Arrived back in Alice Springs on a perfect 25oC day. This is perfect temperatures for Alice at this time of the year as it is usually a little cooler than that. We set up in the heat feeling quiet hot afterwards so promptly headed down to the lovely looking pools. The kids entered first and all stopped on the top step and squealed it was too cold. Ah as if... so Nigel and I stepped in a froze from the ankles down. The water was colder than Antarctic temperatures and the longer we left our feet in the worse it became. Our muscles started to spasm from the coldness. It was ridiculous. Austin got brave enough to take the plunge then persisted on getting the rest of us wet with bombs. Kaleb and I had enough so we got out and Jordan and Nigel continued to brave the conditions and inched themselves further into the water. What is it with pools anywhere out of Victoria. Have they not heard of solar heating. They have the sun.
The next couple of days we took it easy. The kids were exhausted after such a gruelling week of touring and travelling so they played on the jumping pillows and two parks and found kids around the park to have fun with. I really enjoyed the down time too. It gave me time to do some catch up housework. Finished in an hour. Now the rest of the time to myself...lol. Ah but alas down days can be a bit of a problem also. While Nigel was searching for a mechanic in Alice, I was hanging out washing. When I came back Jordan was walking towards me crying and looking mortified. "What's happened now?" Between the sobs and the mumbling I finally got out of Jordan that she had karate kicked Austin while she was trying to do her hair in the mirror and that he retaliated by shoving her very hard. Therefore causing the wardrobe door to be ripped off its hinges. Blasted heck how do I explain that one to Nigel without if becoming another commotion. Looks like a trip to the hardware store for us to get something to fix it.We have been on the road now five months and none of us can believe it is flying past so quickly. It has been an absolutely awesome experience and we are all looking forward to the rest of our adventure. We are all seeing the this part of the country with baby eyes. From here is all new country to explore for us and we are very excited to discover these new areas.
We took a family journey to the Truck Museum (National Road Transport Hall of Fame) in Alice. Ahhh the pain. I was bored from the onset and so was Jordan. The boys though thought it was great and Nigel stopped so many times to look at pictures and read information that I went and found a quiet spot to sit and just waited for him. The kids had a ball in the model truck so they pretended to be truckies on the road. That was cute. Next time a truck museum is offered as an option, I'm opting out and going coffee shop hunting.
Car had a service today and by the life of us we have just had to cut back our trip by a couple of weeks. The price they charged us was criminal. Ah the 'REMOTENESS TAX'. Pigs ass. They fair dinkum took us for a ride. I would hate to be a local and pay the prices they charged us. Oh well the saga continues, they tell us we have a split seal in the rear diff. Well we sort of knew something was happening as a fine mist of oil has been bleeding onto the front of the caravan and over the chains. They don't have the part to fix it or the time so we need to head to the next major town and try our luck. We were so annoyed with the Ford service team that we place a complaints call to Ford Australia. They were great but unfortunately were unable to do anything because the Ford service department in Alice is not part of the participating dealers in the capped price servicing of $270. Typical! Why would they when they can charge you extraordinary prices and quote "remoteness tax". AAAAHHHHHH
Our following ranger spoke about women's business. How they collected food, what they used to dig with, the bowls they carried and how the family circle works. It was interesting to listen to this young aboriginal guide as she was very knowledgeable about her own tribe. Our final guided walk was a stroll around the Desert Rivers Discovery walk with another aboriginal guide. He spoke about the food they can find in the area and how they found spots to drink from by using animal tracks and diggings and by looking at the plant life around the area. They call this their sixth sense. Something they say is disappearing with each generation as they are not using it as much as the western ways are taking over.
We spent the remained of the day looking around the park and enjoying the different landscapes. Our final display was at the Changing Heart Cinema. We watch a cinematic journey through the creation of the Australian Desert. It was amazing and the ending was just awe-inspiring. I'm not going to tell you what happens so come and visit and see it for yourself. You will be star struck by the amazing ending also.Our visit to the West Macdonnell Ranges was just spectacular. We drove out to the Glen Helen Gorge first then worked our way back into Alice Springs. Glen Helen Gorge was very pretty and the large ghost gum at the entrance was very amazing. Orminston Gorge was our next stop. The short walk in took us only minutes but my goodness what it open up to was very spectacular indeed. Several people were sitting around the gorge drawing her and some of them where just so detailed. I would love to have the time and the skill to be able to do that but I haven't got either.
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| Glen Helen Gorge |
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| Orminston Gorge |
We visited the Orche Pits next. This is where the aboriginal people get all their pigment from for their art. It can be used on rocks, their bodies or on other materials like canvas. The walls of this dry creek bed are just full of it and the kids had a play with some that had been ground up. We continued our drive to Serpentine Gorge, well tried to and then thought better of it as the rocks and stones on the road were puncture material and neither Nigel and I had the inclination to be stuck that dusty, rough, quiet road. After this we had an easier drive into Ellery Big Hole. I very pretty camping ground and natural plunge pool. Very pretty but smelly at present as the oxygen level have deplete in the water and the fish are dying. All very common for this time of the year. Much better in the wet season when it's warmer they say.
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| Ellery Big Hole |
From Ellery we drove past Standley Chasm ($10 entry per adult) the only spot in the entire West Macdonnell Ranges that has a charge. We thought bad luck. It wasn't midday when it was at it's best and it would be a waste of our dollars. That will be a next time stop. Have to leave something for each visit...lol. Our last stop on the WMR was Simpson's Gap. The area was very pretty again, but with it being late afternoon the gap was in shadows so I think probably not at her best. While at the gap Jordan and I got to see a black footed rock wallaby climbing the rocks. Wow they blend in and are very hard to make out. Luckily we did spot one. The boys were to far up the track to show them.
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| Simpsons Gap |
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| Flynn Grave Grave site. Founder of the Royal Flying Doctors |
Off on our next adventures. Heading north. Will be crossing the same track for at least the next 350km's so the drive might be a little uninteresting. Lets hope not.
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| Sunrise on the morning we are heading off. Isn't it pretty. |
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