Mt Dare to Dalhousie Springs and return July 2 day 21 on track.

STATS: Ska is out of action, resting at camp

With Sunday as a day of rest, and NOTHING happening in terms of arranging parts/delivery etc, we decided to head out to Dalhousie Springs for the long awaited swim in the famous hot springs and to see Col and Rod. The boys had rung through a shopping list the day before, so we headed out with bread and milk and margarine.

After the most relaxing swim, and the day closing in on us fast, we visited the Dalhousie ruins on the way home to Mt Dare. On the journey home, we collected our firewood from the "Strut spot" then Steve's battery tray suffered another break, this was "cable tied" up to get him home, with another repair to be undertaken at Mt Dare tomorrow.

Budgies in the tree behind my tent.

Mother and baby.

Feeding the hungry mouth.

two budgies.

Here they are again

Meg christening the Thermo Chef for this trip. A soup for all for tea tonight...all going well.

Some flowers near a waterhole on the way out to Dalhousie.

Such soft flowers in a harsh environment.

Still opening and gone altogether.

and again.

Dad taking flower shots.

The waterhole.

A nest over the water.

Almost done with these ones.

Stamens.

Galahs.

and a friendly spider.

A young bird (hawk/kite??)in its nest.

and a parent maybe.

A flat area - maybe a salt pan.

The track across the claypan. It had been wet over the last week or so.

Heading to the springs and campground.

On the way to the Ruins this Dingo stopped to watch us very carefully.

He sat and watched us.

The hills and valleys and growing cloud cover.

a panoramic shot from a lookout.

Approaching the Dalhousie Ruins.

Some of the ruins. These have been restored by the SA Government to stabilise the ruins before they disappeared altogether. They have also been removing the Palms which are taking over and destroying the environment. They have left a few historically significant male plants, which can't spread.

Ruins and Palm.

Again looking out to the surrounds, you have to wonder how families survived out here. At least the Springs nearby were an attraction.

Milani in the reeds near a spring near the ruins.

The stockyards, they were big. There used to be a racecourse out here too, as it was someone's hobby.

The stockyards, all built by hand, with hand "adzed" posts and holes etc.

Arty farty shot.

Beginning to lose the light. looking back to the ruins from the stockyards.

and again.

Sunsetting as we make the run for home.

Huge full moon,but obscured by the clouds unfortunately.