Day 19 (19/9) – Grampians (and how to perform an act of gross stupidity)

A walk in the mountains seemed like an option on waking, mainly as wasn’t actively raining and there was even a hint of spring-like cornflower blue in parts of the sky (among the grey clouds of course). A likely candidate was the “Wonderland Loop” – a walk of ~9 km taking in several of the shorter tracks along the way, leading to a spectacular lookout over the valley below from an outcrop of rock named the Pinnacle. Thwarted at the start unfortunately, as a landslide had closed part of the track! Drove on to another start point and got underway through the “Grand Canyon”. For those who have done the Grand Canyon in the Blue Mountains, this one I think is not as spectacular but still interesting with narrow, high rocky walls. All was going well until I took my watch off to put some sunscreen on. Yes, the sun came out properly! And promptly forgot all about it. Absence of watch not noticed until nearly a km up the track and no sign of it after rushing frantically back to where we had stopped (risking a heart attack due to general level of unfitness). Sense of glumness descended after this and the panorama laid out below from the Pinnacle could not lift the spirits. Even the antics of the marauding lunchtime currawong failed to amuse. No one (and the track was pretty busy) had handed it in to Visitor Info or the police by the time we left the area a couple days later – shame! Quite a contrast to the Prom – more what I would call “serious” walkers at the Prom – better equipped with walking footwear, backpacks, etc. Despite the length and moderate grades of these walks, this is obviously a much more “touristy” area, with more people just “out for a walk” for the day. Not the same sense of being alone with nature as other places we’ve been.
Managed to continue with sightseeing and a few shorter walks to vantage points then back for a shower and out to dinner at the Kookaburra Bar and Bistro. Good food but huge portions. Groaned into bed……