good and it rains heavily through the night.
The morning, however, whilst overcast isn't too bad.

The meeting place just out of Murraytown looks rather bogey, the bus slips trying to turn, however manages the task.
A quick trip down to Wirrabara and out to Marner's Road for the oration, delivered in fine style by Russell.

Oration started by...

Russell

 

 



Information imparted and it's off along the reroute necessitated by the closure of the Wirrabara forest due to the recent fires.
As road walking goes it's not too bad, with pleasant outlook across the fields as we motor along at 5.4 kph moving average.
A man in a field gives us an amusing moment as he keeps quite still and has great control over his dog, If only the dogs of RSB were as obedient.

The still man and his dog

We hit Main North Road and take a morning tea, aided by some "sit-downs" provided by Michelle from the support vehicle.
Then off again and we finally come back onto the Trail proper at Wongyarra.
Mount Remarkable looks closer, yet is clouded in mystery, well low cloud anyway.
The mobile maintenance team put a marker back together with some ingenuity, whilst the main mob walk on to a hill-top lunch.
Lunch is cut short by the arrival of the rain and a wet final couple of kilometres takes us back to our cars and thence dry accommodation and preparation for our evening meal.
All dolled up, with the J theme in mind, we gather at the Northern Start Hotel where it's a puzzle just who is what and who is who.
There's a Jigsaw, a couple of geishas, a jester or two, Judge Judy, a jelly fish, a Jamaican and a man in a bra!!
Judge Judy held court, though the session was brief with the man in the bra defending an accusation of impropriety to a favourable outcome.

Laura to Wirraba

An early meeting at the Wirrabara Hotel (closed) then a short trip out to Marner's Road to meet the bus.

Laura main street

RailTrail pooh

After gathering around CJ in the main street of Laura for a group photo, we headed off along the RailTrail that parallels Main North Road, or Horrock's Highway as it has been renamed.
Deemed the dullest part of the reroute so far we eventually deviated to the west to get onto some pleasant back roads.
The country surprisingly lush and the creeks running and puddles to negotiate.
Morning tea saw the group listening to Russell give us some background to CJ Dennis and then came the poetry reading deferred from the previous night.

CJ gets a reading

Russell kicked off to be followed by Peter Wynen, Vicki and Julian, all giving a different slant to CJ's talents.
More roads leading us a rough road reserve, blighted by four motor bike riders and their noisy machines.
Lunch at Charcoal Road and then on to the end back at Marner's Road again.
Another section completed.
 

 

Mount Zion to Laura

The first walk for the new year and we're not even walking on the "true" Heysen Trail!!
A large fire that burnt some 30,000 hectares around the Wirrabara Forest has robbed us of this opportunity, due to closure
of the forest.
E2E 5 is to walk on a new, as in completed 3 days prior, reroute around the "exclusion zone".

Russell give the oration

Vicki presents the Heysen Hotshots Award to Ian for Ned Kelly costume at Gladstone Gaol and changes the rules.
In future the previous month's Hotshot will choose a successor.

Ian takes the award,

It's then off along the back roads for a relatively short day into Laura, home of our theme man, CJ Dennis.
All in all for road walking it's not too bad, green countryside, running creeks and some excellent views over the plains to Laura and Gladstone.
We hit Laura for lunch and the local Café de Laura does a roaring trade in pies, pasties and black coffee.
It's then a free afternoon to do other stuff, or just contemplate our navels until dinner at the North Laura Hotel.
We have a full house at the pub, however not many take the opportunity to dress up to our theme, and one simply didn't get it at all.

Two Doreens, a Sentimental Bloke and a Giant Twin

The pub was too noisy for the anticipated poetry reading however the meals and company were good anyway.

Dust Hole Creek Road to Dares Hill Summit Road

An earlier start, an earlier rendezvous and an interesting bus ride to our start point, where the driver had to reconnoitre the crossing at Newickie Creek to make sure he could get the bus over the ford. With the help of a professional tree-holder this was managed without too much of a problem.

It's that man again!!

Russell regaled us with the walk information and then off we went, along another bloody fence line.
Those at the back were greeted by a rather beautiful olive green snake that slithered across their path after nearly 30 walkers had been through. Luckily it was more interested in getting out of the way than to be bothered with us.
A stiff climb found the group on top of a ridge with great views over the mallee and back to Mount Bryan.

Mt Bryan in the distance

A steep descent then ensued and into the mallee proper with a brisk saunter to Newickie Creek and morning tea.
Newickie Creek was flowing as it usually does and the water looked inviting, so much so that Chris Meiborg almost fell in taking pictures.
The interesting dugout on the northern bank has everyone intrigued, with Jerry telling us its more recent history and association with some Vietnam war veterans.

At this point the battery in my camera failed and I was unable to take any more pictures, however luckily this did not stop us walking on.
The day heated up and a welcome lunch at Caroona Shelter was enjoyed, as was the water replenishment provided by our ever trusty Michelle.
A brisk walk north through the mallee brought us to Tourilie Creek and the most easterly point of the Trail and then into Tourilie Gorge with evidence of the old coach road from Hallett to Mannum still very evident.
Finally the last hill of the day out of the gorge and a brisk walk back to the cars to finish a long day of 25.5km.
Luckily, the Black Sheep was open on our arrival back at Burra so a coffee top-up could be obtained prior to the drive home.
Now we can get back onto the Trail in proper sequence again!!
 

Wandallah to Dust Hole Creek Road

Well the weather gods have been kind and only a little rain has fallen around Burra so we are go to complete the most easterly part of the Trail.
We are all over the place with walkers variously at Clare, Mount Bryan East School and of course Burra.
There has been some jockeying for accommodation and a bit of gazumping and it looks like these critters were the gazumpers.

Looking pretty happy at Peppers
 

Friday night saw a group at the good old Royal Exchange, in north Burra for a meal and a catch-up.
The next morning a fine looking day, and the group assembled out on the Morag Road for the long traverse to Dust Hole Creek Road, around some interesting wash-aways and plenty of bull dust.
Onto the bus and back to Wandallah and a brief walk to the shelter and morning tea. Exhausting this sitting on the bus.
With the completion of MT, Russell delivered the oration, with Vicki awarding the Heysen Hotshots to David for looking more like a bogan than a hillbilly, the previous month and finally we were off, following the fence-line as is our want around Burra.

The Oration



Unfortunately, The fence line goes up and down, then up and down and finally up and down, what one of our walkers has previously called "useless hills" in that any height gained is almost immediately lost!
After what seemed like an interminable northern fence line the Trail turned east along a large erosion gully and a well deserved lunch, with the obligatory chocolate coated coffee bean, courtesy of Peter.
We met Jerry who had begged off the first part of the walk with a sore back and then on emerging onto White Hill Road our dependable support drive, Michelle, presented us with water top up.
A brief road walk, or not so brief for those with sore feet, then a sharp turn east to arrive at Blackjack Shelter and a welcome toilet stop.

Blackjack Shelter

There after a short few km's back to the welcome sight of the cars and the dusty return trip back to our various abodes.
For some it was a return after dark and plans for a happy hour dissolved in an orgy of showers and dressing for dinner. Some more tired than others just didn't bother, so the assembled mass at The Black Sheep was more like assemble few, with walkers dribbling in.
The theme seemed rather poorly supported with not many making an effort, however Judy McAdam came to the forefront as Half Woman/Half man and some bloke turned up in a  truly frightening outfit!

Half and half or Halfwit?

The food was particularly good and few could say they did not have enough to eat

Spalding to the Chlorination Station, Bundaleer.

It rained overnight, so awakening to a STILL Burra morning was rather a surprise.
The mob duly assembled at the Spading toilets, for the short drive to the bus meeting point.
Remarkably, it remained fine and Russell was able to offer the morning prayer, without us all reaching for our rain-jackets.

The morning sermon with Father Russell



It was then onto a short road walk, over the Morgan to Whyalla pipeline and onto the Bundaleer Channels, which we followed most of the day.
This remarkable engineering project, to divert water into the Bundaleer reservoir was started in 1898 and took 8 years to complete. The channels drop about 1 metre every kilometre so it was downhill all the way, apart from some very brief uphills.
We had morning tea at the site of the great sink-hole that almost bought Christine, a German walker, unstuck, when she fell though the track at the start of the Oban aqueduct, 5 metres into the creek below!!

Site of the great sink-hole

The crops were certainly enjoying the recent rainfall, as were the recent plantings by the Friends Greening group.

Greening in action

Over 1000 trees planted!! What a great effort, and according to our resident "planter" Dominic, most were doing very well.
For some veteran walkers this was the first time we had walked the new Spalding reroute that took the Trail into Spalding, and consequently lunch was taken early at the famous Spalding toilets (well park really).
This was also the opportunity to get some fresh coffee from the local café before heading off once more to rejoin the channels near Freshwater Weir.
More gentle downhill, with some being attacked by a rather irate magpie, and finding a fawn quietly resting in the grass.

Who said fawn was a dated colour?



Finally, back on the road for the last couple of kilometres to the cars, a 25 km marathon with feet sorer than usual.

 

EE George Quarry to Spalding Road

The oration

Burra presented us with the usual bleak morning, and after a hiccup with marshalling times, the convoy departed Paxton Cottages for Booboowie and the EE George quarry (Who was EE George?)
The morning breeze was a portent of things to come and after the presentation of the Hotshot's Award to David, in loco parentis, for Jane whom he had convinced a crop "X" in a field designated the halfway point on the Trail, we were off, up hill as usual.

The up hill start
 

From heading west we dis a 90 degree turn and started heading south, which we did all day, along the longest stone wall in SA, consisting we are reliably told, of 7 million stones.
At this point, it started to become clear that the theme of the weekend should have been "wind" as the Brown Hill Range is notorious for its constant breezes (hence the wind farms) and today was no exception.
It really was head down, bum up as we struggled all day, with the fierce wind from the west, blowing our sticks off course and threating to blow us over. Thankfully, Chloe didn't join us as we would have had to tie to a rope to stop her flying off!!
Whistling Trig Tank lived up to its reputation with the wind creating a less than melodious shriek as it swept past the various tank openings.
Colin took the opportunity to do some running repairs and attached the tank sign, the first of ten to be installed.

The rocky ground just added to the difficulty of the walk, and the shelter at morning tea on the verge of Mundunie Hill Road was a welcome relief.
It was then back into the gale struggling to Mungcowie Hill where a farmer had kindly arranged a corral of hay bails, just right for a cosy lunch.

 

Finally we popped out onto Olives Road to be treated to a variety of Golden North Ice-cream, courtesy of Michelle and a flat car battery, powering the car fridge.

The final four kilometres road walking back to the cars, on the Spalding Road, was achieved in light, soaking rain, so it was back in the cars and back to Burra to prepare for the evening's celebrations.

The Hill Billies plus pig congregated at the Royal Exchange for a little hoedown and a feed of vitals, with quite a few characters from the Beverly Hillbillies turning up, most notably "Grannie".

 

 



 

Hallet to E E George Road Quarry

Another cold night, yet a brilliantly clear crisp morning.
The troops gathered at Paxton Square for the final car convoy of the weekend out to meet the bus at Booborowie, then a quick trip back to Hallett.

Russell leading the choir
 

The morning oration over, it was across the Barrier Highway, adroitly avoiding the grader, and past the Hallett Railway station, now one of the Trails huts, that overnight accommodated some of the E2E5 party.
The last sit down toilet fro the day proved too much of an attraction for some...

Toilet attraction

Then using one of probably the Trails most over-engineered stiles, courtesy of the SACBH, on the entire Trail and we were off.

What Style, what a stile?

A day of road walking, over gentle hill and dale, then ensued. The weather varying between sunny and overcast, but generally windy and cold.
Morning tea amongst a revegetation project, on the road verge, where some of the trees were in the process of being strangled by their tyre collars. Not one of our projects, but food for thought-don't use tyres!!.
We were relieved of the road, by some "follow the fence" walking, however this too soon gave way to them damn roads again where a decision was made to walk on to our cars for lunch.
The quarry, in spite of its dire warning signs, provided a suitably sheltered spot for lunch for some, whilst others headed off to Burra to gain sustenance from the Burra Bakery, where the last Cornish pasties were consumed with relish, prior to the trip home.
Total distance for the day 19.88km about the same as Saturday
 

Dare's Hill Summit Road to Hallet via Mount Bryan

The best laid plans of mice and men can go a little astray with just a few mm of rain

Road Closed

Rain during the week had managed to make the road to our meeting place "Closed" and a frantic recce on Friday, revealed that alternative routes were not an option.
So here we are on a cold and threatening Saturday, at the designated meeting point, with Plan B having been hatched.
E2E 5 will do next month's walk this month! That's life however it did not stop some grumbles.
A slow drive out to Hallett to meet the bus, with the Barrier Highway having 40 KPH limits due to road works, however our ever helpful bus driver, Leon, new a faster route to our start point, Dare's Hill Summit Road.
The oration from Russell detailing the weekend's changes was followed by Vicki awarding the Heysen Hotshots to Ian Small for his Charlie Chaplin effort the previous month.

Charlie Chaplin  

Then off due west with Mt Bryan in our sights, a 7 km flog along the Dare's Hill Summit Road with a morning tea break at the Mt Bryan East School, one of the Friend's' huts on the Trail.



The classrooms were opened for lessons and some poetry reading took place in the front room, home economics in the kitchen and goose bumps in the playground.

At last the stile off the road appeared, and the increasingly steep slog up to the summit began, albeit with most walkers deviating from the Trail by quite some distance.

With much sweat and not a little puffing, the summit was acquired, however with a wind gusting to 33 kmh creating a wind chill of just 3 degrees, there was some urgency to get off, however not before the view, in all directions, was appreciated. A new cairn with visitor's book was appreciated, as much for its wind protection, as for its information plaques, noting that the mountain was named after Henry Bryan, a member of John Sturt's party, who perished when he became lost.

The throne was duly sat in, and photos taken, then off to find a lunch spot out of the wind, a priority.

As with E2E's previously a rocky area proved to be suitable and the reward was a sunny lunch, appropriately looking back to the conquered peak.

Lunch was followed by the descent down over the Ulooloo Creek, past the seismograph station, the original Heysen Tunnels and finally to Hallett.

The evening for some started with drinks and nibbles at Pepper's Cottage, then off to the Burra Golf Club for Christmas in July and the obligatory Kris Kringle.

The theme was entered into with gusto by many of the group and the present giving was enjoyed by all, though not everyone had been good and not everyone got to sit on Santa's knee.

Judy must have been good!!

 

 

Burra Road to World's End

An earlier start, saw us gathering outside Paxton Cottages, where some had had a rather disturbed night with loud music from the local hotel, whilst others had slept like the proverbial babes.
The E2E5 team gathered at World's End and there were some anxious moments until the bus arrived, albeit on time, yet later than we had expected.

The World's End gathering.

We were duly dropped off at Burra Road, and once again Russell delivered the eulogy!! Impressing upon walkers the need to contact landowners if they planned to do catch-up walks that transited private land access the Trail.
Then off we went following the fence line, and crossing the Morgan-Whyalla Pipeline, with some using unique techniques to manage the crossing.

Some lamb mustering was undertaken, as a lamb frightened by the group was separated from it mum. Some pretty good herding by Michelle, finally reunited them and they were seen happily grazing together on Koo-Owie Gap Road.
Finally we made it off the fences and into the Hallelujah Hills, initially along Reed Creek, then picking our way along another creek bed until finally popping out onto the plains to the east.
What followed was the obligatory road walk until we hit the Burra Creek and World's End with a fine walk up the creek and back to our cars where Jerry, reluctantly, yet deservedly, received the accolades for finishing the Trail for the second time!!

Jerry does us proud.

It was then lunch down on the creek bank or a quick take off for those wanting to be home early.

Well deserved lunch

Click link below to see pictures.
https://plus.google.com/photos/115827045141699129695/albums/5874397061751982481

Webb Gap to Burra Road

A cold start with mist, wind and threatening rain greeted the regrouped E2E5'ers after the summer break.
Far cry from the last walk of 2012!!
Clearly summer was long gone, and the brave T-shirt wearers quickly donned more appropriate clothing. Tank tops were not considered appropriate on this occasion.
Russell delivered the oration with his usual considered words and presented the Hot Shots Award to Jo Purcell for her dancers at Riverton see Heysen Hotshots and Video.
http://fohte2e5.blogspot.com.au/p/heysen-hotshots.html
There were many old faces and some new and the Burra Branch of the Friends was well represented.
It was an "off" up Webb Gap Road with a steady climb to the Gap proper, with very chilly winds in our faces, yet sweat on our brow with the exertion.
The Gap topped, some wandered off to check the new tank, installed last year by some of the E2E5 party, namely Albert Schmitke, Peter Wynen, Colin Edwards and Julian Monfries. The tank was only 1/3rd full reflecting the poor rains the area has had over summer.
It was then off down the hill, with one new walker slipping on the gravel surface and cutting her knee.

Hugh Greenhill, Burra Branch & the tank.



We turned north up Range Road to parallel the Tothills, and parked ourselves on the side of the road for morning tea. In keeping with the "Monster" theme Jo (of Hotshots fame) distributed "monster" snakes to the walkers.

Jo with monster snakes

Then off again with a climb back through the Tothills over Niblet Gap, with views over a Apoinga Lagoon and to the wind farms on the adjacent hills.
The weather started to improve and by lunch many were back in short sleeves and enjoying the sun and many and varied "monster" treats that were on offer, from the cookie monster among others.
At Tothill Gap the group were treated to using the new reroute that avoided a rather long road walk. The downside was the useless hills that this entailed, however not long after one our huts, Huppatz, was reached, where a rest stop was called, and the toilet made very useful.
An opportunity to hand our more snakes was taken.
The group then undertook the climb of the weekend, guess what? Over the Tothills once again with a pretty steep descent back to the cars.
Burra was hosting the Antique Fair, so our evening dinner was out of town, at Mount Bryan, courtesy of the local community.
The community hall was very impressively decorated and for the first time we could recall, fresh flower were on the tables and an enjoyable meal was partaken.
Some entered into the theme and arrived suitably clad again highlighting the various interpretations of the "monster" theme.
Click the link for the pictures:-
https://plus.google.com/photos/115827045141699129695/albums/5874397061751982481