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Heysen Trail Adventure Day 18: Wandillah Road to Burra

11 September 2020

We headed back to Burra to tackle some more of the northern part of the trail. And found there was still a good deal to explore in Burra in our down time. Its well worth a visit.

First I started on Wandillah Road and ran south to Burra. I say ran, but after leaving the unsealed road, the trail is extremely rocky and steep in this section, so it was very slow going. Also as the weather was warming up, I was worried about the likelihood of encountering snakes so had to watch my step very closely. I didn’t see any snakes, but a shingleback lizard within 500 metres of my starting point gave me quite the fright.

Some of the views south from the tops of the hills were quite lovely and due to some recent rain, the countryside was still quite green considering its a semi arid climate.

As seems to be the rule, I didn’t encounter anyone else on the trail. Although I enjoy running with others, there is something quite special about being out on the trail in splendid isolation.

I thought I planned a relatively short run but failed to study the map sufficiently in terms of the terrain. Consequently I took a nominal amount of water and a couple of gels which I thought would be ample for the distance. This was completely insufficient, particularly as it was quite a warm afternoon. There were no water points where I could refill and I trudged into Burra feeling quite ordinary by the end.

Heysen Trail Adventure Day 17: Warren Conservation Park to Pewsey Vale

A day of two seasons – a cold and misty start eventually gave way to sunshine. I really enjoyed running this section, not least because it meant I had reached the Barossa wine district.

Warren Conservation Park starts with a couple of shortish climbs before a descent into a valley and then a longer climb around 2.5 km long up to a fire lookout tower. The trail then drops down again and goes along unsealed access roads through a section of Mt Crawford forest (a cultivated pine forest) up to the top of Mt Crawford. After that, the trail joins a dirt road up and over Wirra Wirra peaks (not anywhere as daunting as it sounds), through Kay Gully and then over Trial Hill (again not too steep) before joining Corryton Road (unsealed).

Of frabjous day – reaching the Barossa wine district

Heysen Trail Adventure Day 16: Cudlee Creek to Pooh Corners, Watts Gully Trailhead

30 August 2020

No honey pots but inexplicably a full jar of dill pickles and a punnet of strawberries sitting on the side of the trail in the middle of nowhere. Not a soul to be seen either. A lovely section of trail winding its way through the South Mt Lofty Ranges.

Reminders of the horrendous summer bushfires

Heysen Trail Adventure Day 15: Tothill Gap to Worlds End

2 August 2020

After surviving my first encounter with Worlds End, it was time to try my luck again, this time heading north from Tothill Gap. My driver’s hope on approaching the drop off point “surely the trail doesn’t go straight up that hill!” was unfortunately misplaced. As is tradition.

This part of the trail was quite challenging in sections – rocky underfoot with some steep climbs and descents, making for slow going at times. Also I found the signage a bit hit and miss – but maybe that was just me. Consequently it took me longer than I thought it would to traverse. The views however were spectacular and much more enjoyable than the section from Worlds End to Burra. And the proximity to the Clare wine district made for a delightful post run stop.

Heysen Trail Adventure Day 14: Worlds End to Burra

1 August 2020

With summer approaching, and with it the scheduled trail closure, I decided to ignore the lessons of history and open a second front in the more northern section of the trail. Worlds End was surprisingly close to civilization, however the pancake flat terrain did lend credence to the flat earth theory. 🤣. This was a pretty boring section of trail through semi arid grazing land. However the town of Burra is well worth a visit – a fascinating snapshot of history of copper mining in the area. The self guided history tour is terrific. Its a great base for completing surrounding sections of the trail. We stayed in an old miners cottage with the trail passing our front door.

Heysen Trail Adventure Day 13: Marble Hill to Cudlee Creek

19 July 2020

A truly wintery day – cold, wet and windy. Unsurprisingly I did not encounter a single soul on this section of the Adelaide hills, although I did encounter some rather large goats with impressive sets of horns shrouded in mist standing in the middle of the trail. I’m sure I heard “none shall pass” before they reluctantly elected to move aside. This section of the hills and the Montacute Conservation Park had been ravaged in the awful summer bushfires and so it was difficult to find the route at times as the signposts had been destroyed. However after some slipping and sliding and cross country navigating, I eventually made my way to Cudlee Creek where the post belly stove and excellent coffee in the café was most welcome.

Heysen Trail Adventure Day 12: Summertown to Cherryville

28 June 2020

By now I was running in familiar territory in the Adelaide Hills – an area that I cycle in often and a very short drive from the CBD, with the bonus of a slightly later start. It was an absolutely glorious winter day, perfect running weather. I met a fellow trail runner also heading north toward Norton Summit, but he soon sprinted away into the distance. Next was a rather large male kangaroo which was unmoved by my presence or proximity. I took that as a sign and didn’t dally longer than necessary to take a photo.

The trail passes the Horsnell Gully and Giles Conservation Parks – lovely to run here before exiting onto the Lobethal Road to head into Norton Summit. I saw my fellow trail runner from earlier that morning and had a most welcome stop at a real bathroom.

Then it was onward to the Morialta Conservation Park, finishing at Marble Hill. Heaps of people on the trails in the CP taking advantage of a gloriously sunny winters day. Some spectacular scenery, including waterfalls and views back to the city.

Blue Mountains, New South Wales

Feb 2021

Quick trip to the beautiful Blue Mountains for some pre UTA trail running. I am a fool for not visiting this stunning area before now. I can’t wait to return.

Heysen Trail Adventure Day 11: Hahndorf to Summertown

21 June 2020

Following torrential rain overnight, I was relieved when the day dawned cold, but dry. Following the trail from Hahndorf back toward Bridgewater I was unsurprised that the trail was easy to follow and the turn off sign at the point where I went astray, perfectly obvious. Must have been day dreaming yesterday – most likely about the impending cafe stop.

Disconcertingly, when I reached Bridgewater, the creek going through the train line underpass that I had run through the day before had burst its banks and there was a torrent of water rushing through the underpass making it completely impassable. Not that I didn’t have a go. Foolishly. I looked at the embankment up to the train line to see if I felt I could get over that way, before deciding it was too risky and headed back toward the Bridgewater Mill where I met a group of guys walking the trail and asked if they knew another way around the underpass. They were made of sterner stuff than me and although confirming that the underpass was a no go, thought that going over the embankment was entirely feasible. With their encouragement I started the ascent. Three quarters the way up in the slippery conditions I completely froze in panic and had to be unceremoniously dragged up to the top. Forming the view that I was clearly deranged and a danger to myself, they kindly formed a human chain to help me down the other side, and were gracious enough to pose for a photo. I am sure they thought I was completely mad.

Fortunately the rest of the days run was relatively uneventful, although there were some serious climbing over Mt Lofty (Adelaide’s highest hill) and it was consistently up and down. However the weather was kind, the views lovely and I encountered and unusually I encountered a Highland cow in a suburban area.

Heysen Trail Adventure Day 10: Kuitpo Forest to Bridgewater

20 June 2020

My plan was to start at the point where I left the Heysen Trail in Kuitpo Forest on my last run and finish in Hahndorf, where the artist Hans Heysen lived and had his studio. It is also a town with a strong German history and culture, not to mention excellent cafes and delicious baked goods. However yet again I managed to lose my way between Bridgewater and Hahndorf – quite exceptional really given the semi urban nature of the area.

The trail passes through the old Jupiter Creek mining area, where you can find ruins of old mines, including chimneys and mine shafts, before joining up with sections of unsealed and then sealed roads through the town of Mylor and into the back of Bridgewater, before going under the Eastern Freeway and looping back to Hahndorf.

Inexplicably after stopping briefly at Bridgewater Oval to consult my map, I still managed to miss the sign where the trail forked – and promptly followed the wrong fork away from Hahndorf. I realised my mistake quickly, but no matter how many times I retraced my steps in an effort to find the right way to go, I simply couldn’t work it out. In reality, I didn’t go far back enough. By now I was well behind schedule (imperilling the all important cafe booking) and being cold and wet, compounded my ineptitude by deciding to try and follow the road system to find my way back onto the trail. This was completely unsuccessful, leading to numerous messages to and from the pick up crew to arrange a meet up.