Thursday, 30 July 2026
It was a good thing that we were up (reasonably) early this morning with them starting on digging a big hole outside our bathroom window before 8.00am! I heard the thumping sound from the main room of our cabin after I had showered and said to Bernie that it sounded like they were digging out a stump somewhere. Bernie was able to tell me that he had been able to see them working in their hi-viz clothing through the obscured glass of the bathroom while he was in the shower! But the time we were packing the car we peered around the side of the cabin to see two men up to their thighs in a hole between our cabin and the next one. They had been busy shifting that much dirt in an hour.
While I was getting ready I went to use my ‘Sandstorm’ spray on my hair, only to discover that I had an EMPTY can in my toilet bag. D’oh, I was so sure I had swapped it out for a new can. I knew I ran it out at the end of our last holiday AND I definitely purchased not one, but two, new cans but I failed to put one of those in my toilet bag. With the product working a bit like a dry shampoo that was a grave omission as I don’t think I’m going to be able to wash my hair frequently in the desert??!
Arriving after Reception closed yesterday afternoon, we reported to the desk just after 9.00am this morning. Bernie wasn’t sure if he had paid for this cabin upfront so thought we had been instructed to come by Reception this morning to settle our account. Nope, already paid in full, so we handed the key back and headed off to Hairhouse at Westfield, West Lakes.
A new can of hair product secured, our next destination was Bunnings for something Bernie forgot to acquire before we left. Apparently our list of required items includes a water spray bottle. I am told this is needed because the grasses along the tracks in the Simpson Desert are long at the moment and there is a risk that hot exhaust can ignite them. The water bottle is to enable immediate action to be taken to dowse such a fire if we start one??? After a quick foray into Bunnings we had our water bottle.
Finally, just as 10.00am ticked over, we were properly on our way and heading out of Adelaide. We travelled north on the A1 in April and south on the A1 in June so, when Syri provided our northbound options, we selected the route that would travel slightly more easterly than the the A1. From the Bunnings car park we made our way to the North-South Motorway. After crossing the salt evaporators, we merged onto the A1 (Port Wakefield Highway) to head north through all the glasshouses. Lots of food being grown in glasshouses beside the highway. So far, so same, same!
At Two Wells we turned off onto Mallala Road and then Traeger Road towards Balaklava where the agriculture changed to open fields of wheat and canola. We continued on the Blyth Plains Road before reaching a T-intersection where we had the option to turn left towards Snowtown or right into Blyth. We turned right and soon pulled into Blyth.
We stopped for a leg stretch and to take photos of some of the lovely old buildings. Our wanderings led us to the loos, so we decided to take a comfort break. You never know how far away the next opportunity might be! Bernie spotted an old church (now Medika Gallery) and wanted a photo. As we approached we found ourselves corned by three members of the Blyth Progress Society. Or similar. They didn’t say that was their title, but they were interested to know, as tourists, where we thought it would be most effective for them to place town maps encouraging visitors to explore all that Blyth has to offer.
We were happy to make our suggestions about the physical placement of the maps and also the benefits of providing information online. One of the community representatives was the owner of Medika Gallery and he encouraged us to visit the gallery. After taking a photo, we ventured in to local artist, Ian Roberts, gallery. He paints beautiful artworks featuring birds and has a range of reasonably priced greeting cards featuring his paintings. Always a sucker for beautiful greeting cards, I selected five cards for $20.00.
Ian continued to tells us all about the activities Blyth has to offer, enthusiastically telling us about the mosaic mural celebrating Blyth’s 150th year celebration, the Terrace Garden, a community maintained water-wise garden featuring around 1,800 native Australian plants across 800 species, the Lomandra Walking Trail and the Padnaindi Reserve which features unique plasma-cut steel and mosaic panels depicting the area’s local farming history and Indigenous heritage. Ian told us it is possible to fill a whole day now in Blyth. If we pass this way again we now know that Blyth has much to offer!
We continued north along the Rail Corridor Road before zig-zagging across Condowie Plains Road, Stone Cutter Road and the unsealed Angle Grove Road, to finally reach the Horrocks Highway (B82). The highway took us through Yacka and Gladstone. Actually it didn’t take us through Gladstone, we deliberately turned off into Gladstone looking for some lunch. It’s name was printed larger and bolder in the atlas so we thought there would be a number of eating places to choose from. We were disappointed though, and made our way back out to the highway.
Turning back onto the highway, Bernie said he was surprised not to have seen any kookaburras today. The words were barely out of his mouth and what did we see? A kookaburra perched on the power lines, ha, ha. We finally made our lunch stop soon after in Laura, where we ate at Meryle’s Café. We photographed the statue of CJ Dennis (famous for writing ‘The Sentimental Bloke’ and other verse) in the median strip. Although he was born in nearby Auburn, he spent his formative years in Laura.
Continuing north we stopped briefly in Wirrabara to photograph the silo art. The silo has a forestry theme and features a man who represents the hard working people of the forestry and agricultural community. The work was completed by SMUG (aka Sam Bates) in October 2018 and also features a rare local bird, the red capped robin, because, well, he likes painting birds!
All day I had been watching for a ‘shot’ that would showcase the fields of canola. I spotted a stone cottage in a field of canola with Mount Remarkable behind it. Stop, stop, stop I said to Bernie. By the time he stopped Mount Remarkable was no longer visible – he thought I just wanted the cottage and the canola – so he had to do a U-turn so I could take the photo I wanted. I am loving the bright yellow fields of canola at this time of year.
Arriving in Melrose, at the foot of Mount Remarkable, Bernie topped up the tank at the local Ampol service station. Petrol Spy had revealed that we could by diesel in Melrose at city prices so it made sense to top up. I snoozed through Wilmington, only waking up about 10 Ks out of Quorn! We arrived in town just shy of 3.00pm and made our way to the Great Northern Lodge. We checked in at the heritage building next door before making our way around the back to one of the modern apartments to the rear.
We unloaded some gear and ate chocolate before heading back out to complete the Heritage Walk around town. We were all organised with our guide that Bernie printed out before we left home. We started at the Railway Station. We have been to the Railway Station before when we drove up from our accommodation in Port Augusta to ride the Pichi Richi Railway. We really didn’t explore Quorn then because we arrived just in time to take the train journey and arrived back in Quorn after dark, keen to return to our bed in Port Augusta.
From the Railway Station we made our way along Railway Terrace, admiring all the lovely old stone buildings, including: The Court House, the Town Hall, the Post Office, the Police Station, hotels and the Catholic Church. Making our way around to First Street we continued past the old commercial centre of Quorn with its many shops. Reaching West Terrace we continued back around to Railway Terrace to complete our circuit past The Mill, a couple of banks and … more hotels. We have done these sort of heritage walks before and often the guide tells you about the significant buildings that used to stand on various sites. This walk is definitely the most complete one we have ever done, with all of the fabulous heritage buildings still standing.
We warmed up in our room for an hour or so before putting even more layers on to venture out after dark for the Quorn Silo Light Show. After dark, at this time of the year at 6.15pm, the Quorn Silo is converted into a screen onto which various local images and stories are projected. The presentations are varied and informative and includes an introduction by a member of the local Nukunu people. We also learnt about the geography and the history of the region, places to visit in the surrounding district and bush tucker.
After 45 minutes sitting outside in the cold watching the ‘show’ we decided it was time to retire to the Transcontinental Hotel for dinner. When we checked in, the lady on reception recommended booking for dinner. Very glad that we did as the hotel was packed when we arrived at 7.00pm. We found our table, with Bernie’s name on it, right in front of the (fake) open fire. Talk about one extreme and the other. The temperature outside was in single figures, now I was sitting with my @rse just about in the fire!! I took of Bernie’s puffer jacket and my puffer vest and sat in front of the fire. Pretty soon I had to peel off my fleece as well. It was toasty.
More pub classics tonight. Bernie had a beef schnitzel with gravy and I went with the fish and chips. Then we put all our layers back on and ventured back out into the cold to walk back to our room.
Steps: 11,186 (7.24kms)
