Trephina Gorge
Slightly later than forecast, rain arrived. As a precautionary measure Oma had packed her tent up early and spent our last night at Palm Valley in the car. After accepting that she wouldn't run out of oxygen with all doors and windows closed she apparently had quite a good sleep. All loaded and ready to go at 8:30am I turned the ignition key only to find the battery was flat. We'd been warned at our last car service of possible battery and/or alternator issues but with a recharge in Darwin and regular driving we hadn't had a problem. Three days stationary (and with the trailer plugged in) we did have a problem. The ranger was called out only to tell us that it's their policy not to jumpstart vehicles. Luckily our friendly neighbour introduced himself as a retired RAC technician and volunteered his assistance. As the rain continued to fall we crossed our fingers that a bit of charge from his vehicle would have us up and running. If the alternator was cooked then so were we. Luckily it was just a matter of charging the battery and half an hour later and a little bit wetter we were on our way out.
Back in Alice to refuel and restock, we treated ourselves to a hot lunch at the Woolies food court, a popular spot on a wet Thursday midday.
On arriving at Trephina Gorge, we discovered that our trailer wasn't as waterproof as it once had been. Water had found its way into all sorts of places. Hugh's and Claire's sleeping bags were the greatest casualties. Emergency sleeping arrangements were enacted, seeing me relegated to the kids bed. I slept under a blanket with Hugh's soggy sleeping bag on top, while the kids bunked in with Matthias under our warm, dry, slightly-too-narrow-for-four douvet.
Trephina Gorge Panorama campground was beautiful, home to gorgeous fairy wrens, honeyeaters, ringneck parrots, mistletoe birds and abundant zebra finches. It would have won top spot for the best campsite view if it wasn't for a big Optus tower erected in the middle. A fire had swept through a not insignificant area of bush around the campground, apparently the work of a careless camper emptying their firepit into the dry grass. It was intriguing to see the aftermath, some huge hollow river red gums appearing to have been torn asunder in the heat. Other smaller trees left only a white ghost of ash behind on the ground and an empty pit where their trunk had entered the earth. Six weeks after the fire, the first signs of regrowth were starting to appear, an iridescent green against the black.
We considered driving the four kilometre 4WD track out to the John Hayes Rockhole campsite where the much lauded Chain of Ponds hike started. We needed to have our engine tick over for a bit and we'd heard it wasn't that challenging a drive. But in characteristic Schneider style we chickened out 500 metres in and opted to walk instead. That made it a big walking day for Hugh, clocking up around 10km, but all without complaint.
Claire astounded us the next day, completing her very first full hike solely under her own steam. The two and a half kilometre Trephina Panorama loop went up and over an escarpment; an amazing feat for little legs. No encouragement was required, there was no whinging and not once did she ask to get in the backpack. We had to slow her down rather than chivvy her along, she was off like a rocket. Then she backed it up in the afternoon with the Gorge Walk and home along the creek bed. Maybe there is hope after all for us doing some good family walks in Tassie next year.
