Friday
We were given a true Territory welcome as we came into Alice after a very long drive from Coober Pedy. It just happened to be 1 July, Territory Day, and every man and his dog was letting off fire works in the street. After getting in contact with Steve, the Alice Springs group leader, we found the Scout hall, met Curly the care taker and set up the camper.
Then into the Show for some dinner and the official fire works.
After travelling through so much monotonous flat country I hadn't expected Alice to be right at the foot of a mountain. Well, not really a mountain, but compared to what we'd come through it was a mountain. There is a gap about 100m wide which divides the East and West Macdonnell Ranges and the Todd River, the train track and the road all pass between this magnificent gap between the ranges, where it seems the red rocks plunge deep underground. And then your in the suburbs.
We were given a true Territory welcome as we came into Alice after a very long drive from Coober Pedy. It just happened to be 1 July, Territory Day, and every man and his dog was letting off fire works in the street. After getting in contact with Steve, the Alice Springs group leader, we found the Scout hall, met Curly the care taker and set up the camper.
Then into the Show for some dinner and the official fire works.
After travelling through so much monotonous flat country I hadn't expected Alice to be right at the foot of a mountain. Well, not really a mountain, but compared to what we'd come through it was a mountain. There is a gap about 100m wide which divides the East and West Macdonnell Ranges and the Todd River, the train track and the road all pass between this magnificent gap between the ranges, where it seems the red rocks plunge deep underground. And then your in the suburbs.
Saturday
We'd considered going back to the show to see some of the local pavilions, however, I didn't really think it was going to be worth the entry fee, and besides, the rocks were calling me. We headed to the East Macdonnell Ranges and we were not disappointed.
Only about 15 mins out of town is Emily Gap, another beautiful gap in the range where the Emily river flows through. Red cliffs, pink sandy river bed and white ghost gums. There was even Aboriginal rock paintings about three caterpillars. The kids enjoying climbing the red rock ledges and were disappointed to move onto Jessie Gap, however, there was more of the same and climbing to be done.
Another 50km east was Trephina Gorge were we stopped for lunch. Evan was pretty happy to find some mud puddles on the way in and covered the car in red mud, now we fit in around here.
We decided to walk around the gorge and it was truly spectacular. Red angular rocks with green spinifex grass and other small shrubs. Ghost gums besides the river and the amazing red bluff behind us. The walk took us down off the top of the gorge and along the river bed. There were a few small pools of water. The kids climbed the rocks.
Parts of the walk reminded me of parts of the Pilbara and Kimberley with the beautiful angular red rocks and gorges. This is what we had come to see and we were not disappointed.
On the way back out we took a side trip down a 4wd track to a rock hole. A fun 4wd for those driving, along dry river beds and rocks.
We'd considered going back to the show to see some of the local pavilions, however, I didn't really think it was going to be worth the entry fee, and besides, the rocks were calling me. We headed to the East Macdonnell Ranges and we were not disappointed.
Only about 15 mins out of town is Emily Gap, another beautiful gap in the range where the Emily river flows through. Red cliffs, pink sandy river bed and white ghost gums. There was even Aboriginal rock paintings about three caterpillars. The kids enjoying climbing the red rock ledges and were disappointed to move onto Jessie Gap, however, there was more of the same and climbing to be done.
Another 50km east was Trephina Gorge were we stopped for lunch. Evan was pretty happy to find some mud puddles on the way in and covered the car in red mud, now we fit in around here.
We decided to walk around the gorge and it was truly spectacular. Red angular rocks with green spinifex grass and other small shrubs. Ghost gums besides the river and the amazing red bluff behind us. The walk took us down off the top of the gorge and along the river bed. There were a few small pools of water. The kids climbed the rocks.
Parts of the walk reminded me of parts of the Pilbara and Kimberley with the beautiful angular red rocks and gorges. This is what we had come to see and we were not disappointed.
On the way back out we took a side trip down a 4wd track to a rock hole. A fun 4wd for those driving, along dry river beds and rocks.
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