TUESDAY - 18/06/13 - FINAL DAY IN ALICE SPRINGS

Today is our final day in Alice, but purely a working day in preparation for heading off to the Simpson Desert tomorrow.

First of all it was washing our clothes until we get home.

Then off to shop for supplies for the coming 10 days through the Simpson.  The relieving Motel manager - Sarah recommend butchers to visit for our meat supplies.  Dot was blown away by this Butcher's shop.

The range of meat products was unbelievable.  In addition to the normal product lines we could choose from goat, buffalo, camel burgers and camel/date sausages, kangaroo metwurst & cabana,  Duck feet & tongues, livers etc, Chicken feet / livers etc.
In addition it had a huge range of frozen seafood products sourced from Alaska, Hong Kong, New Zealand as well as around Australia.  Much of this was very reasonably priced according to Dot.

Further still it had a large range of cheeses,  sauces [ including washabi]   and  relishes eg ham jam, snag jam, pork jam, lamb jam.

They were very helpful and cryo-vacced all of the meat, even breaking down existing larger amounts into smaller parcels for our convenience.   We were adventurous and look forward to their camel products, middle eastern rissoles, kangaroo mettwurst.
Dot wants them to set up an outlet in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.  She was so excited about the shop, she immediately rang Helen [Darvell] to update her on the shop, but she was not home.  Instead Dot brought Ian upto date on the shop and its contents.

Then onto Woolworths for much canned and dried produce.

The afternoon was spent reorganising the car and getting everything back into the car, or into the roof bag.
This was quite tiring.   

No photos were taken today.

We will be outside Telecom footprint for probably the next 10 days, unless we have coverage at Birdsville.
We will update the blog when next we can.

MONDAY - 17/06/13 - VISIT TO STANDLEY CHASM & SIMPSON GAP

Started off the morning by going shopping and having a coffee/cake at the Wicked bakery.   The weather was a  sunny 19C- 20C and without the cool wind was very pleasant.

Back to the motel and prepared a salad lunch before heading off to Standley Chasm.  Scenic drive to the Chasm with stops for photo opportunities.

The walk up into the Chasm is a mixture of large quartz rocks, plants plus a little stream cascading into a
range of pools.  We arrived just after the sun was directly overhead, and Dot got some great photo shots with the sun shining brightly on
one of the walls.

The return loop walk was just over an hour.  On return to the carpark we had our salad lunch.

We then took off to Simpsons Gap and on the way we received an SMS to advise that Tony & Jennifer had arrived at the Motel.  They were attending to domestic duties and after Tony was to have a kip.

Arrived at Simpsons Gap and walked into the Gap which has a wide dry sandy river bed leading out from the Gap.   There was a waterpool in the Gap itself.  The cliff rocks were massive and there was possible signs of a large rockfall having occurred sometime ago [??? howlong ago].   The rock fall areas and surrounding grassy areas are the home of the rare black footted wallabies.......unfortunately we didn't see any.  This is a another area providing plenty photo opportunities.

Back to the Motel and we caught up with Tony & Jennifer.  Both looked very fit and refreshed by their time up north.   It was interesting to hear of their travels and challenges encountered on the Canning Stock Route and up in the Kimberleys.  Evening meal was off to a Chinese restaurant for the four of us.

SUNDAY 16/06/13 - VISIT PALM VALLEY

We met up with Jon, Lan Lan , Peter & Sue for breakfast in the Woolworths Plaza, before going our seperate ways.

We headed off to Palm Valley some 23 klm past Hermannsburg [circa 126 klm from Alice].  Our first stop was a photo opportunity of a large wedgetail eagle sitting in a tree near the road.  This road is a lot less
spectacular than the road to Glen Helen Gorge - it runs down the middle of the valley between the West Macdonnell Ranges and the Owen Springs Range, both of which are well off in the distance.

We passed signs indicating wandering stock and horses.......saw no stock and only [2] horses.  However we saw a herd of donkeys [10 - 15] on the way out and again on our return.   We have been told you do not drive at night, as the horses & wild camels sleep on the roads at night.   Along the roadside at different intervals there are pooping stations where the stock constantly return.   The locals would have a trailer full for the garden very
quickly.

We chose to go by pass  Hermannsburg and go direct to Palm Valley.   The turnoff road provided signs to greet us - 22 klm   - severe 4wd route - allow 3.0hr [return].   The road base varied from rounded river stones, to sand and rock shelfs.  Many occassions we were driving across the very wide river bed or beside it, with weathered canyon walls to our left and right.  Speed ranged from about 5klm as we negotiated the rock shelfs and hollows to 40 klm  on the hard sandy tracts.  Even though our storage boxes have tie downs they were vibratting and wobbling all over the place in the back of the Prado.

The scenery is varied and spectacular all the way into and returning from Palm Valley.

After 1hr 20 minutes driving the track, we stopped on a very large rock shelf, below the canyon wall,  about 1 klm from the end of the the valley, for our salad lunch.   A great photo spot with 2 different Palms growing around the rockface and the waterpools.  We spoke to others returning from the end of the valley, who felt it was disappointing and of no value to continue given condition of remaining track.  Given this we headed back to the tarred highway.

A brief visit to Hermannsburg Historic Village section, and then back to Alice.

A tiring day, but very satisfying seeing this unique area of Central Australia.

SATURDAY - 15/06/13 ALICE SPRINGS

After a driving day yesterday, today was spent in Alice.

After some birthday shopping research, we met up with Peter & Sue, and David & Kerryn and wandered off to view the Royal Flying Doctor Service [RFDS] Museum.  We saw a film of its history in their small theatre and then wandered around their display area of historical equipment & records.  They provide a great service to all, especially the outback areas of Australia. The RFDS currently operates a fleet of 62 planes and funding from donations & fundraisers is a key to keep these planes in the air and provide the essential services.

From there we wandered back to our vehicles and headed to the Botanic Gardens for lunch - sandwiches for all.  A quick wander around to view the plants then onto to the Transport Museum - 2 sections covering Rail [Ghan] and Trucks.  This area is staffed by volunteers from all over Australia.

We all visited the Rail Museum, which had informative displays from  the early to late 1900s.   The initial alternatives prior to rail were Camels and their "Afghan" handlers.  The pictorial display for this indicated that the Afghan handlers were not from Afghanistan, but from Pakistan and a number of surrounding provinces/countries.

An informative  video covered the history of the Ghan railway up to its suspension in the late 1980s .  We were able to wander through a couple of dining car carriages of different vintages.  The older one had coke fired Arger stoves in the kitchen area.

Peter & David opted to pay the entry fee to visit the Truck Museum, which they were a little disappointed in.

We all met for a parting dinner at an excellent Thai/Indian restaurant in the Hilton complex.

In the morning, David & Kerryn returning to Melbourne, while John, Lan Lan, Peter & Sue are heading north on the tar before diverting westward to Broome.  They are planning to met up with Tony & Jennifer [we will be travelling home with them] tomorrow night at the caravan park, some 400klm above Alice Springs.

We didn't take any photos today since meeting up with our friends was unexpected at that time (we thought we would meet up after lunch) and both cameras were back at the motel.

Friday 14-6-13. Alice Springs

Had a very interesting day today.  Picked the gang (John, Lanlan, Peter, Sue, Keren and David) up at their hotel and set out along the Larapinta Drive to the Namatjira Drive.  We had decided to go to the farthest Gorge and do other attractions on the way back as time dictated.  (Michael was designated leader by John)

The drive was great, some very nice scenery and a couple of Wedgetailed eagles sitting in a tree.

 We got to Ormiston Gorge (140 klm) at lunchtime and decided to eat before walking.  A couple of our party were not keen on walking at all (not us) but we all set out for the very short walk anyway.  Saw eagles soaring above and a cormorant on the rocks of a deep pond.  Lovely scenery and incredibly aged rocks of the usual wonderful orange/red colour with quartz veins and other rocks running through them.

Back to the car and on to Glen Helen Gorge, not nearly as spectacular I'm afraid.  I was disappointed, when I was here 40 odd years ago the Finke River had water in it in front of the bluff and was wide and deep.  Now it's a dry river bed with reeds and a few small water pockets.  One of which I, of course, stepped into.  SIGH.  The old Afghan camel driver's hut is still there, but is falling into ruin, unless something is done to preserve it, it's lifespan is diminishing.

We were now heading back to AS and the Ochre pits were our next destination.  Very interesting and quite spectacular, you are not allowed to take any, but you can see what colours could be scraped from the rocks.

Next stop Ellery Creek Big Hole, a very lovely deep water hole with high rising red rock on either side and quite a nice sandy beach.  Too cold for us to swim I'm afraid, but on a very hot day it would be most inviting.  Michael chatted to some people who had been walking for nine days doing the big walking
trail (some 200+ klm) they had done half in the nine days.




On the way back Michael and I stopped off to take photo of John Flynn's grave (the father of the Flying Doctors Service).  The Rock on his grave is a sacred rock from the Devil's Marbles some kilometres further north.


It was now getting late in the afternoon so we headed off to our respective Motels to meet later for tea.  Went to the Red Ochre which seemed appropriate after our day.

THURSDAY 13/06/13 - ALICE SPRINGS

We awake to a bright sunrise with the few clouds a vivid pink.    The clouds cleared but the crisp morning soon cleared to a lovely warm day.

Today was a domestic duties day - first opportunity to do any washing since the trip began.  The bag was overflowing, and we took up half the rotary clothes hoist.

We then went into the city centre and did some shopping for a very nice ham salad lunch which Dot prepared back at the motel.  We sat by the pool and ate this.

Then back into town to visit the Information Centre and wander through the mall, viewing some of the aboriginal artworks for sale.

We then caught up with John & Lan Lan Walsh, Peter & Sue Daunton, [members of our 2011 trip] and David & Kerryn ?? at Lasseters Casino, where they are staying for the next few days, after arriving today.

We made our way through the large  pokies section, where John said "we could see our taxes clearly at work" - referring to the numerous people at the machines and found our way to the Juicy Steak Bar for a meal.  They have a system that if you join Club Lasseters [ for free], you are entitled to 10% discount on meals/drinks & accommodation.   We all went off to join and received benefits immediately.

It was great to catch with our past travelling companions.   We will be doing a series of short trips with them over the next few days.   No photos taken today.

WEDNESDAY 12/06/13 - GEMTREE TO ALICE SPRINGS [ VIA BINNS TRACK]

 We had a fairly sleepless night unfortunately.  The wind blew up very strongly and the tent flapped about since we hadn't put guy ropes on the fly.  The verandah caught the wind and lifted and the tent pole clattered to the ground.  Michael felt that he had to get up and do something about it.  He tied the verandah down which stopped the problem, but were well awake by this time.  A little later he decided to move the car into the wind's path, this seemed to settle things a bit.

We decided to return to Alice Springs via the outback route rather than back down the highway on the tar.

We left around 9.15am  and were very glad of this decision, because the terrain was so diverse and interesting - many  rugged mountain ranges, valley floors, dried up river beds, plants in flowers and wildlife - kangaroos, dingoes, eagles and birds, as well as cattle.  Some spectacular scenery, you can see how old Australia really is when you see the great piles of weathered rocks forming mountain ranges.


At one stage we took a side road that was in better condition than the main road, due to recent grading in readiness for the cattle roadtrains.  We finished up in an area where cattle were being mustered and were redirected back onto the track which linked backup to the main road.....all part of the adventure.  To allay worries, we weren't lost, we had the GPS on and knew that we had strayed.  It was obvious that the road we were on looped back to the main track.

We were constantly stopping for photos and around lunch time came across a historical gold mining village of Arltunga.  It is in the middle of nowhere and has this impressive Visitor Centre with videos of the areas history.  We met some other travellers there who indicated we should go back and see the old township.  We took them up and spent time wandering around the old township and taking photos of the old stone buildings and the Government operated battery. (Dot) Photos are a disappointment, the light was so  bright that the colours seem washed out.  I should have used the Nikon, still I can play around later and 'fix' them.

Continuing on we came into the back of the East MacDonnell Ranges and saw a series of Gaps/Gorges  and other geological formations.   The colours in the rock formations is so bright and vivid especially when the sun is shining directly onto it.  By this stage we were back on the tar of the Ross River Higway.   The bulk of the unmade roads we were on were defined as 4wd only, but apart from some corrugated areas a normal vehicle would have handled this provided it was not excessively wet.

We finally arrived in Alice Springs around 4.30pm. and settled into our Motel.

We were in a bed and sleep came easily for me after a few sleepless nights on the mat on the ground.

TUESDAY 11/06/13 - GEMSTONE HUNTING [GARNETS]

 Gemtree is in the Central Gemstone Fields where one can fossick for garnets and zircons.  We came here to do some fossiking so we booked in for the gemstone tour.  We are doing the garnets fields, we won't go to the zircons, the guide for that does not work today.

We met three other parties [ 2 couples & 1 family of 6] at the park's assembly point to collect our gemstone finding equipment - pick, spade, [4] sieves, [2] buckets, 20 ltr of water and most important a collection tin.  These tours happen nearly every day.

 At 8:30am we set of to the Garnet gemstone fields some 28 klm further up the Plenty Highway, passing  wandering dingoes on the way.   The area resembles a bit of a war zone with "fox holes" everywhere from previous diggings.

Our laconic guide Lynton, claims he knew all our names -  "Bloke" for the men, "Sheila" for the ladies and "Kids" for the children.

Lynton demonstrated what we had to do -

• dig over a section of the undisturbed ground with the pick;
• shovel loose material  into a bucket and then transfer to;
• [2] sieves were for dry sieving to get rid of the dirt and obvious rubbish;
• [2] sieves for wet sieving;
• holding up the wet sieve to the sunlight and picking out anything that shines red!!!

Then it was off to work, which was very dusty and dirty......old clothes being the order of the day.

All parties were very excited by their first finds.   All parties tended to work as their own team, with me doing the digging and dry sieving and Dot doing the wet sieving and garnet detecting.   After a while I started to pick up a few garnets at the dry sieving stage.

Unlike a couple of experienced gemstone hunters from Qld, who had their own equipment to ensure that they were not bending over and straining their back, I was bending over sieving and Dot was sitting on the ground getting covered in dust and water from the wet sieving.  The family of [6] had all the children actively involved and the kids young eyes were picking up garnets just by walking over previously worked areas.

We all packed it in around 1.15pm as it was getting too hot and then went back to the Caravan Park where a gemstone cutter inspected our finds and graded them.
Dot picked up the find of the day....a solid tear drop shaped garnet 8mm x 6mm, along with a number of solids between 7mm and 3.5mm.

We then found out that they could not only polish the gemstones, but they could also cut and convert the stones into various forms of jewellery.   Dot has commissioned the large find for a pendant (the stone will not be large once cut) and a couple of other garnets into ear rings.

Back to the tent and onto the showers for a good clean up and fresh clothes.

An enjoyable day, but not one I would like to do every day to make a living!!!!

The night sky is so clear up here without any background reflective light, with a brand new moon. 

MONDAY - 10/06/13 - TRAVEL DAY - KINGS CREEK STATION TO GEMTREE CARAVAN PARK [PLENTY HIGHWAY]

Hi Belle, Mikey, Asher and Jarvis.....We forgot to tell you in the last blog that Kings Creek Station has lots of camels and a very young white camel called Snowy.   Nanna went down and took a photo for you all.

A big driving day today, firstly heading back to the Stuart Highway [approx 2.5 hours], The Erldunda service station which was packed with 4wds and caravan rigs of all shapes and sizes. A quick sandwich & coke  then onto Alice Springs for a fuel stop.   From there a further 130klm to Gemtree Caravan Park on the Plenty Highway.

On the outskirts of Alice Springs, we passed the assembly point for the finish of the  Finke Desert Rally [ one of the Territory's biggest evets], which has been held over the previous 2-3 days.   Vehicles and bikes of all descriptions, including competitors were starting to leave the complex in a steady stream.

We got in around 4.30pm, just before their closure, and set up the tent on an unpowered site called "Tourmaline".   All the sites are named after gemstones.  The ground was very unforgiving on the tent pegs with quite a number becoming bent.

SUNDAY 09/06/13 - KINGS CANYON

Fantastic we woke up to some warmth and we both got out out T-shirts for a change.

After breakfast it was off to Kings Canyon to do possibly a couple of walks.  We are some 32 klm from Kings Canyon and we could see the results of fires early this year, started by lightning ….there is nothing left on the ground except red sand and the surviving upright casuarinas.  The fire has burnt right up to the resort – our helicopter pilot told us yesterday that they had to evacuate the resort residents to Alice Springs – some 300+klm away on partially unsealed roads.

Dot was getting apprehensive about which walk she would do…….wanting desperately to do the canyon rim, but was worried about her hip & knee and fitness.  The rim walk is 6klm in a suggested time of 3.50 hours.  First part of the rim was  a 100 metre ascension to the canyon rim, up rocky steps, which we could see before we started.  One of our friends tells us that there are 800 vertical steps, not sure if he counted them or read it somewhere.

Dot decided she was going to attempt this walk, after seeing a number of oldies taking it on, but also to prove to those who said she would not be able to do it, wrong!!!!.   So we took off with many resting stops on the way…the heart was thumping over the latter part of getting to the canyon rim.  The scenery is spectacular and diverse – especially when you arrive above the Garden of Eden with its reflective pools.  The first part of the walk on the canyon rim was comfortable with some shade and delightful cooling breezes.  However once we got beyond halfway, we both found it hard going as there was no shade and the temperatures were rising.  Our water ran out around about 1 klm from the carpark.  You definitely need plenty of water to undertake these walks. 

Dot Here……..

We took 3 hrs 50 mins, Michael could have done it faster, I was the stone around his neck, however, I DID IT!  We saw another couple (oldies like us) take off before us and we caught and passed them on the way back , so we weren’t the slowest.  Others found it difficult too.  However, those under 30 almost ran around it.  I was very envious.  I am buggered!

Michael again…..

Dot was very proud of herself in achieving this canyon walk.    We drove back to Kings Creek Station and just veged for a couple of hours before having a tasty camel burger for tea. 

Yulara to King’s Creek Station 8-6-13

Packed the tent and had a pleasant drive to King’s Creek Station where we have decided to use as our base for King’s Canyon. King’s Creek Station is about 35 klm from King’s Canyon and began as a camel catching business.   They have Camel rides and quad bike rides in addition to helicopter rides and camping/accommodation.

The sun broke through in a few places today which was very nice to see, hope it’s a promise of things to come.  Took a couple more photos of Mt Conner, hoping that they will look different to the original ones we took.

We got here about 1:00, put up the tent, had lunch and went to investigate the options for a helicopter ride.  Most people we meet seem to think that I will not be able to do the rim walk at the Canyon so we were looking at the option to fly over Kings Canyon $275 each for 35 mins.  On chatting to the pilot he suggested the $310 trip, 45 mins.  We asked him if he gave seniors discounts (doesn’t happen if you don’t ask).  He said if we took the $460 (each trip) he could do it for $368 (each) for a 55 minute trip.  Sorry boys we are spending your inheritance – hehe.  We decided to take this one since we will probably never be here or do it again.

The station has  a policy to give their staff a helicopter ride at some stage and since we were 2 and the copter takes 3, we had Ngami with us.  She is a cook here and has waited 2 months for her ride.  It was fantastic!  The country that you never see is amazing, much of it unexplored.  Canyon upon canyon, valleys and craters (from erosion), thousands of dried up water runs looking like veins running across the sand.  We saw horses, wild cattle and camels.  The erosion is incredible, cracks and gullies run everywhere.

There is a badly damaged new van parked over near the camel run, it appears that the driver hit a fast running horse, he was unhurt luckily, but it shows how careful you have to be.  No driving flat out with eyes only on the road.  We don't know about the horse.

We are the only tent on our patch of grass and it is much quieter here than at the Yulara resort, however we need to  be on the lookout for a wandering calf that attacked our tent while we were on our helicopter ride.  We came back to find the ‘veranda’ tent pole lying on the ground and the pole likewise.  At first we thought that the wind had caught the tent and pulled it out, but a caravanned came across and told us about the calf, he said it went wild.  Michael chased it off again later.

We took many photos on our ride, but the windows of the copter were ‘milky’ so they are not as sharp as they could be.  Sigh.

FRIDAY 07/06/13 - KATA TJUTA [OLGAS]

Woke up again to a wet tent and lazily emerged from our warm sleeping bags around 8.00am.

Following breakfast and tidy up we headed out to Kata Tjuta for a great day.   The weather stayed overcast and cool but no rain - ideal walking conditions .  On the way a couple of roadside stop for photos of native plants in flower.

Kata Tjuta is east of Uluru and the aboriginal name means "many heads".  The area consists of a mass of 36 conglomerate domes, with the tallest dome some 200 metres higher than Uluru.

Our first walk of the day was the Valley of the Winds, which definitely lived up to its name.  We started off heading to the Karu Lookout - a moderate graded walk, which was interesting seeing the different geological forms of rock.   Talking to fellow walkers returning, we needed to continue on a further 1.6klm to the Karingana Lookout - Graded Difficult.  Dot sent me on with the camera as she felt she would not be capable of negotiating the steep terrain and steps.

I headed off over a range of terrain, some very easy, some steep ascents and descents over rocks, scree etc.

Delightful little ponds and streams crossed the path in many places.  As I moved deeper into the canyons, these areas were protected from the cold winds and it became quite warm walking.  I was grateful for a rest area that had drinking water available.  The large conglomerate boulders often strewn either side of the path were fascinating.

The final rise to the Karingana Lookout was very steep series of steps, and the heart was pumping on reaching the top, but what a view of the valleys beyond and further series of domes beyond.  I hope the pictures do the area justice.

The round trip of 5.4 klm suggetsted time was 2.5 hrs, but I achieve it in just over 1.75hrs - quite pleasing but I am stiffening up tonight and will be sore tomorrow.

Dot used one of her walking poles on this trip and had a few comments of what a good idea and an offer to buy it off her - name your price!!!!

We headed to the Sunset viewing area  - picnic tables and toilets - only ones in the area.

After lunch walking back to the car we saw a healthy cat behind the amenities block.  We reported this to the attending ranger, who will log it and ultimately traps will be set.

Then off to Walpa Gorge - another Grade 3 Moderate Walk of 2.6 klm return.  This was no where as busy as the Valley of the Winds.  It was an interesting walk with lots of small streams surrounded by trees, bushes and even ferns on the water's edge.  Conglomerate boulders of many sizes were scattered in the valley floor.

The further we went the Gorge narrowed and increased presence of climbing plants and shrubs.  The climber Pandorea doratoxylon was in flower.  Many areas of the walk consisted of raised platforms for walking on, as well as seating/viewing stations provided.

Back to the car and we could see the weather starting to breakup and patches of blue sky  and sunlight streaming through.  This is promising for tomorrow.

Returning to Yulara we passed the turn off to the WA border, red dirt highway with signs indicating permits are required.  We will need to follow up this for the prospective trip to the Pilbra next year.

Next was roadside stopping area with a track leading off to a sand dune viewing platform  for a photo opportunity of Kata Tjuta in the late afternoon light.

On arrival back at Yulara, it was off for a refreshing beer and bubbles for Dot... then home for tea.

Blog update was interspersed with an evening of conversation with a young French couple who have been living in New Caledonia.

Uluru 6-6-13

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL.

It rained all night, and both of us had little sleep, with the Generator providing a loud roar all night.  It is louder at night due to no other background noise.

It is still miserable weather, stayed dry most of the day, but very overcast and a bit cold.  We went to Uluru today $25 dollars each for 1-3 day passes, a bit expensive if you just want to go for a look.

The climb is closed due to suspected rain, a lot of young people from overseas are quite disappointed about this.  I cannot believe how steep the climb is, I remembered that it was of course, but not really how much.  I feel quite proud of myself for having climbed it years ago when I was young.  Couldn't do it now.

43 years ago 7 people had died whilst climbing the rock, now the count it over 35.  We were speaking to a ranger who said that most of the deaths occur in the last 15 metres.  We didn't attempt the base circuit walk, my knee and hip were playing up and Michael couldn't be bothered to go without me, although I was happy for him to do it if he wished.

We did a couple of small walks Mala walk and Kantju Gorge and the Lungkata walk. At the Kantju Gorge there was a small pond at the base of the rock with quite a few large tadpoles in it.  An aborigine who was taking a tour group around said that they were the tadpoles of the burrowing frog.  After rain it emerges from its burrow to breed.   By this time I had had enough, so we went to the cultural centre for a look and a coffee. 

We then drove to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), which are very impressive.  We went on a dune walk (a sort of lookout at Kata Tjuta) and then a small walk through Walpa Gorge.  We didn't get far and will tackle them tomorrow.

Erldunda to Yulara Resort 5-06-13

Got away just before 9 this morning, it started to rain as we were packing the car.  I was really surprised by the countryside; last time I was here we could see acres of red soil, this year it is covered  with vegetation, shrubs, small trees, spinfex even green grass!

We stopped at Curtain Springs - 100 k short of Yulara.  They are a very generous station, there is free camping (unpowered sites) with showers and toilets.  This is a real rarity.

We saw 4 dingoes today so that was exciting.  We finally got to the Yulara Resort, this is the only place you are allowed to camp now and it is 20 ks from the rock!

As we set up the tent it started to  rain and has been raining off and on all afternoon.  We are sitting in the camp kitchen to write this and it is still raining.  This isn't a lot of fun camping.  We spent the afternoon looking around the resort. Shops, post office, supermarket, restaurant etc.  It is very expensive here, our unpowered tent site is costing us $108 for 3 nights, helgas bread is $6.90 a loaf (frozen) looking at the useby date - February!



An aboriginal dance troop put on a free dance show at 4 this afternoon.  Michael and I participated, Michael went up to dance a kangaroo dance (he was given the job as the old man of the troop and had to keep a lookout for threats) and the audience was asked if anyone knew how a dingo howled.  I think  I must have moved my hand slightly and I was urged to  give a rendition, which I did.  It must have been OK since the MC asked everone to copy me.  We had to  howl when prompted.  The dancers were very good, we all enjoyed ourselves.

Tomorrow we go to have a look at the rock.

TUESDAY 04/06/13 - COOBER PEDY TO ERLDUNDA

A Travelling day of near 500 klm so not a lot to report.

The country was predominantly flat with signs of fire in a number of places.  Stopovers at Marla and Kulgera for a coffee and lunch and a break from driving.
The outside temperatures were in the low to mid teens and we have minimal warm clothing.

Minimal animal life seen - a few beef cattle, brumbies and some birdlife - wedgetail eagles [2] crows and a few flocks of white cockatoos and an emu or two at Erldunda.

Numerous signs indicating no fencing and to beware of cattle on the road.  One sign that had been altered from...CAUTION CATTLE X ING to CAUTION CATTLE TXTING amused us.

With our arrival in the Northern Territory the speed limits changed to 130kph and when you are travelling at around 105kph, you feel like you are standing still as drivers took advantage of the increased speed limit and passed us.

With rain threatening we decide the soft option of a motel room over the tent for the one night at Erldunda - the turnoff to Uluru [ Ayers Rock].   Rainfall here varies between drought & flood - over the last 10 years the rainfall has varied between a low of 75mm per annum and 775mm per annum.

At this location we saw numerous Triple and the odd Four unit Road Trains.  According to the drivers these were 53.6metres in length.

MONDAY 03/06/13 - COOBER PEDY

We found the Underground Room very warm last night, only requiring a sheet for covering.   According to local information temperatures underground are a steady 25degrees Celsius.

After self prepared breakfast, we headed out for taking in the local sights.

Firstly off to Fayes underground home - one of the first underground homes in Coober Pedy.  Faye at 30 years of age, along with assistance from 2 girl friends started this many roomed home, back in the 1960s.  

The house included an in ground swimming pool, with water trucked from Port Augusta to fill, when water was rationed in 44 gallon drums at the time to individuals.   She was quite an entrepreneur being involved in many areas of the town, including accommodation and opal sales. 

Next stop was Harry's Crocodiles  located about 4 klm out of town amongst the hills, working claims and mullock heaps.
Harry was originally from Germany and was an established crocodile hunter in the Northern Territory.  He moved to Coober Pedy, following the NT Government revoking the ability to hunt/shoot crocodiles back in the 1960s.  His set up contains a vast arrange of kitsch as well as carvings in the underground walls.  Tourists have left all sorts of graffiti, personal items etc which are diplayed on the walls /ceilings. He seems to have been a big hit with the travelling females, based on what "trophies" are displayed.   Included in this material is Tina Turner's knickers from her time in the area filming Mad Max 3.  Very entertaining wandering around taking it all in.

Following this it was a drive around the unmade roads with the red clayey mud building up on the tyres - they had unseasonal heavy rain last week, over a 24 hour period.   According to statistics Coober Pedy is lucky if it has 29 days of rain per year.

A visit to The Big Miner followed where we shown and informed about the range of colourful opals her husband had mined.....he had been here for over 50 years, coming from Greece to assist his brother who was already established at Coober Pedy.  She had spent part of her time in Adelaide to enable her children to get a good education.   Now that she was a grandmother she was back assisting her husband in the shop.  One of the specimens she showed us was a colourful opalised Pippi shell, proving this area was originally an inland sea.

All the opals with the very vivid colours did not have prices on them, and as Dot says ..."the ones you aspire to have, you cannot afford to buy"

We called into the Up Market Desert Oasis Hotel/Motel complex.   It has a major underground display of  the geology of opals and  the history of Coober Pedy and its mining processes.  Recommend visit for all visitors to Coober Pedy, plus it is free unlike a number of other sites.

After lunch, we visited some of the underground churches - the Catholic and the Presbyterian were small and intimate, while the Serbian Church was on a much grander scale with multi level curved ceilings and sculptures [5' - 6' high] carved into the rock-face.  The Serbian Church was approaching its 20th anniversary and on the outside of the church a large inscribed Granite tablet was displayed with details of the anniversary having been dedicated on the 4th August 2013 [yet to happen].  Additionally a large monument for the mounting of a similar Granite tablet was being built by volunteers in the carpark.  In the carpark also there

was an avenue of fruit trees growing in the crushed and powdered rock, with a range of vegetables [ tomatoes, melons, silverbeet & pumpkins] around the base of the trees.   Horrendous conditions, but dedicated volunteers keeping up the watering helps them survive.

Mid afternoon and we decided we needed a coffee at the Underground Restaurant with the biggest didgeridoos......nice coffee but $7.00 a cup each!!!!

Back to the motel and discussion with other travellers who have to change their plans as their inland route to WA on the Anne Beadell Highway is too risky following the heavy rains.

Dot went up on to the hilltop [ roof area of back to back motels] to get pictures of the sunset - a bit cloudy and nothing like that at Robe on the coast.

Visited Tom & Mary's Greek Restaurant for evening tea...the calamari was great.

A busy and satisfying day to conclude our stay in Coober Pedy.