Sunday, November 09, 2008

Hawker

Shearer's Quarters Kanyaka Homestead


On Thursday after arriving here, it got hotter and hotter (35c) then we got a wind change. The lightening started and was really spectacular across the night sky. Next the thunder came and lastly the rain. It bucketed down. Fortunately we were able to get everything we leave outside into our very large en suite so all was OK. It rained on and off all night with the town eventually getting the highest rainfall in the state-25ml or an inch in the old measurement.

Friday, it rained until about 2pm, so apart from a drive around town and out to an old cemetery and railway station ruins, we had a very quiet day.

On Saturday morning we went and visited a local couple Hazel and Bernie. They have lived in Hawker all their lives and at 75 and 76 have been married for about 59 years. They were lovely and a real wealth of local knowledge. They took us for a drive round some of the back roads and showed us the damage done by a flood nearby two years ago.

In the afternoon, we took a drive out to the amazing ruins of Kanyaka Homestead and Woolshed. It was built about 130 years and has been deserted for about 120 years, but is in amazing condition considering.

Jarvis Hill Lookout


On the way back we stopped and saw some Aboriginal art in Yourambulla caves near town and then drove up Jarvis Hill for beautiful views over town and on to the hills.

Miner's Cottage Blinman


Today we drove out to Wilpena, Blinman, Parachilna, through Glass George, Parachilna George, visited Rawnsley Park Resort, stopped off at some amazing lookouts and just had a fantastic day. The weather was gorgeous (not too hot) and the crowds of early spring have disappeared-we are the only tourists in a huge caravan park in Hawker with a few semi-permanent Telstra workers the only other guests.

The Road to Parachilna


The Road From Parachilna to Hawker



Tomorrow, we're driving out to Wilpena again for a flight over the ranges at 9.45, then we'll drive on to some other spots we missed today.

Glass Gorge

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