On the way home from the Gum Creek Rogaine 28/5/18

We travelled north to rogaine on Almerta Station and the neighbouring properties last weekend and took longer to come home that expected due to being attacked by the  "Bummeling bug". Due to finding so many interesting places on our bummel that we need to tell you about, I decided to make a separate blog entry for the trip home.

Thanks to the Mirriam Webster dictionary definition found on-line

We left the station and drove out through Carrieton but only a short way down the road
It  wasn't long before we dropped in to Eurelia (just south of Carrieton) to look at the old railway station and institute. In a location which is virtually a ghost town it seemed amazing to have a large institute hall and a huge goods shed.  I guess the location was the centre for the surrounding area once, so they needed them back then. The goods shed doesn't look as good as in this old photo I found on line.  Apparently the refreshment room was in one end of the goods shed and everything else in the other end (including stock).  The name at the railway station is still crisp and readable.

We stopped for roo pies at a cafe at Orrorroo  to fill our grumbling tummies before we took a road less travelled to Pekina.

At Pekina we stopped again to read the information boards.
We read about the old town at its peak including info about the convent, dairy  and school run by the Mary McKillop sisters and the other Irish Catholics who settled the area.  Apparently at one stage the sisters even ran the hotel! We were fascinated by the historic stone animal pound, built by a couple of industrious brothers , where straying animals were confined until a fee was paid.  Apparently the pound keeper was sometimes a bit too enthusiastic with his animal capturing, meaning that relationships got a bit strained in the community.  Must have been built well though.

The pound

Very well presented ribs.  I was impressed.

Next stop was Appila Springs.
We spotted it on the map and decided to drop in and see what there was here to see.
We ended up finding a cache, but also a truly delightful camping area, with spring fed water hole and lovely towering cliffs.

This will definitely be a return spot for us on our way up and back from the Flinders and this part of the world.

Can you pick the spring bubbling up from the ground?

After a very pleasant stop we meandered our way via the back roads to the Western side of the Bundaleer forest, and then through the forest.  Finally we found our way to the main road through Spalding and Clare, but not before we had a chance to explore the forest a little.

When we go back we need to try out the Conservator's walk and the Maple walk - both of which sounded interesting, but not for this trip. 

We did go exploring enough to find the sculptures (including the amazing music sculpture) near the picnic area before getting back on the road.

Playing music

Playing in the forest

 It was well past time we were getting home. So we hot-footed it to Gawler, where we stopped for a bite to eat at The Exchange Hotel (Murray's Bar) where they do great smoky flavours. Then home through a major rain storm to our own beds.