Hi all,
I've made it to Rawnsley Park Station just south of Wilpena Pound. Flew over the Pound a couple of days ago. Spectacular. The best way to see it. Yes, it costs money, but hey, you can't take it with you.
Arrived today at Rawnsley Park. Got the van and awning set up and collapsed. It's hot as Hades with sun blazing and a strong wind blowing. Happy Hour will see me on straight water tonight.
The trip has gone well so far. Spent the first couple of nights in Mildura at the Buronga Caravan Park. A beautiful place with friendly owners and great facilities. That's my third stay there and I highly recommend it.
Crossed into South Australia and spent a night at Morgan. Hot and dusty. Then on to Hawker. Stayed several nights at Hawker. Family Parks Caravan Park out of town is excellent. Did day trips to lookouts, gorges, rock paintings and the flight over the Pound. Will spend a few nights here and do day trips further north to Brachina Gorge, Parachilna and Blinman.
Hope you're all out there doing it too. If not, make it soon.
Cheers, V.
P.S. Will post a few photos soon.

great news von, unfortunately the weather is against you, it is a bit on the warm side, 34 under our back verandah at the moment, we went through morgan a couple of weeks ago on our way to waikerie and were really surprised at how the lush lawns down by the water have began showing signs of stress, the last time we were there it was a fantastic green oasis. are you down by the creek at rawnsley, if so you could have a little drinkypoos with your feet in the water down by the floodway, under the big old gums, there is normally always water in there, the owners are great people and you could take your drink over to the swimming pool to the left of the kiosk. anyway look forward to your photos, and try to stay cool, theres a great little free camp just back from the entrance to the national park on your left

My god, Dave, you're quick. I just finished that post. Thanks for the tips. Actually, sat with the feet in a bucket of water. It makes a difference. No I haven't found the creek. Just got here, backed the van in, put the walls, roof and awning up and then sat still, very still. Yes, I should have come here sooner but it's been pretty good so far. And there was the little matter of the clutch delaying me. But here I am and it's still all good.

-- Edited by waltzing matilda at 15:08, 2008-10-30

you should have crossed the creek on the way in, over the floodway, dont tell me it's dry, oh and I'm sitting here in the truck waiting to get filled with grain by the boss in the harvester so I got no where to go till she's full, so on the net I stay, boring!!! but isnt all work!!!

I reckon the creek is dry, Dave. It's great that you can keep in touch the way you do. Me, I've changed my mind about water for Happy Hour. Bought a bottle of my favourite - big girl's lemonade. That's sparkling and cold!!

-- Edited by waltzing matilda at 18:12, 2008-10-30

thats the way von, a couple glasses of mothers little helper is exactly what is called for, shame about the creek, it was always a godsend, the wilpena creek at the wilpena pound caravan park will still be running it is fed by a spring and it is always cool under the gum trees, great spot in the summer, just ask the kangaroos, I use the bosses laptop in the kenworth that he uses to keep track of grain prices it connects to the internet through the harvesters gps system somehow, dont ask me how but it does and I for one am gratefull, we take in turns between the harvester and the semi tipper hauling wheat in to pirie silos so as to not get too bored going round!!! and round!!!! and round!!!!! and round!!!!!!

Hi Waltzing Matilda.

Great to here you arrived safe and sound.

You are a Legend, have fun.

Cheers Frank.

Dave now I know why you love to head for the horizon. That job sounds like a doozy. Hi Frank. Thanks for the good wishes. Cheers.

never mind von, should be finished in about 3 weeks, then its back to 8 hour days and the office instead of the 12 - 14 hour days now when its warm enough, but a big drop in pay though, I can see the horizon from up here in the cab

You're an inspiration Von! Hope to catch up with you real soon! Keep posting, as I will be doing the same run when I head off. I'm picking up on all the places to visit and park. Tks Cheers, Dianne

Gee Von you bring back memories ... We stayed at Rawnsley in July 2001. I can recall pulling the van thru the water on the spillway. We 'camped' beside a rice farmer & his wife .. Great couple. He had one of those campfire devices that consisted of a long strong steel peg that was hammered in to the ground near the fire. The peg supported several hotplates/grill/billy hooks that were attached by a pipe & swung over the fire as required. The downward pressure of the pipe onto the steel peg kept them from slipping down .. an ingenious contraption. (I have since seen similar ones in camp shops). Just had a quick look at my album of that trip & in particular the trees in landscape photos by Pete Dobre' (including Brachina Gorge) fantastic - a tad better than my snaps.. Sitting in fron t of me are 9 1hr mini DV tapes waiting to be converted to DVD, from that trip .. I might just load them up onto the computer and join you at Rawnsley. You lucky person. (Now back to work Dave) Drinkie time for me in one hour. enjoy .. Graham C ps. ULP was 95.9c/L at Hawker in 19/jul 01

Lovely to hear all your responses. Graham, I know the type of contraption you describe. Brilliant. Dave, I'm glad you can see the horizon and the sky and you know you'll be out on the road again one day. Bubs, I'll keep including info on places to stay. Being a female alone like me, you probably would prefer/enjoy the places I stay at. Comfortable, good company and friendly people. Today I took a day trip with a friend who is also camping here and travelling solo. We drove up through Brachina Gorge and Parachilna Gorge and the Great Wall of China and tiny historic towns and - I ran out of oooohs and aaaahs about a quarter of the way round. Stopped at Parachilna but didn't sample the feral food they are famous for. Got there after lunch and too early for dinner!! The gums, my god, the gum trees are spectacular. They are awesome, beautiful and I get high just looking at them. Saw Cazneaux's Tree - the one he based his photo on. He called his photo "the Spirit of Endurance" and with the Flinders Ranges as a backdrop it is absolutely iconic! Jeez. I think you all get the picture. I'm in artist/photographer/nature lover/s heaven. Cheers. V.

ah!!! HAH!!!! now you see why I love it here, did you see the little yellow footed rock wallabys through brachina and parachilna, also the low cost camps all through both gorges

Not a single yellow foot in sight but plenty of other kangaroos and emus. Much bird life including wedge tail eagles dining on a dead kangaroo with crows for dinner mates. Yes, Dave, I see why you love it. Great place. Yes I also saw the campsites all along the way. Beautiful spots.

well done von, great post, you are indeed a treasure, more power to you!!!

Had a great time in the Flinders Ranges. Am now heading south. If you go that way, watch out for the stumpy tail lizards. They step boldly onto the bitumen and at the mind boggling speed of a tortoise struggle across the road. At that pace, at least you can straddle them.

Hey Dave, I followed a lot of the tracks you spelt out for me. Checked out the Goyder Line Memorial. Had read about Goyder years ago. He was pretty cluey. Spent a night at Wilmington and checked out Alligator Gorge. Beautiful but the ants my god, the ants. Walking along a track and suddenly my feet and legs are covered with insects that give new meaning to the words ankle biters. You could run flat out along that track and theyd still leap on and bite. I know cause I tried.

Beautiful little towns all the way through here and yes, I stopped at the Old Bakery in Stone Hut for coffee and pastry. Bought a couple of the local wines too. Im currently camped in Mount Barker just south of Hahndorf. Will do a day trip or two into Hahndorf but its so crowded there, I gave it a miss for camping.

The caravan park in Mount Barker is pretty good. And the manager Hugh is a gem. I arrived round 4 p.m. after driving 350 km at a very leisurely pace. Looking forward to the glass of sparkling and the feet up. Got out the jockey wheel to set up the van and the handle that screws the bracket that holds the jockey wheel snapped. Short of jacking the van up, I had to leave it attached to the car and look for a replacement. Went back to the caravan office to ask about a supplier in town and Hugh (who was due somewhere else in five minutes) checked if he had a bolt that would fit but he didnt so he drove me to the Repco shop in town where I bought a new bracket. Im glad this didnt happen in a bush camp. Anyway, I have now bolted the new bracket on, set up the jockey wheel and the van and am once more at home in my little van. Also have the feet up and the glass of sparkling by my side.

By the way, Ive called my van Matilda's Tardis. Anyone familiar with Dr Who will understand. Its bigger on the inside than it is on the outside and it takes me through time and space. Unlike Dr Who, I usually get where I intend to go.

Well, Ive carried on a bit here but I thought some of you might enjoy hearing from me.
Cheers. V.

-- Edited by waltzing matilda at 19:42, 2008-11-03

carry on, pigs bum, more von, more, I just keep saying it, you're an inspiration to solo's and travellers everywhere, fantastic spots, great memories, some of us MIGHT enjoy hearing from you HAH! we are all enthralled to hear of your exploits!!