Day 35 - Wednesday 1 February - On to Melrose

DAY 35

WEDNESDAY

1 February 2017 –  Started my next book “Fallen” By Jane Green

Whyalla – Port Augusta – Wilmington – Melrose (Camps 8 SA #302)

Here we go again, back on the trail. I woke still feeling groggy but we both new that 815am was a lay in and we needed to get up and started. Things seem to be going in slow motion this morning. Everything was done and sorted but we didn’t get out of the park until 10.15am.

We navigated the van back through Whyalla and then onto Port Augusta an hour away, stopping only for fuel on the highway then the GPS was set to Melrose. The route took us along the edge of the Flinders Ranges before diving into them via Horrocks pass. It wasn’t particularly steep driving, but it was windy and the rock faces along the sides of the road were looming large.

Once out the other side we passed through Willmington and Melrose was only a further 30min away. We opted to stay at the showgrounds two km’s north of the town. The parking area has power, along with showers and toilets and faced out to Mount Remarkable. The car taker met us at the entrance and then showed us to a spot where we happily set up camp.

Once organised, we had lunch then did a quick scout of the facilities, before getting into the car and driving into town. We wandered the main street, checking out the old buildings. We found the Swing Bridge to walk over and followed a short trail to the beginning of the Mount Remarkable walk.

We followed back the way we came, stopping in at the council building to pick up a day pass for the national park, then did a drive up Mount Remarkable to the war memorial and a view over Melrose. On out way back down a very large lace monitor crossed our paths, we were too slow with the camera though.

We returned to the town centre did a loop in the car and then made our way back to the showgrounds to spend time reading and relaxing.

By 430 we had had enough time sitting around so we grabbed the basketball and took off for the netball courts for a bit of fun and exercise.  The poles were adjustable, so Paul enjoyed dunking the ball in the ring, which was far more accurate than attempting to shoot off the iron rings. The cockatoos were starting to gather, but four gun shots had them scattering for cover.

With aching shoulders, we came back to the van for dinner before reading again and enjoying the quiet time. Knowing we hadn’t done our steps, we took off around the sports oval for a couple of laps before returning for bed.