Way Out West 2011

Starting our journey this morning and heading to Kununurra, I thought the range ahead was covered with mostly green bush and trees, with pockets of blue gums, but WOW, the wide, wide, WIDE horizon  of the Gregory National park was spectacular and driving into Victoria River and coming face to face with monstrous rock formations of all

different shapes and sizes was amazing.   . There were pointy, flat, cathedral, crumbled cake, some vegetated, some bald, and even some looked like a stone train coming out of the range or travelling around the edge of the escarpment. Boab trees stood sentinel at each creek, river, spring, lagoon or water hole. America can have their Grand Canyon; I’ll have this country anytime. The photos won’t do it justice but hope you enjoy.

Red Dog time again. Bye xxx

We spent the day at Litchfield Park on Wednesday, leaving around 8.00am and not getting back until 5.00pm and then the girls really didn’t want to leave the Buley Rockhole.

The Park is enclosed by a spectacular Tabletop Range, which is a wide sandstone plateau mostly surrounded by cliffs. We drove to the farthest point first which was the Cascade Falls but with a rocky watercrossing, we didn’t stay very long because we all had shoes and socks.  Our next stop was the Wangi Falls which was my favourite.  A large waterhole with two waterfalls, one large and the other smaller, the water just cascading out of the rocks, seemingly from nowhere and surrounded by lush monsoonal rainforest

The girls ventured in straight away while we set up lunch.  Then it was Em & my turn to gingerly put our toes in the cool water and take the plunge.  It was magical, once we were submerged, we could have spent the afternoon there.  Apparently during the wet season the falls thunder from the cliffs to the rock pools.

Our next stop was Florence Falls, then onto Tolmer Falls with its unusual rock formations, even a natural arch which has been formed over the years by the water seeping in through the cracks.

Buley Rock Pool was the girls favourite as they could scramble, slip and slide over the rocks and then dive or jump into the crystal cool water pools.

Our last stop was the magnetic termite mounds.

Then it was homeward bound

After 2 big days of travel, we decided on a ‘lay day’ and what better place to choose than Mataranka. Mataranka is the home of the Thermal Springs in Elsey National Park.  We pulled into Mataranka Homestead (where we had stayed 28 years ago) around 4.30 pm and as soon as we had set up camp, everyone set off for the crystal clear 34 degree warm water for a relaxing soak in the pool, which is surrounded by tall palms, just like an oasis.

We had a very leisurely start to the day and headed back to the thermal pool for another soaking.  John and I headed into town to pick a few supplies and while in town we were told about Barramundi feeding at Territory Manor, only 5 minutes out of town.  We picked up the rest of the campers and headed out, The Barramundis were very lethargic and only showed their appetite once or twice.  We were told they prefer the ‘Wet Season’ when the water is warmer and they apparently jump out of the water for the food.

Back to camp for lunch and of course back to the thermal pools. John and I went for a stroll to Stevie’s Pool which is about 1.4 ks down the Roper River from the thermal pool.  It was about 10 degrees cooler than the pool and there was a sign reading Freshwater and Salt water crocodiles so we didn’t bother taking any chances and headed back for another soak.

Sarah & Matilda even went and had another soak after dinner, in the dark!

Starlit Swim

By for now it is ‘Red Dog’ reading time,can’t miss that! XXX

We left the rain back in Adelaide.  Oops, I beg your pardon, the young couples, Em, Ro, Amey & Paul had a short shower when they were walking the base of ‘The Rock’, (the seniors were looking after the precious gems, Sarah, Matilda, Evie & Zanna, who were splishing, splashing and frolicking in the pool.)  They did say the rain was magical and turned the rock silver and black but that’s another story.  Now that we are north of the Tropic of Capricorn, we have had nothing but blue skies.  Still some very cold mornings, 2 degress in the morning at Alice Springs but last night Ro and Sarah didn’t need to wear their beanies and socks to bed and it was a warm morning of 13 degrees at Tennant Creek when we woke.  Tonight we are at Mataranka and as soon as we had made camp, everyone headed to the thermal pools for a relaxing soak before dinner and I am sitting outside in a T shirt and shorts, it is still 22 degrees, enjoying the evening.  We were visited earlier by Wallabies and their Joeys and a Peacock with his harem of females.  No bats in sight.  The sign says they don’t come untill October, so with a little luck we might not see any.  Must away, it is movie night. xxx

I am terribly sorry that I haven’t written for a little while.

This morning we had packed up and left Alice Springs by 8:15am, headed for Tennant Creek. Talking into the two way radio we debated over where to have morning tea, and by the time Mummy decided on Ti Tree we had already driven through it . So we stopped off for morning tea at the side of the road, at Stuart Memorial roadside park, where we looked and compared some of the birds flittering amongst the trees and had a warm drink.

At lunch we stopped off at the Devil’s Marbles (some rocks).  They were huge and when you tapped them, they sounded hollow because the outer skin of the rock keeps breaking away.  They call it onion peels and then we looked and strolled around and we all got some great shots of the Devil’s Marbles and I even heaved some rocks around (LOL)!

Sarah at Devil's Marbles

Sarah gets into a tight spot at Devil's Marbles

Matilda and I made up a new dance routine after dinner tonight.  There was entertainment in our caravan park but our entertainment was more fun (LOL)!

After 3422Km, 45Hrs driving at 74Km p hr average speed the fuel consumption is rapidly improving to 12.4L per 100Km. This of course might have something to do with the white Falcon not being chased by a white Swan. It is now the Generals turn to be chased by the white Swan and it wil be interesting to see its fuel consumption go up.

The Commodore's turn for towing duties

There is nothing in particular that I like about Alice Springs, I don’t feel the same comfortable friendly footloose and fancy free here.

We really enjoyed our visit to the School of the Air, the video presentation and talk by the staff was very interesting, the diversity of what the children do is amazing, some live on Cattle stations, police stations, missions and national parks.  They sit the same national testing in May (NAPLAN) and have rated as well as the top 10% of the rest of the country.  Each fortnight the mail plane takes out their bookwork (about a ream of paper worth for each child each fortnight), there are also maths packs, art/craft packs and science packs.  The bookwork is all marked by their teacher which takes about a week for each class.

Grade 6 at TMPS would be interested to know that the 5/6 children go to Canberra on camp and they had scientists from Questacon at the studio in Alice Springs earlier in the year giving science demonstrations to the children via their einernet classroom.

It was Friday 10 am assembly and today was Crazy Hair day to raise money for Canteen, all of the children had sent in their crazy hair photos as well as some of their tutors; in the studio the bald principal had concertina streamers stickered to his head, while the other teachers sported some fabulous “dos” (plenty of inspiration for future reference, pipe cleaners and pegs being my personal favourites).  There were two teachers setting up in the studio before the assembly and they reminded me of Karen & Sandra (librarian and special needs teachers and the resident entertainment at SPAN) who would be in full scale book week preparation right now, how are those Sleepy Bears?

Karen and Sandra from the School of the Air

We then went on to find the Royal Flying Doctor Service visitor centre, another place of interest in Alice Springs worth the admission charge as the funds go directly to the service.  The service they provide is amazing and at no cost if you are an Australian citizen, are from a country with reciprocal health care systems or your travel insurance will cover it (no travel insurance will add about $34,000 to your holiday expenses).

Matilda and Sarah take a turn in the pilot's seat

Matilda checks out how an RFDS plane is fitted out

This morning we bid farewell to Amey, Paul, Evie and Suzanna as we head off to Alice, they stay on for another day and depart on Friday.

Today was the first day of RJF 999 towing the van, the change in petrol economy was amazing!  Roadside viewing was again interesting, with three camels close to the road, a large eagle or hawk who had flown off before we had a chance to capture a photo.

One of a number of wild camels we saw along the Lassiter highway

Lunch at the Finke River was picturesque and then to complete the roadside entertainment we drove through bushfires south of Alice Springs.  At two stages the flames were roadside in small sections, the radiant heat was amazing and these were only “little” fires.  You can certainly count me out of ever wanting to live in a bushfire threatened area; I was too intimidated to photograph the big flames on my side of the car (camera was on and in my lap) and the little flames that I snapped with the camera motor drive look to me like a monster running towards us.

Lunch at the pleasant Finke River rest area

Breakfast for ten this morning, Amey, Paul, Evie and Suzanna joined us for pancakes! There was of course also the customary birthday cake with candles to sing around too.  Rohan presented me with a lovely necklace pendant, the stone looks like the desert at night, red orange at the bottom, black sky with just a hint of white at the top for the stars.  Lots of cards and text messages made the morning a little more grounded in reality as being here is almost surreal.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you...

Emma, the birthday girl

We got organised and headed out to Kata Juta – the Olgas.  We all met up and walked out to the lookout at the Valley of the Winds, great group photo taken by one of our fellow “base walkers” from the previous day.  Not exactly the right terrain for walking with little girls but collectively we managed just the same. We took Sarah, Matilda, Colleen & John back to Maggie Springs/Waterhole and the east end of Uluru which were the pick of the places to visit from the base walk.  The little waterfall was trickling after yesterday’s rain – sounding lovely and we all had a scramble over the rock at the east end.

The Olgas (a.k.a. Kata Tjuta)

Our motley crew made their way to the Karu lookout in The Valley of the Winds

The girls go for a bit of a walk on Ayers Rock (a.k.a. Uluru)

Family photo at Maggie's Waterhole, one of the many features around Ayers Rock

The girls returned to camp with Colleen & John for lunch and we returned to the Cultural centre on a mission for mouse mats (at $17 we passed) only purchasing aerial photo post card of Uluru and blanket badge.  We purchased mouse mats at the Five Star resort gallery for $10 instead!  Checked out the Information Centre which showed the geological formation of the rocks and named some of the local wildlife.  Returned to camp to “chillax” before we got ready for dinner.

The late afternoon was still warm so two long sleeve layers felt rather roasty, but after two champagnes and the sun hitting the horizon I flung on the pashmina as well and added a coat when we went down to the telescopes.  The canapes were delicious (kangaroo, crocodile and salmon for the less adventurous), we had a few photos of the skyline with Olgas and sunset and met a couple from Canberra (Chris & Susan) who we adopted in order to sit close in the middle surrounded by heaters.  We walked down to the tables and were seated with another two couples, Mary & Lawrence and Susan & Ian from Swansea, Wales.  The food was delicious and the company was excellent and the star talker, Emma, was great, showed us many constellations including the “teapot” (the perfect reminiscence of my tea party), I’ll probably never find it again but it’s up there, kind of opposite the Southern Cross.  The aborigines find “constellations” differently, they are in the blank spaces between the stars, the emu curves out from the Southern Cross.  Wattleseed Apple Crumble was wonderful – mostly for its warmth, it was hard to believe how quickly a BLACK coffee got cold!  The buses pulled up and we were soon toasty warm again on our way home through the dark.

Sunset on my 40th birthday - bubbly in hand with Ayers Rock as the back drop

Watching the sun go down over the Olgas accompanied by the didgeridoo

Dinner under the stars

For the last couple of days we have been at Kings Canyon, right in the middle of Australia. Here is a list of the animals and bugs I have seen in that time:

• Honey ants
• Bull ants (the red kind – I tried to kill one and in the end I stepped on it!)
• Geckos
• Dingoes
• A snake (not sure what kind – see the photo below)
• Sand flies (one of them bit me – ouch, it REALLY hurt!!)
• Camels (more)
• Brumbies (more)
• Emus (more)
• Dragonflies
• Mosquitoes (luckily not too many)
• Moths (but only at night time)
• White Kings Canyon spider

We walked all around the rim of Kings Canyon. It was five and a half kilometres and took us about four hours. The walk was very tiring. Most of the time I was the leader in our group. We went to a place at the top of the canyon called the Garden of Eden. There were some birds there that we call pinheads (see photo below). They must be so used to people that one of them walked right under Pa’s legs as we sat and rested there. After we got back from our long walk we all went for a swim in the pool at the caravan park even though the water was freezing cold.

We saw some honey ants at the top of Kings Canyon

This snake soon slid into the grass when we started taking its photo.

This little gecko was sunning himself on the top of Kings Canyon - lucky someone didn't step on him!

There a LOTS of these "pinhead" birds everywhere we go, although most are grey. This brown one has been my favourite so far.

Matilda the mountain goat!

The walls of the canyon are about 100 metres high!