Covid Revised: Roaming near Rudall River/Karlamilyi National Park

[jastel]

I had 45 mins to kill one day while picking up a friend by car...thought I would stop and look at it...no way could I find my way to it on the correct side of the road...pre GPS days... Ended up parking at the servo and walking up. Easiest way is to train and get off at INT and walk down which I have done a few times.

 

[JohnM]

I reached Kumarina Roadhouse, about 150 clicks S of Newman, by late afternoon. Freezing S wind and PJM telling me not to hurry home as Perth was stormy, cold and wet. Bailed out of camping and into a room.

The next three days were leisurely driving S and taking in the wildflowers. I’ve made no attempt to compile all the wildflower pics over those days, simply worked my way through over time, so there will be an element of duplication.



There is great Eremophila diversity and abundance in the region.



This Solanum species is prevalent.

 

[JohnM]

 

[JohnM]

A break from the wildflowers. Dalgaranga meteorite crater (Dalgaranga crater - Wikipedia), SW of Cue/NE of Yalgoo. The large sign had a very interesting back story but, for some strange reason was mounted very high, way over my head so it was difficult to photograph straight on.

Not that the crater is very large, but the vegetation made it hard to capture its depth, general size and the impact angle in photos. It’s not insignificant and is clearly an unusual feature in the landscape.



Late afternoon, and the rain was coming fast.

 

[JohnM]

Soon it rained quite heavily as a sharp cold frontal band moved through. It was the northern tip of a major system that was battering Perth and the SW.

Fortuitously, I was near Melangata Station Stay. I called in hoping that I might be able to pitch my tent under some shelter. But, even better, they had a vacant cosy room in the old shearers’ quarters and a cosy camp kitchen adjacent. PERfect!

Highly recommended: Melangata Station Stay | Station Stays in Western Australia

It’s here, in the Murchison region:



The cloud cleared completely overnight, giving rise to a frosty morning, with ice on the windscreen.

Shearers’ quarters (L) and camp kitchen (R).



Excellent ablutions behind, and inside the camp kitchen and bunkhouse. Great rustic feel, but clean and tidy.

The camp kitchen/living room was a great convivial gathering spot. The old Metters wood stove was fabulous and reminded me of my gran’s – and our small version in suburban Perth in the 1950’s. I had no trouble boiling a pot of water to cook some pasta for my pre-prepared sauce that I warmed on the stove.

And great conversation with a group of other folks on a citizen science biological surveying expedition who came in to cook before me. A terrific evening.



The homestead. As I was not staying in that fully-catered hotel-like part of the station, I didn’t go wandering close or inside as that was discouraged for campers. They also have a large campground near the old shearing shed.

 

[VPS]

All those beautiful wildflowers - who would have thought when I didn't make it last year that I wouldn't be able to get there this year either
SIGH

 

[JohnM]

An interesting occurrence just a few hundred metres from the main part of the station facilities: a bower bird’s bower.



I spent the rest of that morning meandering around to Yalgoo indirectly, as the wildflowers in the area were spectacular. Then in the afternoon went on a nostalgia trip about 40km E of Yalgoo to where I had a research study site in 1978-1981.

Overnighted at the small, but excellent Yalgoo caravan park. Very new facilities, with all en-suite ablutions and a very good camp kitchen. Best caravan park I’ve stayed at.

Next day, as I headed S towards Morawa I was on a mission to locate wreath flowers (Lechenaultia macrantha). It occurs in localised spots, and typically in disturbed areas, scattered about the northern grain belt and adjacent rangeland. It’s considered the Holy Grail of wildflowers and people search it out, with local information centres having locations scouted and marked.

It is still early in the season, but I was particularly keen to locate sites for the forthcoming visit in a week to the area by PJM and myself, as she has not previously seen wreath flowers and they, and other wildflowers, should then be close to their peak.



Small butterflies and hairy caterpillars were abundant.



Typical sandy loam roads in the Murchison, smooth and firm. Easy to drive fast on, but prone to quickly turning to mud when wet and then getting chopped up by traffic. Back when I came to the region as often as fortnightly, I’ve seen trucks bogged for weeks as nothing big enough to haul them out could get in.

Signs of spring everywhere – flowers, insects, puffball fungi. Widespread rains have made one of the best seasons for some time.

 

[JohnM]

 

[JohnM]

 

[JohnM]

And Yalgoo.



Back to my old stamping ground. I used to do a full day’s work at the lab in Perth, go home and have dinner, then hit the road for the 6h drive, arriving about 0100h the next day and camp. And the road from Morawa to Yalgoo and Yalgoo out to my site was dirt. Then do my field work next morning and drive back home. All in about 27h.

Travelling solo, driving at night, more than 8h work in a day, no mobile phones in those days – pffftt! And, jeez, did I love that V8 (snuck that one past Purchasing – hyuk, hyuk!) XC Falcon! I racked up a heap of clicks in a short time in that thing. Aahhh – what a blast! Now the wet-behind-the-ears kids in OHS who have NFI about getting stuff done in the bush wouldn’t let you get out of bed if you said you were going to drive solo to the local fuel station.

 

[JohnM]

The railway once ran to Mt Magnet and beyond, but it’s long gone. In recent times, with increased mining activity in the Mt Magnet region, a constant stream of trucks cart material – on a now-sealed road - to Geraldton 24/7.



Next day, the final run from Yalgoo to Perth via Morawa and Perenjori to search for wreath flowers.

 

[RooFlyer]

Friends and I went looking for the (then) 'fabled' Dalgaranga Crater 40-odd years ago when I lived ion the Murchison - no luck, no signs back then! Thanks for the view. I haven't been to this one either, left off their list

Darwin Crater - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A super report, thanks (in spite of some odd fascination with weeds ...)

 

[JohnM]

Friends and I went looking for the (then) 'fabled' Dalgaranga Crater 40-odd years ago when I lived ion the Murchison - no luck, no signs back then! Thanks for the view. I haven't been to this one either, left off their list

Darwin Crater - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A super report, thanks (in spite of some odd fascination with weeds ...)

I first went to the Dalgaranga crater well over 30 years ago. It was on maps, but the signs were probably hand-made.

You blokes should have gone looking before spending the day in the Mt Magnet pub...

 

[JohnM]

Ta-daaa! First wreath flowers not far from the boundary between the agricultural area and the rangeland.



And a prolific wreath flower site near Perenjori that was too early but should be excellent by our visit in a week.



Near Carnamah.



Then a beeline for home and the end of a great trip.

But two and a bit weeks home will do it; on Saturday it’s time to turn around and head back ‘up north’, as we say here.

 

[tgh]

Super tr, thanks heaps for brightening our days

 

[drron]

I have always wanted to visit WA for the wildflowers.So thanks for all the pics as I may very well be incapable of travel when your dictator has come to the end of his reign!

 

[VPS]

Another great TR - thanks for the effort. I will get to see those wildflowers one day

 

[Major]

Great TR. Love the wildflowers, especially the wreath flowers.

 

[craven morehead]

The following morning, we retraced our drive back to Skull Springs Road and a little way back towards Nullagine from where we forded the Oakover River to Running Waters. A pleasant spot with plenty of trees, especially massive paperbarks near the water. There is a small thermal spring at one end of the pool, making swimming pleasant.

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Back to the camp at Carawine Gorge and some visitors to greet us.

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@JohnM which engine do you have in the Everest?

 

[JohnM]

@JohnM which engine do you have in the Everest?

The 2.0L bi-turbo. Very happy with it; plenty of power and very good fuel economy.