Carrieton

Up early but very dark….killed time doing our readings and then getting all organised to head off…I had John’s muesli soaked for days made into porridge….yuk, yuk, yuk…really set my gut for the day…
We packed up then took pics of me for the kids showing them bunny at the school which was our van park….then we took bunny to a huge Bug Red Gum at Orroroo unreal it’s size….
Before we left Carrieton we were heading to support the local store but it did t open util 0900am so we checked out all the amazing old buildings they were so interesting…even an old church up for sale…old homes with the most amazing steel fencing…the swimming pool….an unreal tiled wall art that depicts the area…so well done…old halls…old shops some not fairing so well..
We headed out of town after 9 ish to a very well wire done Bull and clown depicting their rodeos that keeps the town going…they need another draw card to get the grey nomads coming enough to keep everything pumping…the park manager will b gin soon then they will be in the hunt for another…not easy these days…

Next stop was the Rail line ghost town of Eurclia what a bonus...all the rail siding sheds, Station Masters box…homes, community halls…etc etc were the highlight of my day…
Then onto memorial to a train Wreck of Wallowot…. sad story of a head in smash at 2.30am…
So many amazing old ruins around this area….
Next onto the huge big red Rail bridge….all around it were massive interesting Gums…. John and Bill climbed up to it getting different perspectives of the bridge….
Next massive Red Gum at Orroroo apparently 500 yrs old…we drove into town from here and had a brief look around before having a lovely morning tea in a mixed business coffee shop….good service, good food and plenty to take in…
From there Bill directed us to a picnic area to see some aboriginal Rock art an interesting park with a gorgeous setting amongst red river guns and an interesting gorge….what got me is flat massive rocks that lined the edge of the walk way….an interesting area indeed…they even had heaps of plants named…
Onto our next point of interest the Rock Art Poem…done in 1901 by a Mr Anderson who went to America with his pump drive push bike, to try and make his fortune….nit sure he ever did…but before he left he engraved into Rock a poem…well done considering it’s like running writing…there was another done also in 1893 a smaller one above the long one….
All these delights were in the Pekina reservoir…..
We headed out of town towards our next destination of Jamestown but in the we had a number of sights to stop at….
Next one was a metal statue of a man and his horse this was done out of corrugated iron and had the story of the Mr Goyder who come up with the theory if the Goyder’s Line (The monument commemorates 150 years of surveying and recognition of Goyder`s Line and also commemorates the pioneers who settled in the district.

(The monument consists of four pillars with information signage and a man leading a horse depicting Goyder. The sculpture is keeping with the existing corrugated iron sculptures in Orroroo and made by artist Dudley Sivior of Renmark. The four pillars were built by local builder, Chet Cox and were unveiled by Chairman Kathie Bowman, Candy Brumpton, 2015 Citizen of the Year, Kate Williams and SA Regional Historian of the Year, John Mannion.
In 1865 Goyder was directed to go north and from his own observations to lay down on the map `the line of demarcation between that portion of the country where the rainfall has extended, and that where the drought prevails`. With a small mounted party he went to Swan Reach on the River Murray and then north-west to Pekina, east to Melrose and returned through Crystal Brook to Adelaide.
A map published in 1866 showed his line of travel with a wing sweeping east from the Murray to the Victorian border and another from Spencer Gulf far to the west. Goyder`s rainfall line was first used for the reassessment of leases and the relief of stricken pastoralists.)
Then onto shoot some pics of the ruins of Pekina Homestead….or it could have been the Station...lots of old buildings here but in someone property so couldn’t go in just take pics from the Hwy… looking into its history the real Pekina Homestead was on the River this is nowhere near a river…
Onto our next adventure was Magnetic Hill…this was freaky…the car rolling by it’s own accord in a Northey direction…then John let it go backwards by itself that was even more freaky…anyway it was worth a look…

(Magnetic Hill is a well-known tourist attraction famous for its ability to make vehicles seemingly roll uphill. There are many differing opinions on this phenomenon, one being that is simply an optical illusion. Leave your car in neutral at the bottom of the hill and watch as it rolls back up hill.
Needs to be experienced to be believed! Follow the signs out Price Maurice Road (past the Hospital) approx. 3km past the township of Pekina.)

Onto a memorial for a train disaster Walloway Train Memorial
(On 16th November 1901 a North bound train with an engine driver and fireman aboard, carrying flour and copper ore and a south bound train also with an engine driver and a fireman aboard, carrying 170 bullocks consigned by Sir Sidney Kidman, collided at Walloway. The firemen from both trains were killed and many cattle were also lost. A memorial now stands alongside the railway line at Walloway in memory of this disaster. The Monument is located approximately 10km out of Orroroo on RM Williams Way towards Hawker. Turn left at Chapman Road and follow the road until you come to the Monument.)
Only a small amount if the railing is left here, but around the area are a few old ruined homes that I would so loved to explore…like all those churches from our stay at Carrieton….
We tried to get close to a huge long rail bridge but again on someone property and unable to get through gates…so clicked away like I did with dozens of old stone ruins on route to Jamestown…fuel was cheap here so $179.9 so cold outside I decided to we should eat in at the newly built Ampol…Bill made his own sandwich 🥪 and joined us…only down side this lovely steak sandwich whatever was on it made me very very sick for the rest of the afternoon and all hours of the night..

After late lunching we headed out to see a really old Cork Tree in the Bunderlee Forrest Reserve…John found it after a few false starts with Bill getting us lost…he isn’t very good at directions...while there we came across an interesting Forrest walk with lots to see but would take 1.5 hrs so didn’t do that but snapped some quirky sights…
Then we discovered the first Forrest Office for the State of SA cute little stone building in very good condition compared to most in the area…
Travelling through all theses towns the homes are just gorgeous…so old world..
The scenery of the bare white rolling hills is so different from other areas we have been to…
Travelling towards Barra we observed massive water pipes, old stone ruins and a huge beautiful rail bridge that lead into some obviously rich property owners as he had signs along the Hwy for his massive very modern home over looking the huge bridge and lands below..
We made Barra at 4.45pm went to book into the Showgrounds…but no protection there and we knew the AM was going to be freezing. So through town which looks lovely to the Caravan park they charge us $30 for the lot of us only last 2 small sites left.,,
I must admit I am truly over all the cold camping…once in bed it’s fine but these long walks to the loo in freezing conditions I am getting to old for…
We had can Chicken soup for dinner thinking that might help my upset gut…but I had a shocking night…En savoir plus