14 September 2020
Fortunately not running in a circle – which could easily happen with my navigation skills – we traversed through a semi arid landscape to meet up again with Dust Hole Creek Road. I was happy to be running with Andrew for company again in this barren landscape.
The scenery through here is stark but beautiful, although the trail is quite stony in parts and it had some decent climbs and descents.
We did come across a creek with some water still in it – the first water seen for some kilometers on the trail.
We did not encounter a single other person on the trail, but came across the ruins of a settlers cottage, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Apparently the Thomas family settled here and tried to farm the land. There was no nearby town and supplies were brought in by bullock wagon train – a slow and no doubt infrequent service. All in all, a courageous decision. As this location is above Goyder’s Line (the average annual rainfall line after which there is insufficient rain to support farming), one wonders how long it was before the venture was abandoned.
After the cottage ruins, we ran through Tourilie Gorge which was absolutely stunning. This was also the route the bullock wagon train took and there are remnant traces of its route. Standing in the middle of the gorge, it was hard not to reflect on how ancient the land was and how fleeting we are in the time continuum.
After the gorge, we rejoined Dust Hole Creek Road again, and snapped a blue tongue lizard, who promptly snapped back.😉
From our stopping point, looking toward Hallett, we could see the ranges to the north and Mt Bryan awaiting us.
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