Day 13-Day 17 Alice Springs

Day 13 - Steady morning where the boys went to the Road Transport Hall of Fame museum for the morning, but the girls decided that this wasn't their thing so they went shopping with many coffee breaks for the day, we (the boys) - [written by Col today-] joined the girls for lunch.
Day 14 - Had a fantastic day at the Alice Springs Desert Park,

you really must go to understand how good it is! Graeme booked some bikes (You know - those things that you have to pedal) for tomorrow's ride.
Day 15- Jan, Graeme and Lyn rode those pedal things from Flynn's Grave to Simpson's Gap (17km)

and Graeme and Yvonne rode the return journey, I (Col) was the support vehicle organiser where I copped heaps about driving a Toyoya. So exhausted that we decided that going out for dinner was in order so we ate out at the Overlander Steakhouse,

 another good night, but still cold when the sun sets.
Day 16- We drove out (In cars this time) to Simpsons gap for a decent look and photos,

 then further west to Stanley Chasm for the traditional midday photos in the chasm,

lunch then further west to the Owen Springs Nature Reserve as a short cut to Rainbow Valley, in the reserve, which is a true 4WD trail, we visited the old homestead, haunted tree bore, Hugh River and Lawrence Gorge, then on the Stuart Highway to Rainbow Valley

. Lots and lots of mice here also, after the sunset photos

we drove back to the highway, re-inflated the tyres, then took up the sport of mouse spotting (read squashing) all the way back to Alice Springs, late dinner (9:30pm) and bed at last, What a great day!
Day 17- Reserved for shopping for supplies today as we are heading to Yulara tomorrow.Our first big restock since we started.
(Yvonne writing now) I went to see Mollie Kennedy today. she was known as Bernadette and worked in  Maternity quite a few years ago.She has worked in many aboriginal communities around Alice Springs and now orientates all new staff comingto the area to work in Aboriginal communities. She Orientated David Fisher (fromC7)who has just come to work at Hermansberg for a couple of months.
The other exciting thing to happen today we ran into Nettie Silver in Woollies supermarket!! Nettie works in an Aboriginal community called Utopia. Nettie also worked at LBH.
Sorted out our washing and supplies ready for moving on tomorrow. Have enjoyed our time in Alice Springs although quite cool.
Catch you at Uluru!

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.

Day6-8 Boulia to Alice Springs

We thought we had the perfect campsite at Boulia on the banks of the Burke River but night time changed our minds!We had Rats!!!! scratching at our tents and trying to climb the screens!! None of us slept particularly well.
Had a fairly uneventful day did a bigger day travelling from Boulia, stopped for MT at the Georgina river,

 Crossed the border into Northern Territory from QLD near Tobermoray Stn.

  then onto Jervois Stn where we camped for the night.Weather is cool but not too cold.
The scenery was still green and lovely with a few flowering wattles and Gums . Some wildflowers but not prolific.

All the cattle on the side of the road are in beautiful condition. We collected firewood along the way.Overall the Gravel road was not bad.Could not believe we had another flat tyre,it went down not long after we got to camp!!!
Had a lovely fire in camp and all cooked our dinner on it
Started out by 0800 next morning , It was a beautiful clear morning . and we travelled well on the Gravel some areas were a bit ordinary with some corrugations and ruts. but only in short bursts.Met 3 big Roadtrains in one area.

Got to Cattlewater Pass and we had hoped to travel down into the East McDonnell Ranges via this road but the Harts Range Police had closed it due to 5 rescues for bogged vehicles. It was closed 3rd May.

We decided it was probably a good idea we go to Alice Springs and get our tyres sorted out before going too much further.
Continued on to Alice Springs with the views of the Ranges picturesq .

Went up to Anzac Hill for the sunset looking towards the West Mcdonnell ranges.
Jan and Graeme booked their cars in for 2 new tyres each!! for Sat. morning so decided we would stay 2 nights and catch up with washing etc. Got great sites around a Bus shelter which has a sink with hot running water and power. Its great and when we had a few spits of rain this morning, Sat, pleased we had it.

We head off into the East McDonnell ranges tomorrow for 3 nights then will be back in Alice Wed. for almost a week.Catch you then. Yvonne

Day 3-day 5 Charleville-Windorah-Bedourie-Boulia

 Left Charleville around 0800 and set out for the 200klm run to Quilpie..about 40Ks out of Quilpie Jan got a flat tyre! We made that our MT stop while the fellas changed the tyre. We forgot to get a photo!!
The drive through to Windorah had a lot of narrow road but the countryside was lovely and green and the grasses waist high. There was very little traffic.
We planned to stay at Coopers Creek camp area- 10Klm out of Windorah- but soon changed our plans as the smell was dreadfull due to a massive fish kill in the creek. There were dead fish everywhere.It was awful to see.
we styed the night in the  Windorah Caravan park.
Youjust drive in and find a site and they came around and collected the fees for the night $5!! Great little park and good amenities.It rained overnight but woke up to a nice day.
Spent apart of the morning at the Tyre shop and by the time we had checked out the shop and museumit was around 0930 before we left for Bedourie.We were given a parcel by the garage to drop into Morley Plains station.The landscape was beautiful with all shades of green everywhere and sand blows and and dunes.
When we hit the gravel we met 12 Roadtrains some carrying cattle and some empty. I am glad we did not meet them before as the road was very narrowand some places difficult to get off.

This is a photo of Mt Henderson and typical of the landscape along this area.

We crossed many channels of the Diamontina River. When we stopped for lunch the flieswere thick and friendly.

20Klms out of Bedourie there was a lot of water along the sides of the road and in several places we had to drive through water approx 0.2 metres for 30-40 metres.there were lots of birds mainly kite and so many ducks on the water it was amazing. We arrived in Bedourie at approx 1615. We stayed at a camp area associated with the local pool and Artesion Spa. Good Spot. Had a very Hot spa and swim in the pool prior to happy hour and dinner. Met up with 4 cyclers who are riding from Port  Augusta to Kurumba.They average 100klm a day.

 Woke a little late this morning -for the first time there were no roosters crowing!! early.
After pack up we drove back out to the water crossings to play and take some action shots.                                                                                                                                     

 Stopped in Bedourie after our play in the water and had MT in nice park area there then headed for Boulia. Decided  to have a short run today due to our late start. Caught up with the bike riders and  gave them a small donation for their cause-Angel flight. The scenery once again was a multitude of green with lots of water lying on the plains. It became dryer towards Boulia.
This is a picture of our camp at Boulia on the banks of Bourke River. Will possiblyhave a few days now out of  mobile service so will catch up again soon.

Day 2 1st May

 April 30th 2011 0700Hrs

Finally the time has arrived to

Gooooooo!!!









It was a pleasant surprise to see Anne &Vern
and Scott & Rhonda come out so early on a wet morning to see the travellers off.

 The Happy travellers  Graeme&Yvonne,Jan,Lyn& Col.

We soon travelled out of the rain of the coast and  had a brief Morning tea stop in a very cool tenterfield. The autumn trees were really pretty. We went via Glenlyon Dam to Texas which included a gravel road.Not long after coming off the gravel we found we had a very flat tyre! Not a very good start to the trip. We managed to get to Texas and were only able to pick up a good second hand tyre on a foreign Rim for the Troopie . We were about to have lunch when we recieved a call from other Ballina 4WD members who were on their way home from a Birdsville trip. They met us in Texas for a chat and gave us some good info.
We ended up staying at Bungunya  Rest stop which was good,toilets/hot showers.While the girls enjoyed a glass of Fizz Graeme and Col put the  tyre we bought on the rim suitable for the Troopie.  The only disadvantage with our camp spot was a multiple of Roosters crowing from 0300 to Dawn!

Day 2
 Our first stop was Nindigully Hotel and camp area.A photo of Jan on the bank of the river at Nindigully.
We had morning tea at St George at a park overlooking the river.It was a pretty spot.
Next stop we called into a property called Dunkeld,approx. 45Kls from Mitchell,  and saw some friends. We had lunch there and left just before 2pm.
We had planned on going to Quilpie but ended up staying at the Bailey Caravan park in Charleville.

They had a camp oven Beef and Red wine casserole dinner which we had so it good not to have to cook.
Everyone else has now gone to bed while I have fiddled around with this.
You will have to bear with me as I learn what I am doing as it is quite a new experience.
Catch up again soon. Yvonne