Yesterday morning we arrived at the Brambuk Visitor Centre early at 9am and had a stroll throught their garden area where plants are shown that the local tribes used for food gathering, making baskets or other items of daily use. After watching two films about how earth was shaped in their belief and the geological particularities of the Grampians we set out for a tour to the rock paintings that were found all over the area, some very elaborate with hunting scenes and the local gods and legends, some just hand imprints, similar to the graffities nowadays, simply saying 'I was here'. I learned a bit about aboriginal iconographie and the different languages, which are completely different from each other throughout the country, with only some relations between neighbour tribes so they could at least comunicate with each other. But once they'd get a bit further..zilch. Completely different language. I would have thought that the different tribes would speak several dialects but still use some kind of the same language, but obviously it's not at all working this way. I wonder if there have been thorough studies of the subject; should be a vast and interesting field for linguists.
After returning we had lunch at the adjoining cafe, a platter of bush food. I don't have to eat crocodile again, it's boring and all the other stuff we knew already. That was a bit unsatisfying, but we didn't let it spoil our mood as we were for some more hiking in the afternoon.
Naturally it turned out to be the hottest day of our entire holiday so far, 35 degrees and almost no wind in the valley. We took four litres of water (and needed it all....)and a map and started right at the door of our hostel. Most people going for the Pinnacles start at the Wonderland Car Park 4km from Hall's Gap but this way they miss out one of the most beautiful tracks, running along a little creek with some massive gradients and tiny paths crossing almost broken down bridges and through prickly bushes.
We followed the track to Wonderland Carpark and after a little break made our way through a canyon up to the cliffs overlooking Hall's Gap. A very nosy crow followed us most of the way up, flying back and forth as we went, but never going out of sight completely. That was not the only strange bird we met so far. Some behave really strange.
It was strenuous to reach the top,
sometimes you have to do a bit of climbing over ragged rocks, but the sight from the top was rewarding enough that I almost didn't feel my aching legs. Getting down again was then a completely different thing........
When we finally returned home at around 7pm there was another surprise waiting for us, but more of that tomorrow.
After returning we had lunch at the adjoining cafe, a platter of bush food. I don't have to eat crocodile again, it's boring and all the other stuff we knew already. That was a bit unsatisfying, but we didn't let it spoil our mood as we were for some more hiking in the afternoon.
Naturally it turned out to be the hottest day of our entire holiday so far, 35 degrees and almost no wind in the valley. We took four litres of water (and needed it all....)and a map and started right at the door of our hostel. Most people going for the Pinnacles start at the Wonderland Car Park 4km from Hall's Gap but this way they miss out one of the most beautiful tracks, running along a little creek with some massive gradients and tiny paths crossing almost broken down bridges and through prickly bushes.
We followed the track to Wonderland Carpark and after a little break made our way through a canyon up to the cliffs overlooking Hall's Gap. A very nosy crow followed us most of the way up, flying back and forth as we went, but never going out of sight completely. That was not the only strange bird we met so far. Some behave really strange.It was strenuous to reach the top,
sometimes you have to do a bit of climbing over ragged rocks, but the sight from the top was rewarding enough that I almost didn't feel my aching legs. Getting down again was then a completely different thing........When we finally returned home at around 7pm there was another surprise waiting for us, but more of that tomorrow.
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