Reedy Creek and Cantara May 12th and 13th 2018

A few Tintookies Orienteers managed to take the mothers day weekend by the horns and make their way to Reedy Creek in the South East (property owned by James Lloyd's parents) to check out a prospective map area.

We stopped at Meningie for an early lunch and appreciated the view.

The Reedy Creek area is inland about 20km from Kingston SE and we followed some very well placed orienteering signs to meet at the Reedy Creek Hall at 2pm on Saturday. This site of the old oval would have been a fine camping spot, but the Lloyds had an even better idea (on their property).

We followed them a few km further on to the property they had in mind for mapping - and parked in a paddock to go for our run. Jemima had planned a moderate course and James had planned a hard one.

The land is an undulating area with tricky shallow contours and some very thick vegetation areas. Because this was a trial map it has not been perfected, so we had some tricky times getting through some very prickly acacia which was mapped as runnable, and finding rock piles. 

Those present agreed that the area has some potential, but quite a lot more work would be needed on the map, and it is quite a long way from home. The only way to make it a possible prospect would be to offer another run in the general area on the same weekend as a double header. (Possibly Cantara?)

We were treated to wonderful country hospitality and invited to stay in a hut on the property which was complete with water, flushing toilet and donkey hot shower! (along with 6 beds).  In the end only 3 of us stayed on, as others had other beds to head for.  Thanks to the Lloyds (Junior and Senior).

After a very enjoyable shared meal, some games of cards for some, and sitting around in front of the lovely wood heater "rocket" , we settled in to a very cosy night of sleep.

 The hut

 Donkey hot water heater beside the bathroom shed.  Light the fire and let the water get hot.

track leading back from the hut

This morning we headed for Cantara to take another look at that tricky map.  John has run there many more times than we have, so kindly agreed to map walk with us.
We spent a pleasant hour or two walking on the tricky contours of Cantara and trying to get our head around the funny little dips and depressions and changes that have occurred in vegetation over the 20 or so years since the map was made. It would take a lot more practice to become confident in this type of area.

We also enjoyed spotting a healthy looking echidna,