Alice Springs Day 3

Sunday, not always a day of rest on the road! There was a bit of sorting out before we move on again.
First up, I went for a bike ride around the town mainly to see how the town recovered from all the activities that happened in Alice Springs yesterday. Surprisingly, it was quite clean and tidy and not like Byron Bay on New Year’s morning. The fences and temporary structures for the Henley on Todd regatta were mostly down and being packed up onto trucks. The area looked very tidy especially compared to further up and down the Todd River bed where the aborigines had overnighted. The Todd Mall had market stalls being set up as I came back.
When I returned it was shower time. Prue went off to have pancakes in the caravan park. I did not feel like them so I filled the water tanks on the Karavan and emptied various waste into appropriate receptacles.
About 10.00am we went out to the National Transport Museum. Prue was not interested so she sat in the shade and read. There are two sections, the Ghan railway and road transport. I opted to look through the road transport part.
On entering, a volunteer gives a briefing on the display and where to find each part. I started with an overview of most makes of road transport, e.g., the origin of Kenworth, Volvo, etc.

Then I entered the Hall of Fame where people that have excelled in the road transport industry are recognised. Many are from the Central Australian region as this region has relied heavily on road transport for its survival. One in particular that is famous is Noel Buntine who was instrumental in the transport of large numbers of cattle by road train to sea board and in his case especially opening up roads to take cattle to Wyndham in Western Australia.
Other names included the founders of the Brown and Hurley Group who are the largest distributor of heavy vehicles in most of Eastern Australia. Others mentioned include the founders of companies we see on the roads almost every day, such as Jim Pearson, Lindsay Fox, Lindsay Brothers. It was very interesting to read about some lesser known but important operators across the country.
Then I walked into the restored vehicle display area. There were makes from most eras. One that had a big impact in the remote areas was the B model Mack truck
while not forgetting some of those original road train prime movers such as some ex army trucks in the late 1940s. These are all able to be driven and look almost as good as the day they were made.
Outside there are many trucks awaiting the tender loving care of a volunteer.

A big line up of former military “Blitz” trucks await some care. There are also graders that were so necessary in putting in and maintaining the tracks. Many of these are also driveable.

Several large items include “Big Bertha” which was a major road train prime mover. It has been fully restored and is hooked up with trailers and under cover. Nearby are the workshops that the restoration takes place in.
A little further on is a large shed. It is the Kenworth Dealers building. It is airconditioned. Outside there a few Kenworths that have retired and live under cover. Inside there is a wonderful display of a large range of the Kenworth models that have all been restored. They include SAR and W models that have been very common. It is a very big display and very informative.

Then I re-entered the first building and did a walk through taking in more about the industry along with much memorabilia relating to it.
After that visit, we went into town to get a few items such as a new Leatherman tool to replace the one I lost somewhere along the Oodnadatta track. While in the same shop we bought some special bags to store unneeded blankets and clothes in to try to keep a bit of dust off them as I return home.
Then a coffee and a walk around the Sunday Alice Springs markets which looked like any others. Some more items from Woolworths and back to the Karavan for lunch. Prue has made some sandwiches for freezing and ultimate use along the journey.
I greased and checked around and under both the Karavan and Bravo to try to find any problems. Thankfully, I did not find any problems at all. My careful driving and lowering of tyre pressures to traverse the rough roads appears to have worked, so far. Time will tell if that is the way it stays. While everything was out on slides we rearranged items across the back of the Bravo.
Then we went for a swim as the temperature is about 36 degrees. To jump into the pool is a bit of a shock as the water feels quite cold and is even after the body adapts to it. It is very refreshing though.
This evening, we joined with Russell and Julie for a scrumptious stir fry. We had nibbles before the meal and some red wine both prior to and during dinner. It was followed by a really nice fruit salad.
So a fairly early night to bed especially after staying up so late to watch the delayed Rugby telecast of the Wallabies defeat at the hand of the All Blacks.

Alice Springs Day 2

We managed to get a bit organised this morning and out of the Karavan before it became too hot.

I managed to leave it around 0700 for a bike ride. The sun does not rise very early here. My ride took me into the CBD of Alice Springs. This was so we could find a parking spot later in the morning that would allow us to stay for a while. There were quite a number of cyclists out and about. Not as many as we see around Ballina but nonetheless a good number. I only did about an hour. My knee is causing me some concern unfortunately. It probably needs a good massage from Cath to help. On return to the Karavan, Prue had almost ready a cappuccino. It was just like after nay ride at home!

We moved from the Caravan Park into the CBD as this morning, being the day of the Henley on Todd regatta, the participants from all States in the Variety Club Bash drove most of the 700 cars through the Mall. There was noise of all types from simple car horns to sirens and even a gas gun going off. Numerous cars had passengers that had water pistols to spray at bystanders. It was interesting to see the types of older cars and how they had been set up to do this trip from their various start points.

While all this was occurring, we enjoyed coffees with Russell and Julie. It was a nice way to spend an hour or so on a Saturday morning in Alice Springs.

Then we wandered down through the Mall towards where the Henley on odd Regatta is being held. There was a very large crowd. The announcer asked for the local residents to respond with voice and then the visitors. I believe the visitors were n much more numbers. Anyway, the fund raising venture by the Alice Springs Rotary Clubs raise a lot of money along with having a lot of fun. We had some nice roast beef rolls for lunch.

We eventually walked back to our now frequented coffee shop where we all had fruit smoothies as it was now a bit hot for a coffee. After sitting there for a while we decided to wander on looking at some shops. Finally, we were at our vehicles and decided it would be a great idea to go for a swim on our return to the Caravan Park. However, we decided to restock the travelling wine cellar, Mazda Bravo! As alcohol is restricted in the Northern Territory, we did manage to get a dozen bottles today.

We returned to the Caravan Park and then did get into the pool where the water was more than refreshing. It is amazing how cool the water is although the air temperature is quite high. The decision we all made after the swim was to go for a ‘nanna’ nap.

Alice Springs

No photos today.
This morning I did not rise too early as it was my birthday! Prue cooked a nice omeltte for me. Then I did a bike ride into Alice Springs along the dry Todd River. It is so nice early in the morning especially after yesterday was around 34 degrees. No bad for winter!!
I returned from my ride after going through the town CBD and getting a bit of an idea where various places were located. Prue made a nice cappucino after she had done some early washing.
After that we went into Alice Springs to purchase various items to resupply for the trip I will be doing on my own to Birdsville. Top of my list were some more shorts as it is too warm to wear jeans during the day.
We retuned from town with a heap of groceries and they were located where there is some chance I may find them when required.
A bit a a rest then Russell and Julie called inviting me to go to town for a nice cappucino and cake for my birthday. So we all went into the Todd Mall and into a nice coffee cafe. It is amazing how cosmopolitan this town is. Not only do you hear lots of aboriginal chatter but also a lot of European accents, too. They are a big and valuable resource to these communities.
On our return I set up the massage table as another couple we have made friends with, Rowan and Karen, asked if they could get a massage as they depart for the north tomorrow. I do not think I have drunk so much water as I did doing these massages. It is very drying here.
Later it was time for our evening drinks. Prue had been swimming in the pool with Russell and Julie and brought back some beers and alcoholic cider. So that was with nibbles. Then Prue put together a beautiful stir fry on our seldom used but wonderful wok.
After dinner, we walked down to the caravan park Kiosk and had an icecream and I also had another cappucino.
So ended a lovely day, especially having heard from my two sons, sister and niece by phone as well as numerous emails and messages on Facebook from friends from all over the world, including USA Gemany, South Africa, Lithuania, the UK and all over Australia. Thankyou all for making my day even better.

Glen Helen to Alice Springs

Today we packed up from Glen Helen and we will not return to that location due to its shabby state and expensive sites with little infrastructure.

We turned left and travelled a short distance to the Mount Sonder lookout. In the relatively early morning light, the colours again look amazing. The air was clear especially after a cool night which is experienced here.

Our next stop, that was around 90 kilometres away, was at the famous Stanley Chasm. It is an area that I remember reading about as a child. Unfortunately, I cannot actually remember the context of the material.

On arrival at Stanley Chasm, we were very pleasantly surprised to find it run by the local aboriginal community. It is the cleanest and most tidy location we have been to. It is an absolute credit to these people. To top it off, the kiosk operator mad one of the best cappuccinos we have had for a long time. We complimented her on her expertise and she was typically embarrassed by the praise. We did have another lot of cappuccinos after our lunch as they were so good.

More of the aborigines should make the effort and get off benefits to achieve other profitable enterprises in this area. They are owners of all the areas we have been in but none work here. The Alice Springs area is inundated by unemployed aborigines who have no intention of working even when offered opportunities.

After lunch we departed Stanley Chasm for Alice Springs. We had booked a site in the McDonnell Range Holiday Park. It is very large with around 400 sites and a lot of cabins, too. It appears to be very clean and the sites are adequate with power and water available.

Today, we set up the awning as we are here until at least Tuesday next week. We plan to do a big sort out and restock ready for me to go across the Plenty Highway.

Just after sundown, we joined Russell and Julie for drinks before we went for a pizza meal about 400 metres away. A very popular place to eat and with 3 caravan parks almost joining it, it would have to be a profitable business.

We wandered back and I bought a cappuccino as we came into the Park. Quite ordinary, though. So that was our day.

Gorges from Glen Helen

Wednesday and we did not have to pack up today.
This morning we were on the move comparatively early to enable us to get to the various scenic locations before the forecast 30+ degree heat caught up with us.
On leaving the Resort, we turned west onto Namatjira Drive and drove about 25 kilometres to Redbank Gorge. The road in was very corrugated gravel and went for about 8 kilometres. The road ended in a car park where it also told us about the walk in front of us. Also, there was an article about the Larapinta Trail. I am pleased I drove from Alice Springs when you see some of the trail!
We strolled into the Gorge and Prue took numerous photos. Unfortunately, the Gorge was dry so we only had dry loose sand to walk on. Our walk took us some distance in until we decided that we had come far enough. So we returned to our vehicle. As we drove out we notice quite a large number of campers in the camping areas. Maybe we should have been in one of these than the second rate Resort!
Our next destination was the Mount Sonder lookout that is just over the road from Glen Helen Gorge. It was time for a quick look and some photos before we moved onto the famous Ormiston Gorge.

The car park at Ormiston Gorge is quite large and by the time we left there were many vehicles in it. There is a visitor’s centre which has extensive descriptions of the area with advice on the various walks.
Prue wanted to go to the lookout and get some photos. I made a tentative start but returned to the car park as my knee was not working at all well. So I made my way down to the waterhole in the Gorge. There was a small amount of water in it but it did not look at all enticing to swim in. As I walked back, I saw Prue up in the lookout.
Prue ended in doing the whole Ghost Gum walk and was away for about 2 hours. She told me it was stunning and that I would not have made easy work of the path. Just what I needed to hear! Anyway she took some great photos.
While Prue was walking, I made a coffee and chatted to various people as they passed by the covered area I was in. When Prue returned, I made her a coffee, too.
Then we set off to the Ochre Pit which is in a creek.

It was a few kilometres further along the road. Again, into the car park and we read the information about this ochre. It is a mixture of various amounts of clay and iron oxide and the white was kaolin. It is in vertical layers and is astonishing to see. There is so much of it. The aborigines have used it for ceremonial decorations. It is a sacred men’s location and the women are only given some for the same functions. They used it mixed with various animal fats or eucalyptus leaves for a variety of medical conditions. Visitors are asked not to touch or remove any of it and a fine of up to $5000 can be applied to those that do.
Then we returned for a late lunch and another of Prue’s homemade cappuccinos which are usually superior to a lot of the ones we have tasted on the way. The afternoon was quite hot, up to the mid 30 degrees. So any sensible people go for shade and coolness. Looking from our Karavan we can see numerous people walking in Glen Helen Gorge without hats or water and often just with thongs on their feet. About 300 metres from our location is a helipad for visitors to take flights ranging in price from $50.00 for about 10 minutes around the Gorge and obviously more for further away trips.
The afternoon had us taking it fairly quietly as it was very warm, but nice. Late in the afternoon we walked down to the resort to have an ice cream and a cool drink while sitting in the shade looking at the cliffs leading into Glen Helen Gorge.
As usual, we had a BBQ and vegetables for dinner helped along by our red wine. A near caravan park neighbour, Col, came over for a chat and he and his wife may accompany me across the Plenty Highway to Boulia, next week, with their camper trailer and four wheel drive.
So the day ended for our visit to the West MacDonnell ranges.

Erldunda to Glen Helen Gorge

Tuesday, we packed up the Karavan at a good hour as we were aiming for Glen Helen Resort on the Namatjira Drive, roughly west of Alice Springs by about 150 kilometres. So the day’s drive did total around 350 kilometres.
We said good bye to David and Merilyn as they moved on south while we went north and then west. As we left we spoke to some others we had been parked next to in Kings Canyon. They were originally from Goondiwindi and they knew of Andrew as well as him knowing them, too.
Our first stop was at Stuarts’s Well. The family of the man that opened up Kings Canyon moved to this location setting up a roadhouse and camping facility. Again, we caught up the “Chookman” all loaded up ready to head for his sometime hometown of Renmark in Victoria.
Next we moved along taking in the changing scenery. One can never really become bored in this area as the skyline is always changing, from flat to hilly to mountainous and everything in between.
After a few hours on the road we arrived in Alice Springs. We drove through, noting where the turnoff to the MacDonnell ranges known as Namatjira Drive. Eventually, we found a service station and refuelled even though we may have had plenty to go to Glen Helen Resort. In these areas it is always wise to refuel when you see a fuel stop. It may be a very long way to the next one.
After our refuel, we went into the Coles shopping complex and found a Cafe/Bakery that made a reasonable coffee. While there we purchased some sandwiches for our lunch later on.
Then we made way to Glen Helen Resort. It took us about two hours to get here. On arrival we booked in and found a site. The KKaravan has a different awning as the ground did not endear itself to the normal KK awning. It is a tarp’ with some little Dees attached to slide into the KK’s sail track. It is doing the job of giving us shade but it does flap around.
This resort is not a resort but a tired old place that charge exorbitant rates for a powered site, $30.00 per night! The buildings are quite run down and the ablution blocks are very ordinary. The sites are nothing but red dirt and stones. There is no useable water but that is not uncommon up here. If we knew better we could have camped elsewhere for very little.
As we finished our lunch, our new friends, Rowan and Karen with their boys arrived. We knew they were going to be here and we had parked beside them. The boys were excited to see us again.
Later in the cool of the afternoon, we wandered down to Glen Helen Gorge. It is about 1 kilometre from the campsite. There is a spectacularly scenic walk to get to it. Some of the walk is in the river bed which is both sandy and stony. When we arrived at the Gorge we were pleasantly surprised to see a large body of water in it. Some people were swimming but told us it was somewhat cold. There were some people climbing the sheer cliff face nearby. It is not for the faint hearted.

As the sun was by now set, it was time to have our nibbles and red wine. Karen and Rowan were busy with their boys so we imbibed on our own. Karen invited us to share Spaghetti bolognaise with them. So Karen and Prue organised dinner which was really nice and different. Another bottle of red wine was sourced from our stash for dinner. An exquisite evening with these lovely new friends.

Kings Canyon to Erldunda Roadhouse

Monday, was the day we departed Kings Canyon Resort for our destination of Erldunda which is on the corner of the Stuart and Lasseter Highways.

The awning had to be dismantled but we seem to be getting better and quicker at getting it packed away. As we left the Resort we said farewell to several couples that were up and about but 0800. We opted to get away early so as to relax when we arrived.

As we travelled this morning, we endured showers and strong headwinds, in the desert. Our travel went for an hour and then I did a stop not only to stretch the legs but most importantly to check everything was fine with the Bravo and KK. Eventually we reached the Lasseter Highway and turned left. About an hour later, we stopped for a break at Mount Ebenezer Roadhouse. As we arrived quite a few cars doing the Variety Club Bash departed for Uluru. There was a coach preparing for departure for the same destination. So the Roadhouse became quieter.

Not long after, we also moved along with under an hour to go to Erldunda Roadhouse or the Desert Oak Resort. On arrival, I refuelled while Prue booked in for the overnight stop. The KK was set up and on power so we can use everything.

Lunch was the priority and while doing that we checked our emails and other news items. After lunch, we went to the Tavern to have a coffee where we met up again and chatted with Denis and Merilyn who had been beside us at Ayers Rock. We had dinner with them later on.

During the afternoon numerous familiar faces and caravans pulled in with us. All remarked on the changed weather from hot several days ago to quite cold today.

Prior to dinner, we had our usual red wine. Dinner was in the Tavern with David and Merilyn. Again we chatted over the meal. After the meal, we had coffee or hot chocolate and were joined by the Frank “Chookman” Turton He had been involved in a documentary in Kings Canyon earlier in the day. He has lots of plans as well as some good yarns.

So ended the day.

We may not have Internet coverage again for a few days as we are leaving Erldunda for Hermannsburg, Ormiston Gorge, etc., today.