From Home to Owen
After winning a $50 voucher each in the state tourism ballot we decided to use our windfall to assist with the costs of a trip north. We haven’t been this way for a while and we decided to fulfil one of our orienteering responsibilities and check the permanent orienteering course at Melrose is still looking healthy. Our club (Tintookies) maintains this course and Trev and I take a special interest in it. More of that tomorrow.
After our normal Meals on Wheels delivery round we headed home for our own lunch and packed the car to head off.
We made a quick stop at Plympton to collect the repair kit with spare control markers so that we could do maintenance on the spot if it was required. We also stopped for fuel at Gepps Cross since it was 20 cents a litre cheaper there.
It was good to get out on to the open road again. The country is looking dry, but hopefully good rain is not too far away now.
We arrived at our friend Rodney’s place at Owen and, after a cuppa decided we had time to try the new maprun course that has been set up around this lovely little town. Trev was game for a run, so he took one paper map. Rodney took the other, and I used the map on the app. Trev and I both have the maprun6 app and have used it on a few city courses. There are no physical markers, but your phone lets you know with a sound when you reach the correct position, and records your time. If you want a paper map you can download one from the Orienteering SA website. Rodney and I walked together. He knows the town very well and did a great job of planning our route to teach all required locations in the most efficient way. He took to the challenge like a true orienteer. It took us 45 minutes to do just over 4 km at a rapid walk. Trev took 33 minutes to run them in a different order of his choice The points turn green on the map after you find them.
The route took us through some nice bush (including a grove of quondongs), past the free camping by the old oval, to the wetlands, across the golf course, to a couple of historical bits of farm machinery and also past some murals painted by a local artist. The start is just near the painted silos, so we could check them out too.
The wall art is pretty good in this town. I particularly like the bee house.
I talked Rodney (still holding his map) into standing in front of the big butterfly wings.
Quick showers were had and then it was off to Balaclava for a meal at the pub. We did a bit of a drive around there looking at the local areas where a similar maprun course could possibly be set up. Boy there is a lot of open recreational space in Balaklava .!!
This town now looks pretty good too after a concerted effort to do up some of the historic buildings, plant more street trees and plants and even some very effective lighting. The local courthouse gallery leave a light on inside so that you can admire the lovely lead light above the door. Even the pub looked as good as the meals.
Tomorrow we head further north.
Luvapuzzle 