Argadell's Station - 3 to 11 July 2009

 

We drove from Port Augusta to Quorn and chose to stay at Argadells Sheep Station [another name for a large farm] http://www.argadells.com.au

Because the climate is so harsh farmers can run less than 1 sheep to 10 acres so they need to be huge to be profitable.

Many, like Argadell's also have tourists to provide additional income, and in addition to bush camping they will do up the shearers quarters and have a 4WD track.

 

 

A moon rising over the Flinders Ranges and a moon setting at the back of our campsite.

 

 

While at Argadells we went into Quorn and travelled on the Pichi Richi Railway, which is maintained by a band of railway enthusiasts using the original rolling stock and line of the famous Ghan railway. The original name was the Great Northern Railway but some one saw an afghan camel driver getting off the train and nicknamed it the Afghan Express, shortened to "The Ghan".

The Afghan Express was stopping all Stations and was extremely unreliable often having to wait for rail lines that were washed away or buckled in the heat.

We took the Landcruiser on a challenging 4wd route to the top of Mt. Arden. At the top we had reception for our wireless internet and Trish took the opportunity to set up the computer in the shade to do a Skype Videoconference with one of our children. At this point two bush walkers arrived. They had walked for 3 days to get there through difficult country and they were staggered to see the Landcruiser parked on top of the mountain and gobbsmacked when they realized that a video conference was in progress.

We spent most days walking in the beautiful gorges taking in the scenery and the local wildlife.

Argadells has a population of Yellow footed rock wallabies in Hahnemanns gorge. These were endangered but "Operation Bounce" the release of zoo bred animals and an active program to eradicate foxes - means numbers are increasing.

They are real hams for the camera and once they got used to us they would come quite close. We think this one is saying to its joey "Now straighten your ears for the photographer."

 

We enjoyed Argadells as it was bush camping with hot showers. The Juetts were very hospitable. We had fire rings and could cook camp oven roasts which we like to do. The Iron rings round the fires were thick and transmitted heat so we could toast our feet with a relatively small fire. John believes this photo should be called "Lamb roasting by/on the fire"