Day 6: Wilpena Pound to Black Gap 15km

Bathed and fed left Wilpena after a bacon and scrambled egg breakfast. Didn't know whether that would be too much on the belly but it was too good to pass up. There are a lot of tour groups that arrive daily at the resort and at breakfast I felt like the spring chicken. Some families but mostly old folk. I had 5 litres of water on as the intention was to dry camp at black gap. The pack must have been getting up to 18 kilos but it sat ok. When I was walking the track into the pound there was not a soul about, all still at breakfast I suppose. 

I was to early for the shuttle bus that runs up the first 2 kilometres into the pound. The first stop was the old homestead in the pound. The stories are interesting and were the same for a lot of the country through here. Settlers arriving in good times some bureaucrat setting a stocking level with no idea of the country. Overgrazing, the inevitable drought then bust. Most of the settlers came built and went in 15 years.

The walk through the pound is flattish and then you climb out through Bridle Gap. I was hoping for a good view across the pound but that was not to be. The view south was magnificent though. Last phone signal for a while and I knew Isabelle was having a disco so I sent her the obligatory Daggy Daddy Dance and a stern look to show the boys! 

After the gap its a long slow treacherous walk down. Banged my toes a few times. I bet the nails will be black by the end of the week. Halfway down I met James. I could see he was a new hiker with all the new gear. He had walked in from Rawnsley Station and wanted to make Wilpena before dark. It was 10k away. He thought he was at the top of Bridle Gap but I pointed straight up the hill and showed him where the top was. Didn't seem to enthused then. We had a chat. When he put on his pack to go, I could see no-one had fitted the pack on him or showed him ho to wear it. It was a good Osprey but to small for his torso so it was dragging on his shoulder and giving him a head-ache. He was also wearing it low on his hips. I showed him where it should be but he didn't seem keen to lift it up and pull the belt across his belly fat. Hope he made it. He wants to catch a bus in Parachilna on Sunday. 

The walk after that was down onto a river plain then follow a river down to Black Gap. I set-up fairly early and had a rest up. The body is feeling good. Still not pushing it yet. The distances increase a little after Hawker.