Day 9 to Day 12 Alice Springs-East MacDonnell Ranges -Alice Springs

Left the Caravan park at 0900 hrs after Pancake reakfast-Yum! Headed out to Emily  and Jessie Gaps . These were small gorges which were quite pretty.

 Went into  Corroberee Rock and walked around it.

Onto John Hayes Waterhole an interesting 4 Klm 4WD track the a short walk into the Waterhole. A lovely grotto with steep gorge sides.

We then went on a very challenging 4 Klm walk "Chain of Ponds" this included a steep climb to  the top of the Gorge and for a distance along the rim before decending and following a number of waterholes to the end of the Gorge - spectacular and very challenging.

Went onto the Ross River Homestead and set up camp in a lovely grassey setting surrounded by Red rangers. Basic facilities and lots of -----wait for it ------ MICE!!!! We copied a very successful water trap.
Had a lovely campfire every night .Enjoyed our stay.

Spent a day at Trephina Gorge and did two Walks "Panorama" and "Trephina Gorge" .
The Panorama walk which was 3 Klm was a steep climb to the of a ridge which gave a 360 deg. views with lots of flowering wildflowers along the way.
The Trephina Gorge walk was a 2 Klm walk along the Gorge Rim decending into the creek bed to return. Both walks required us to find a high ground pathway through a flowing Trephina Creek.

On our way back to camp we stopped in to the oldest Ghost Gum in the NT thought to be 300years old.
The next day we visited the Arltunga Historical reserved filled with interesting history from a bygone era of goldmining days -fantastic! Old buildings and machinery in original conditions or partially restored.

Walked in to the Reef and Macdonnell mine.

The Gravel road between camp and Arltunga was in good condition with 44 creek crossings.
On leaving camp Wednesday we travelled the Binns track. Drove down the Ruby Gap road Approx.5 Klm to the road "impassable " sign. Disappointment +++. Stopped near a river crossing and had Lyns CWA scones for MT.this road wasvery scenic.

Continued on to Cattlewater pass ROAD CLOSED.Aother disappointment.
Made our way to the Stuart Hwy. Lunch at a waterhole with ducks.All very sceniic -Grassy plains surrounded by Ranges ,lots of fat cattle grazing.
Arrived back in Alice Springs 1530 set up camp for the next 6 days.