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Published: July 15th 2009
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6/7/09 We travelled to Finke River Free Spot no 42 NT , stopping for Gas, Bread, Cooked Chook ($14) beer ($50 slab) lunch & a chance to text the kids as we had been out of phone range for a week, at Eridunda . The free spot was very nice , but you had to be there early as not a huge lot of spaces. It is beside the river ( dry river bed ) but great for “the girls” to have a good run. We set up camp & unhooked & met our neighbours & they invited us to join them later round the camp fire. We left the dogs happy in the van & we went to see The Henbury Meteorite Craters about 20 Ks away , 15 dirt on the Earnest Giles Rd. There was a camp site there but we were glad to be staying where we were. The Craters were amazing & very big holes were formed many years ago when the meteorite hit, they are surrounded by flat rocky ground with different coloured rocks from the crater. We are still not sick of the changing colours in the ranges around the country side. After
walking the “Henbury” we headed back & joined our neighbours for happy hour & started the fire, in the end there was probably 5 couples from all different places & backgrounds, we had a great night . We had travelled 396 km’s today
7/7/09 Have decided to push on back through Alice & go out & see some of the West MacDonnell Ranges as we still have 2 days to spare. Again the ranges & colours were magnificent & you could never get bored, we stopped at free spot Mueller Creek no 34 NT, nothing much there but water & picnic table but we could get well off the road which we did & set up camp & off to Hermannsburg to see the town & the old restored Lutheran Mission. It was about 3pm so we had to hurry through the restored buildings, there were lots of photos of the early Aboriginals helping out, it was also the home of the Aboriginal artist, Albert Namatjira. There were many of his prints, nearly all of the MacDonnell Ranges, it was an interesting afternoon. At one stage I heard this strange noise & turned around & it was a dog
( about the size of a Labrador ) inside the garbage bin. I nearly ( you know ) myself, then I wanted Den to help it out & he said “ That dogs been in there before , he will get himself out”, he was right as usual, we saw him later going out the gate, home towards the Aboriginal Mission. Hermannsburg is a small Aboriginal town & it survives on the tourists coming to see the Lutheran Mission. We made our way back to camp & Den gathered some more wood ( he’s getting good at camp fires ) the girls had a good run while I got tea, there was only another 2 campers a fair way off so it was a nice quiet happy hour & camp fire. The nights have been cool but the days nice. We travelled km’s today
8/7/09 Off to Ormiston Gorge today, so packed up & on the road again, we found this “Magic Free Spot Neil Hargrave Lookout no 37 NT” no so we pulled up & setup “Den got out of the car & said “ where else could you have a view like this , for free even
“ The MacDonnell Ranges were spread out in front of us & the photos do not do it justice. We left the girls guarding the van & set out for Ormiston Gorge & yes scenery was magnificent. We decided to do the 1.5 km ( 1.5 hours ) walk to the lookout & then into the gorge & water hole. Well another steep walk, this time it started out with nice big steps though & the view was spectacular, poor Den was helping me up the mountain to the lookout, then the trip down the other side was over rocks & very steep. We ended up making the bottom onto the sand & waterhole, it was so peaceful & beautiful, surrounded by the sheer walls of the Gorge & the sunlight hitting the walls , we had a rest & a snack ( yes Marg a banana - no Mars Bar though I could have done with one ). Then we walked out of the Gorge through the river bed over boulders, rocks, tree stumps, you name it we went over or under it, there was no marked path, so poor Den was pulling & shoving me, but we made
it in 1.5 hours, every muscle aching but I did it. ( I am sure Den is considering trading me in for a newer model that works better) After that we went into Glen Helen Resort & ordered lunch, a burger & chips & YES a drink, Den a beer & me a wine , It was great sitting outside & sipping our drinks under the sheer walls of Glen Helen Gorge. We left for our camp & I gave my sore bones a rest when we got back, Den ha-a-chat with the two other campers. I prepared tea & we all watched the sun set over the MacDonnell Ranges from the lookout “ What a Sight” .
9/7/09 Into Alice Springs by 10am & booked into Heritage Caravan Park, absolutely full for the Camel Cup. I did 6 loads of washing ( had to fight over washing machines) & Den helped me clean the van & wash the girls ( they are white again ). Talked to a few neighbours & had tea & made a few calls to the kids but were not home , watched the news, first time in weeks & I had a early
night & Den watched the Footy Show.
10/7/09 I had a Dr’s appointment for a script & thyroid test & had a great understanding lady Dr. Off to have a blood test, then got my hair cut ( yes I was looking forward to that ) $28 which I did not think was too bad. She gave me a great cut & then I went & bought a top for the cup tomorrow & had a look at the shops & back to camp. Den had been servicing the van wheels & lucky he did because he found one tyre that had bubbles on the inside that you could not see. We needed a new tyre, so it was good we found it now, than later, as it could of blown on the road. We went & got a couple of supplies & then came home for tea & we got chatting to a couple over the road Tiger & Gay & we will probably go to the Camel Cup with then tomorrow. There is a free bus there & back so we are hoping for a good day. Will let you know.
11/7/09 Up & ready for
the cup & we all walked over to where the bus was leaving from, the first bus was supposed to be at 11am & by 11.30 there was so many people there & still no bus, we all decided to walk, about 10 mins away. We entered the showground & headed for the bar, Tiger & Gay have the same tastes as us & we found a shady spot on the grass in front of the fence. We watched all the races & some of the camels were fast, some slow, some wanted to go the opposite way & some chucked the riders off . There were rickshaw races in the middle of the ground & Camel races for the kids ( wooden Camel horses ). We had a nice day but we found that in between races , was a bit drawn out , we all walked home & decided Happy Hour was the thing to do. So we had cheese & biscuits & lots of drinks & heaps of laughs, we ended up with about 7 people having fun. Well we ended up with no tea & just went to bed, a great day. We are going to
have a BBQ the next day.
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marg & warwick
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chook dinner
Hi , just wondering why your paying 14 bucks for a chook ............. geez thought you would of picked up some fresh road kill along the way , that would of saved money to pay for your beer Den. our van has arrived but we cant pick it up till 29th july due work commitments, and at moment trying to find a real estate agent that we are happy with , interviewing them at moment . Think we should just hook up new van and get on road and meet you guys and forget about selling the house and building again .......... hmmmmmmmm marg loves that idea ... happy travelling guys keeping enjoying yourselves love from us that live in rat race marg and wazza