We ended the season with a beauty. With spring warmth the hills provided such variety. Great views of the Montacute valleys, we found (and felt) a couple too! Flora and fauna was also enjoying the spring warmth. Lyn was pleased the brown snake had warmed enough to clear the track, and her foot, in a millisecond. Cake and cordial – 3 young entrepreneurs set up a stall at Montacute, then at Cudlee Creek – no coffee yet the cakes so fresh and yummy, umm! Thanks go to Nick, Heather and Julian for sorting us out this season.

End 2 End 3 completed one of the hardest and most remote sections of the Heysen Trail, on the October long weekend. Aided by good weather and generally early starts, most managed to get through all the walks.

Saturday saw us at Dutchman’s Stern for the trek to Eyre Depot. Good creek walking, with some adventurous rock hopping, then out onto the flats leading north to Eyre Depot. One wrong rock hop too many and a badly twisted ankle brought the rescue vehicle into play.

Sunday and an even earlier start, began the Eyre Depot to Buckaringa Gorge walk, 26 kms of creek, hearty climb to Mt Arden then the ridge line to Buckaringa. Great creek line, Depot Creek, with a slippery climb around the waterfall, then the twists and turns that creeks in the area are prone to. The long hard climb to the top of Mt Arden to be rewarded by an ice block. Then followed the long and tiring ridge walk, however the views were to kill for, and a cool breeze at our backs. Finally all back to the buses at 6.30PM with a very late, but sumptuous meal in Port Augusta. No late night carousing for many.

Monday saw the catchup walk from Broadview to Woolshed Flat, previously washed out by flooding in Waukerie Creek. Another hard day with an arduous climb to MT Brown summit, rewarded with a great vista from the tower. Waukerie Creek seemed longer than usual, however the reward, a cold beer, soft drink or champers.

The bus people, I suspect, slept most of the way back to Adelaide.
Thanks to Barry and Jan Matthews who followed us diligently all weekend and Gavin and Bill the bus drivers who kept us safe on the roads.