Day 5: Wilpena to Moralana Scenic Drive

Friday 24th August 2012

At the morning briefing, Dean Mortimer unfurled a novel flag bearing the English pound symbol (£).  Had Dean run out of ideas for the 'Reverse" theme or was it simply the most appropriate banner as we were about to walk through Wilpena Pound?

Bill Pick gave the Morris Minus award to Ingrid Hausmann, who accepted with grace and dignity and wore MM with great style all day.  

Gavin Rufus was given the newest award, which remains un-named as yet.  Several monikers for the Fluffy Emu have been rejected by reason that they are in poor taste.  "Splat" was my personal favourite amongst these, but it is not to be.

Mary Cartland gives Gavin the newest award.

Gavin poses with the nameless Fluffy Emu.

The scenery was beautiful yet again at the start of the walk.  We were also joined by two first-timers, Christine Cowan and Elizabeth Pratt.

The two newbies - Christine Cowan and Elizabeth Pratt

Water in Wilpena Pound

 We had morning tea at the old homestead in Wilpena Pound, under the watchful eye of a large crow that seemed determined to wait us out and get some scraps.

The old homestead.

The crow perched right above our heads.

After morning tea, the scenery was not as interesting as the landscape flattened out in Wilpena Pound, but we had more sensational views from Bridle Gap, where we stopped for lunch.

Flat country in the Pound.

Approaching Bridle Gap.

Edge of the park at Bridle Gap.

My view from my lunchtime nook at Bridle Gap.

My lunchtime nook, sheltering from the wind on the rocky ledge.

Panorama view from Bridle Gap

Others in our group enjoying lunch at Bridle Gap

After lunch, it was a steep climb down from Bridle Gap, then long stretches of track and creek beds until we met the bus on Moralana Scenic Drive.  We walked about 15 km for the day.

Morris Minus takes in the scenery.