Today was to be an uncomplicated day involving a 128km drive to Hyden and then a few short kilometres on to Wave Rock. We are pleased to report it was an uncomplicated drive but we did have great fun dodging the showers.
You would hardly believe the end of our day yesterday. You will recall bully-boy winds and a temperature of 33 degrees for yesterday. At about 6pm last night the wind moderated and the temperature dropped to about 8 degrees overnight - and it rained. Melbourne can't compare with southern WA when it comes to rapid changes in the weather.
The rain stayed with us today in the form of sleety showers and there was a significant wind chill factor. The ambient temperature hovered around the 10-12 degree mark. Nonetheless we saw the rock.
We had a chuckle on the road to Hyden due to an unexpected sight. Someone had inadvertently parked his truck over the edge of a "cliff". The truck looked in pretty good condition. Such is the humour of country people.
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| 220914 A sight on the way to Hyden |
Wave Rock is part of a granite massif which is called Hyden Rock. Hyden Rock has weathered in one place to the shape of a wave about to break, forming Wave Rock. Its face is covered with algae and iron staining which add another dimension to its appearance. It is over 15m high and 110m long. We were able to clamber up to its top, from which there is an excellent 330 degree view back to Hyden and across the wheat fields. Yes, believe it or not, another 128km north and the wheat fields were still with us, as far as the eye could see. Hyden is a large grain receiving station.
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| 220914 Wave rock. Note the rock wall across its top |
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| 220914 More of Wave Rock |
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| 220914 Looking north from the top of Wave Rock |
The town of Hyden has harvested water from the rock and there is a small dam at one end. Its water is now used for stock and they have another more sizeable dam elsewhere. In 1951 the recovery factor of the water was increased by building a wall around the top of the rock, which still remains and is a bit incongruous.
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| 220914 The small dam at the end of Wave Rock taken from the rock |
Someone with a sense of humour has created some artistic representations of times past. The models sit in the main street of Hyden.
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| 220914 Self explanatory |
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| 220914 Also self explanatory |
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| 220914 Pat's bus |
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| 220914 Giddyup a Ding Dong |
There are many other "rocks" around the area and these are probably all connected underground. We popped in to see Hippo's Yawn, another rock outcrop not far from Wave Rock.
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| 220914 The Hippo's Yawn |
Another interesting day, with Wave Rock now off our bucket list.
Ah! The comfort and warmth of the caravan on our return.
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