Outback Odyssey 2015 - Day 2

Mini Mawson 3 - Quorn to Hawker - 95km

Chin Up!

Fighting back the dejection of yesterday, we awoke at 5:30am to face what would likely be our longest, and possibly most challenging day. The night was dry, so we awoke to find our tent had dried. Small blessings I guess. Though that soon changed when some light showers hit while we were eating breakfast. <sigh!> Wet tent pack up again.

Rolling out of Quorn, we had a fantastic tail wind on our back, a very welcome relief after yesterday. The scenery and terrain had noticeably changed from yesterday, with more elevation changes and our views changing from the flattish plains of yesterday to the Flinders Ranges looming large. We experienced the most amazing cycling, and stunning scenery. Lots of photo stops along here resulting in the sag wagon stalking us for a large part of it. Fairly early on during the ride today we decided to take the sealed road option after lunch, which gave us more time to enjoy the morning section as it cut off about 20km off the days total distance.

Entering Warren Gorge

Hugh Proby

Towards the end of Warren Gorge we arrived at the grave of Hugh Proby, an early settler in the region who lost his life not long after arriving during an ill fated creek crossing. We stopped to take a few photos, and to read the inscription on the headstone. This is one of the huge advantages when travelling by bicycle. I can't think of the last time I stopped the car to check out a small road side monument. How much more of our history is whizzing by when we're travelling along the highways? While we were doing this a local reporter from Quorn pulled up to chat to us and take our photo. So Miss V and I might be in the Quorn local paper :)

Exiting Warren Gorge we crossed Willochra creek (the same creek that took Hugh Proby's life) which had quite a decent flow in it, before climbing up to Simmonston, referred to as "the town that never was".

Miss V crossing Willochra Creek. 

Simmonston

Simmonston was surveyed 1872 and construction started on two buildings (a hotel and a general store) but was quickly abandoned. I think places like this give a fantastic insight into the early settlers mindset of rapid expansion and colonisation. On the other hand, it's a little sad thinking that people invested so much effort coming out this far, with very little return on investment.  We spent a bit of time looking at the ruins at Simmonston and admiring the view given the nice vantage point over the valley that we'd just travelled through.

The view from Simmonston

After Simmonston was one of the less exciting places to cycle. The Willochra plains are flat. Very flat. The roads are straight. Very straight. They seem to go on for ever and there's not much in the way of scenery to ease the boredom. Though just to throw some variety into the mix, there were a few corrugated sections to knock your body about the place.

We arrived at lunch, just in time to see unicycler Lindsey leaving. This guy is amazing, taking on the full length of the Mawson Trail on a unicycle takes a lot of courage, not to mention fitness! We sat under the shade and ate our lunch, reaffirming our decision to head up the highway after lunch.

Unicycling under dark skies.

Kanyaka Ruins

As a consequence of taking the sealed road option after lunch, we were able to visit the Kanyaka ruins. These ruins were established by Hugh Proby, whose grave site we visited earlier in the day. At it's peak it housed up to 70 families. I wasn't really expecting a lot, but after cresting the final small hill of the entrance road to get there it was like another world. Perhaps about 10 preserved buildings for us to explore, and a pretty awesome experience.

Kanyaka ruins

Kanyaka ruins

We pulled into the camp grounds at Hawker a little on the tired side, and with fairly gloomy skies overhead.  Space was a little tight, but we found a cozy spot to put the tent up. Miss V booked herself in for a massage, while I caught up with the world on my tablet. From this point on, phone reception was going to be non existent on Optus, so best make the most of it now!

Lynskey and Maretta reach Hawker.

A fantastic dinner was prepared by the local community group, consisting of a vegetable and pasta soup, steak with an assortment of awesome salads for the main course and apple slice with custard for dessert.

Strava data