The theme this weekend was 'Cone' as we were climbing Mount Cone today. The day promised to be fine and warm.
The morning briefing saw cones in abundance, even featuring as Dean's flag. Morris Minus was awarded to Yvonne Powell for the second time in quick succession. This time it was for her meritorious marathon catch up walk to Mayo Hut (and beyond as Yvonne tells it).
We began the day making the long steady climb up Woodcone Road, passing some lovely countryside and various animals as we climbed.
After climbing up Woodcone Road, we regrouped under some shady trees.
We walked along ridge tops, up and down the Hindmarsh Tiers, taking in the expansive views all around. At times we could see the Bluff and Granite Island in Encounter Bay, and at other times, we could catch glimpses of Gulf St Vincent.
True to form, Robert Alcock helped himself to a double serve of cones.
Morning tea was on the side of a dirt road, high on a ridge, with views to distant Encounter Bay.
After another climb, we reached the water tank at Mt Cone. I was especially pleased to see this still in very good condition as I had helped instal it several years before.
The view from Mt Cone included a glimpse of what I think is Aldinga Bay.
The bull was totally disinterested in our group, ignoring us as we walked behind the fence.
Mary Cartland and Carol Clark spotted a defunct stile on the ground and just had to step over it.
Impressive views and lush countryside all around as we walked the ridges.
Oh dear, those stile-climbers spotted another defunct stile on the ground and just had to step over that one as well.
Long sections of dirt road on the ridge were treeless and becoming more barren, but as we turned into Lawless Lane some trees soon provided some shade again.
We had lunch in the shade on Lawless Lane, admiring the beautiful views through the trees.
After lunch, we crossed Hindmarsh Tiers Road and trekked through a private property. The owner spied us and quickly offered fresh laid eggs for sale. A quantity of these eggs were later purchased after the walk by several members of our group on the way back to Mt Compass.
Lots more attractive scenery as we walked in the afternoon.
We crossed Swampy Creek on a sturdy bridge.
Up another big hill.
We could see our destination, Myponga , but it proved more distant than it seemed from here.
Greg Kelly took the high road, his only deviation from the trail proper to date, as far as I know.
The descent took us right past a herd of cows grazing,
and down to the bridge at Emerald Creek crossing.
Up another hill.
Yulti Conservation Park looks so small on the map and so close to Myponga,
but somehow we contrived to spend what seemed like hours in that park. It was slow going as we navigated the winding, hilly terrain, before emerging on the road to Myponga.
We walked a total of 24.3 km today, being 22.7 km on the Heysen Trail with a 1.6 km walk-out to the cars at Myponga.
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