Last dinner was with our new friends from Rozelle. They followed us on the Bridle Path yesterday because they thought their initial lookout hike was not enough and if us two oldies could mess with the rocks and the rain then they could.  Sadly she hurt her knees with the rock jumping (I tell you it is a highly specialised art), but gladly they were able to walk the big mountain today. So it was [...]

  One article said this was a very difficult climb; another said it was rocky but only difficult for a short way and then flattened out; another said it was straight forward for most hikers. We called its bluff even though it was one for and two against.  Just in case there was an issue I covered myself and added a couple of kms to my pre dawn walk. It was a 20km drive to [...]

  We met them by the pond while talking to a tree. We looked up at the tree and saw a tiny bird that she was conversing with. We chatted a little and then decided to move on with our chat.  They were walkers, he a cyclist as well, and they live in Rozelle, next to Balmain. So we chatted about these and other things. We talked of getting together to talk of more stories [...]

  On my morning walk I discovered two tracks that we hadn’t been on so I did a small recce of these and determined after our difficult day yesterday we would stay relatively closer to mother earth, still covering the minimum 20kms. The outside route to St Mary’s looked interesting and should take our focus off our backaches. On the way we met a delightful young couple who had just completed their mountain walk so [...]

  It’s the highest Mountain in the Flinders Ranges but walkers can only walk to Tanderra Saddle just below the summit. We acknowledge that the peak of this mountain is sacred and local elders would be pleased if we respected that request. So it was with a little relief that we couldn’t travel to the top - relief from the rain, the slippery rocks and the howling wind were making the climb very dangerous. We [...]

We were supposed to go on a walk that meant driving to the start. It had rained all night so we put off a major walk to St Marys Summit because we were advised of ‘wet’ danger. But when I mentioned this to the ranger, he said that if I messed up his road he would have to fine me. So I agreed with him and went back to tell Corrie the bad news. She [...]

We’re in Wilpena Pound, the heart of the Flinders Ranges, and once again my booking.com genius has done it again - last minute vacancies. A cosy quiet little collection of huts - similar to motel rooms with a fancy part and a more basic part. The fancy part is resort-like with all the trimmings, while we go to the IGA. But it works. We just leave our room, walk to a space 100 metres away [...]

I finished my early walk and arrived at the coffee shop at five to eight first in line, or so I thought. There were two doors, damn it!. The door opened, but it wasn’t my door. So sadly I shuffled away. Then this older man at the ‘open’ door said to me “you were first”, I wanted to hug him. Corrie was there by now at the ‘open ordering only door’. After taking Corrie’s order, [...]

It seemed the longest mountain we had climbed to date and a popular one. Lots of mostly older couples with a few young ones. Adelaidians are so friendly, we have to show some urgency because our time is often short. Yet another totally different environment surrounded us. With wildlife we only saw two kangaroos but with trees and plants, they were many. Large River Red Gums as usual dominate the creek beds an environment that [...]

An Aboriginal man spilt his beer as he tripped on the curb close to me, and I thought I was the one supposed to do that. “Ow are you goin?” he said. “Terrific”, I said. And why is you triffic?” “Cause I’ve just walked around your whole town tonight, and I like to walk and see new things. “That’s great old fella”, he said, looking me straight in the eyes. It was nearly dark and [...]