Parachilna Gorge to Copley
Bacon and eggs was the order of the day as the sun climbed into the sky high above the gorge we were camped in. We ate, watched a baby goat learn high altitude adaptation from a sure footed mum and marvelled at the lack of road sense of a rock wallaby.
On the road again, G found a massive old tree with a rotting trunk so decided it would be a great idea to have her picture taken inside it. She ensured her safety from reptilian venom by announcing herself and asking loudly if there were any snakes inside. I worried when she believed she had received an answer in the negative.
Soon enough we arrived at Parachilna. A lap of town revealed the iconic pub able to supply a camel or goat burger. The township offered a point of interest in the Parachilna Horseman made of wire sitting atop the disused Old Ghan Railway platform. A lone motorcyclist was sitting under the pub veranda. He let me know he had taken off from Melbourne a few weeks ago to do a trip to the Barrington Tops in NSW. As he told it the Tops were bitterly cold, so he turned left and here he was. His ‘where to next’ was undecided but he had a map. I could only think it must have been one hell of a barney with his wife to set him this far from home for so long.
Next stop was the old town of Beltana currently under refurbishment. Actually it was an early settler town, mostly privately owned with one or two buildings having been semi brought back to life. We decided it was a once in a lifetime experience, for we did not see the need to visit again. I also wondered just what part of life the inhabitants were escaping living in such a place.
We plundered up the highway to Leigh Creek, now an almost abandoned mining town. The few signs of life included a service station, police station and pretty fancy school. Our visitor lap complete, we dropped across the highway to Copley to the van park for the night.
Our host chatted for a fair while enabling us to absorb quality information. Horses at night were our main issue apparently with every tap in the entire area covered by a rubbish bin full of sand so the equine thieves could not knock the pipe over to get a drink. He did warn we may lose our van water hoses in the wee hours.
Our afternoon was a lazy one. I met and chatted to one of the thieving beasts who allowed me to give her a pat. She appeared to understand the gentle warning about chewing up my water hoses and which brand of dog meat she would feature in if she did. We left on good terms.
Tomorrow we start the Strzelecki Track. Should be fun.
