Ride Day 11 - Hawker to Rawnsley Park - Blinman or Bust by Bike

November 2, 2023

Ride Day 11 - Hawker to Rawnsley Park

On a day traveling through a lot of spaces with no trees, it was nice to find a shade trade under which to stop for morning tea.

The first- and second sections of a very steep, rocky descent below Mernmerna Hill. I would imagine that more non-experienced mountain bikers come to grief here than any other spot along the Mawson Trail.

Near the entrance to the Mount Little Station someone made excellent use of their already-totaled 4WD.

The views from within Mt Little Station, until the trail temporarily joins the bitumen Outback Highway, are beautiful -- see the next 12 photos.

Following a 10km ride along the paved Outback Highway, the Mawson Trail travels along the 28km-long Moralana Scenic Drive. The views are absolutely gorgeous here. The corrugations in the dirt road were diabolically deep and unavoidable over about half of the 28 kms.

At the end of the Moralana Scenic Road, the Mawson turns north onto the paved Flinders Ranges Way, which leads to the turnout for Rawnsley Park. Along this stretch I caught a first glimpse of the uniquely layered mineral deposits of the Elder Range (pictured here).

At the end of the day's ride, the view behind our cabin at Rawnsley Park, where we stayed for four nights.

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Peter MayerYou a right about Mernmerna Hill. Bike SA told us best to walk this section, but of course I knew better. I got my front wheel wedged in an erosion channel and somersaulted, breaking two ribs by landing on the handlebar. A rather sore ride to Blinman after that.
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5 months ago