The Gammon Ranges to Leigh Creek

Another perfect day for both 4WDing and caching. Today the group broke into 2 with half heading up north of Arkaroola and us part of the group going west through the Gammon Ranges and south down to Leigh Creek.

We packed up camp and headed through the Balcanoona Range to Grindell Hut – an area with a black history in the 1920’s – the Grindell Murder Case. Also the location of a cache – GA0547 – Worturpa Tragedy. Great view of the Gammons from the cache location. We then moved onto Lochness Well to pick up another cache. We had already found this one so Bradley and I made it a lunch stop while the others hit the cache.

GA0547 - Worturpa Tragedy at Grindell Hut

Grindel Hut

View over Gammon Ranges

Travelling through the Gammons on the Wortupa Loop Track – well half of it, we stopped at Mainwater Well for a break. There was someone camped here that told us that the track was impassible due to the “unhappy” Station Owner. We decided to give it a go anyway.

Mainwater Well

Not a lot of water here …

At the boundary of the park, the gate wasn’t locked but was missing altogether and a new fence had been put up over the track and a sign saying keep out but with a telephone number. Lucky I had a satellite phone, and spoke to the owner of Yankaninna Station who was happy for us to travel through and told us how to get around the new fence.

Next Stop was Arcoona Creek for another cache then back on the track to meet the Station Owner. It turns out he has sold up to “Operation Flinders” and he was in the process of destocking and moving out. Chatted for a while, gave him a couple of bottles of red then through Mt Serle Station and onto Copley

Arcoona Creek

Arcoona Creek

GCH2CF – Back Road to Arkaroola

Copley didn’t show a lot of hospitality when we got there – the Petrol Station and Cafe were both closed and it was only 5:00 pm but it was a Sunday. Back on the bitumen and down to Leigh Creek for re-supply then onto Aroona Dam for a cache and then camping for the night nearby.