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mikehzz

Member Since: 04 Sep 2009
Location: Springwood
Posts: 749

Looks like typically miserable mid winter weather for the Flinders Ranges? I told you to take spare tyres, I forgot about the spare shoes... and it's Arkapena not Arkaroola. I'm sending you to Arkaroola next trip so you can get some decent pictures of it for me. All mine are taken on an iphone.

23rd Jul 2012 9:18 am

Vesko

Member Since: 18 Jan 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 184

2011 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Stornoway Grey

mikehzz wrote:
I told you to take spare tyres, I forgot about the spare shoes... and it's Arkapena not Arkaroola.

Thanks Mike, Arkapena Scenic Drive

Last edited by Vesko on 12th Aug 2012 6:45 am. Edited 1 time in total

23rd Jul 2012 9:49 am

Speedway

Member Since: 13 Oct 2010
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 392

2007 Freelander 2 TD4 SE Auto Baltic Blue

Vesko, brilliant photos and story so far, look forward to the next episode. Gone, 2007 TD4 SE Auto Baltic blue, clear side repeaters, full sized alloy spare.

English by birth..... Yorkshire by the grace of God.

23rd Jul 2012 1:27 pm

Bugblatter

Member Since: 08 Mar 2012
Location: Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Posts: 417

Speedway wrote:
Vesko, brilliant photos and story so far, look forward to the next episode.

Me too!

2013 RR Evoque Pure Tech
2012 TD4 GS Auto Orkney Grey - gone

23rd Jul 2012 5:29 pm

tenet

Member Since: 23 Jul 2009
Location: cotswolds
Posts: 1081

2015 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey

Bugblatter wrote:
Speedway wrote:
Vesko, brilliant photos and story so far, look forward to the next episode.

Me too!

Have a look on his blog - even more stunning snaps

MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

23rd Jul 2012 5:49 pm

Vesko

Member Since: 18 Jan 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 184

Thank you guys!

A bit of driving with Vesko on Arkapena track (if you don't mind Lana Del Rey on the aux )
The other clips are full of classical music and Nick Cave

Arkapena Drive

24th Jul 2012 3:48 am

Vesko

Member Since: 18 Jan 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 184

Where is my post?

Sorry, something's wrong, I'll try again

29th Jul 2012 10:51 am

Zajcol

Member Since: 26 Jul 2011
Location: Warszawa
Posts: 49

Love your photos! Thanks!

29th Jul 2012 5:43 pm

s7gpt

Member Since: 21 May 2010
Location: Leeds
Posts: 315

2007 Freelander 2 TD4 SE Manual Sumatra Black

jealous freelander 2 SE black and beige - now sold

29th Jul 2012 5:54 pm

npinks

Member Since: 28 Jun 2007
Location: Ls25
Posts: 20092

Vesko wrote:
Where is my post?

Sorry, something's wrong, I'll try again

Strange I recall your post about the young 2yr olds grave and playing a guitarwhich lead too a

In the back of the FL2

If you pm Martin he might be able to look into what's happened

29th Jul 2012 6:21 pm

Vesko

Member Since: 18 Jan 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 184

It might be my mother in law , but most likely it's my own doing - I tried to edit something and might have deleted it accidently. I will post it again after work.

29th Jul 2012 9:04 pm

taztastic

Member Since: 03 Feb 2011
Location: North West
Posts: 8652

Vesko, seriously working on a trip over, promised the rellies in Tas we would come over, toured much of Tasmania but was restricted in Mitsubishi Magna

Great photo's and the website is a treat

29th Jul 2012 9:29 pm

Vesko

Member Since: 18 Jan 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 184

taztastic wrote:
Vesko, seriously working on a trip over, promised the rellies in Tas we would come over, toured much of Tasmania but was restricted in Mitsubishi Magna

Great photo's and the website is a treat

I love Tassie! I took my girl there for our anniversary last year and started to tell the story here :http://veskopetrov.com/?cat=56. I am up to part seven (sorry not in English yet), but there are a lot of photos along the way.

Hey taztastic, thank you! I wish you many trips over

30th Jul 2012 8:26 am

Vesko

Member Since: 18 Jan 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 184

Day 4 Flinders Ranges

Yet another gorgeous day. I start it with my favorite brew of lovely strong coffee, pack up my camp and head up to a historical village called Blinman. Packing up takes a while (with the tent), but I’ve got plenty of time and in this sunny morning I enjoy it, mucking around lazily with another cup of strong coffee. The plan is to see Blinman, as well as to drive through a couple of scenic gorges.

I say goodbye to Rawnsley Park Station and respectfully “drive with walking paste” to the sealed road. It has been a great place for the last couple of nights (with the cleanest toilets and the warmest showers).

The road to Blinman snakes its way through grassy hills and pine forests. I drive to a spectacular scenic lookout, called Stokes Hill. The chilly wind on the top friezes my ears and water my eyes, but there is so much space here, you feel like flying. I see mountains all around, and far down I see a few 4WD, like tiny ants, driving somewhere on a dirt road... I also see a few clouds forming on the East (which I don’t like). On the map I find that the road with the ants 4WD’s leads to Willow Springs and the Skytrek. For a moment I am tempted, but I would not have time.

Click image to enlarge

Instead, I drive a few more kilometers north and turn into a gravel road to Appealinna ruins, where I learn the story of Joseph Wills. He was one of the tough first settlers, a self-made man, not much liked by the colonial authorities. He fought a battle with the miners, who came to dig for copper and needed the water spring on his property. Lacking political connections Joseph didn’t stand a chance (the authorities rezoned his lease and cut the spring out of his lands), but not before he put on a good fight. The story is very interesting (and I am a sucker for such stories of old times).

Click image to enlarge

After Appealinna, I drive back to enter the scenic drive along Bunyeroo Valley, which continues into Brachina Gorge. I am stunned! I’ve seen a lot of mountains around Europe (and they are all beautiful), but the Flinders Ranges are unique. You cannot have this experience anywhere else. I wish it was later in the day to set up my camp somewhere along the beautiful gorges. But there is still time and I want to see everything.

Click image to enlarge

Coming out of Brachina Gorge, I see a sign “Aroona ruins" with a tempting dirt road. Why not, I tell myself and drive into it to discover another beautiful valley. Apparently this used to be the property of certain John Frederick Hayward who had a cattle run here. Lucky John sold it for substantial amount of money in1862, just before the whole region was hit by a long, devastating drought. John Hayward returned to England a rich and respectful man, while the poor buyer watched the cattle die and the house turning into a ruin. John Frederick Hayward is one of the very few people (probably the only one), who made their fortune in the Flinders. Aroona is also known for the South Australian artist, Sir Hans Heysen who stayed and worked here on numerous occasions, enchanted by the eerie landscape. Driving back I see the three hills, featuring in his classic work “The Three Sisters of Aroona”.

I don’t want the Flinders Ranges’ part of my trip to finish. Heading to the sealed road for Blinman, I have a fleeting thought, that Lake Eyre might be some kind of a lesser experience in comparison to the wanders I’ve seen here. I try to avoid this thought. My attention is attracted by a strange place on the map, called Emma Smith’s Grave. Hoping to learn another interesting story, I drive the short detour.

At first I approach Emma Smith’s Grave like a tourist visiting a tourist attraction, but when I see it, something stops me in my tracks. Emma Smith is only two years old, she dies around 1860 and her grave back then and now continues to be lonely and isolated. Perhaps her parents were transporting copper. That’s all I learn from the laconic text, supplied by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Somehow the lack of information affects me most. I can vividly imagine the little girl, who lost her chances so long ago. Why is her grave so isolated?

Click image to enlarge

Back in Sydney I do a quick Google search, but nothing more comes out, Some guy in his blog suggests that Emma was accidently crashed under the heavy ox carts driven by her father. I don’t think so; I believe Emma has succumbed to one of the many illnesses that were killing children like flies a hundred and fifty years ago (that would make it easier for me).

I continue to Blinman, but after Emma Smith’s grave I don’t have the exploration vibe any more. Blinman is not inviting, although I try hard to wake up my curiosity. It’s cold, I am hungry and in the pub the cook refuses to warm any meal for me (too late for lunch, too early for dinner). At the café I buy a small microwaved industrial pie, which tastes like s**t and while I eat it on the veranda, I see some people in front of an art gallery across the road, who watch me with hope that I might visit and buy something. I don’t waste any more time here. I feel more comfortable in my beloved Landie.

Click image to enlarge

But it’s getting late now, some clouds are piling up in the sky and the gravel road to Parachilna doesn’t have any good places to stop for a camp. There are fences on both sides of the road. I pass Angorichina Village wandering if I should stop, but continue undecided. Immediately after Angorichina Village, I find a wide dry river bed with massive river gum trees and no fences. This is the Angorichina gorge. I don’t wait for another invitation – I drive along the river to find my perfect camping spot, avoiding the heavy branches of the river gums, which are known to crush down without reason or warning.

The camping spot is perfect, but I am a bit stiff to occupy this isolated place. I feel all alone in the world. To fortify my courage, I pull out the bottle with the strong 45º liquor and start with a few small shots, while opening the deck umbrella to experiment with an idea I had in Sydney for a quick shelter behind the car. It works brilliantly with minimum time to set up.

Click image to enlarge

Next (continuing with the small shots), I collect enough dead wood for tonight’s fire and after lightening it I start to cook a stew, which I learned from my mother in law. By now my camp fire is burning, I am warmed by the small shots and not afraid any more of the enveloping darkness. I see the stars and admire them. Cooking the stew, I think of my mother in law - hm, m, yes... she is a lovely woman… especially when she is some 15 000 km away from me. I chuckle to myself and at this very moment I see a space ship appearing from nowhere. The numerous 45º shots make me feel sufficiently numb to be curious instead of terrified. It’s actually a bus, full of lights, shaking like a drunken sailor along the uneven river bed.

Bunch of European backpackers are exploring Australia. They are mostly from Holland and Norway. Finding the leveled grassy place next to me, they spill out of the bus and start to fuss around with a few funny small tents. Naturally, the lazy backpackers are attracted by my fire and the irresistible smell of my mother in law’s stew. I don’t mind to have such a cheerful company. We share stories, drinks, food (the stew) and there is a guitar, on which I try my rusty fingers. I still remember some old Celentano hits, my Italian is good. The magic from not so long ago returns - I feel how the girls watch me with owe and some kind of intense interest …

Friends, it is getting too long now and I should not waste your time with details of what happens next. I will only confirm that the back of the Landie is wide enough for two people and it is VERY comfortable to share.

pp. Please, don't tell my mother in law.

Tomorrow I will drive to Lake Eyre.

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

Last edited by Vesko on 30th Jul 2012 8:41 am. Edited 1 time in total

30th Jul 2012 8:29 am

EYorkshire

Member Since: 18 Nov 2010
Location: (!)
Posts: 4392

for the continuation of your adventure Vesko, excellent story.

I'm sure we are all interested in your night time adventure also, spill the beans

30th Jul 2012 8:37 am

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