Sunday arrived much the same as every other day so far this trip.
I was awake ridiculously early.
Again.
At this point I'm beginning to suspect my internal body clock has been permanently set to "retired farmer".
So whilst the rest of camp was enjoying the luxury of sleep, I sat outside with a couple of coffees watching the local wildlife start their day. This morning's entertainment featured birds, kangaroos and a few sheep that looked about as motivated as I felt before coffee number two.
One thing was certain though.
There would be absolutely no walking today.
My legs had lodged several formal complaints overnight following yesterday's unexpectedly athletic efforts and I had every intention of respecting their wishes.
Today's agenda was much more sensible - 4WDing.
Before that, however, we had an important detour planned to Jacka Brothers Brewery in Melrose.
Set within a beautifully restored old flour mill, this place has quickly become one of those attractions that should be mandatory for anyone passing through town. Whether you enjoy a beer, a wine, a pizza or simply admiring old buildings that have been given a second life, it's well worth a visit.
After a leisurely lunch involving several excellent pizzas and a couple of sneaky refreshments, we pointed the vehicles towards the Bridle Track.
Now I've driven this track before, but it never gets old.
The route winds its way through private farmland, over rolling hills and through enough muddy puddles to ensure any freshly cleaned vehicle immediately regrets its life choices.
As we climbed higher, the reward became obvious. Once again, the views were absolutely spectacular.
To one side sat Port Pirie, Port Broughton and Port Augusta stretching out across the plains. Behind us rose the magnificent Flinders Ranges, creating a backdrop that looked almost too perfect to be real.
The weather certainly wasn't hurting the experience either.
For four days straight we had somehow managed to order perfect winter conditions. Endless blue skies, brilliant sunshine, lush green hills and virtually no wind.
It's the sort of weather that makes you immediately forget every cold, wet and miserable camping trip you've ever endured.
Of course, no scenic stop was complete without Tully demanding her own moment in front of the camera.
At several lookouts she happily posed amongst the greenery as though she personally owned the mountain.
If you're wondering what a Cavoodle influencer looks like, check out IG @Tully_thecavoodle and you'll understand. Fair to say she's becoming far more photogenic than the rest of us.
After spending far too much time admiring the scenery, taking photos and generally pretending we were explorers, we cracked open a celebratory drink at the top and enjoyed the view.
Because if you're going to stand on top of a mountain and admire South Australia, you may as well do it properly.
Eventually it was time to head back down.
Oddly enough, the track became rougher as we descended.
There was more mud. More ruts. More opportunities for the cars to get sideways than perhaps Tracy considered entirely necessary.
In other words, it became even more fun.
By the time we reached the bottom, every vehicle was wearing several kilograms of premium South Australian mud and looked considerably happier for it.
The drive back soon turned into an unofficial race against both The Ghan and a passing freight train.
I'm pleased to report we eventually won. Mainly because the train went somewhere else.
Back at camp, the familiar routine resumed. A fire was started. Drinks appeared. Chairs were setup..
Right on time, we wandered up the hill to watch another spectacular sunset where Kayla decided she would attempt to make friends with the local sheep with what she thought would be protection of Tully under her arm (Yeah Nah...). This yielded exactly the same result Tully achieved earlier in the trip - Nothing.
The thing about sheep is that they're sheep. Their interests are largely limited to grass, more grass, and occasionally wondering where the next grass might be located.Human interaction ranks un-surprisingly low on their priority list.
As darkness settled across the ranges, we headed back to camp, stoked the fire and started preparing yet another meal over hot coals.
The conversation flowed as easily as the drinks. Stories from the day's adventures became increasingly entertaining with every retelling, laughter echoed around the camp and everyone simply enjoyed being exactly where they were.
It's easy to get caught up in the destinations, the scenery and the activities, but some of the best parts of trips like these are the simple moments spent with good friends around a fire.
The weather has been incredible.
The scenery has been breathtaking.
The 4WD adventures have been outstanding.
But the memories we'll probably talk about longest are the laughs we've shared with a great group of people.
Not a bad way to spend four days in the Flinders.
Not sure I could ever get tired of this, but my bank unfortunately is telling me I have to .... for now. Who knows what will happen in the near future however.
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