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.