24th Aug

Went to Battery Hill Gold mine.  See the “thingy” on my wineglass – what a great idea.

Otherwise a lazy day

25th Aug

500K journey to Alice Springs. Stopped at the Devils Marbles. These are a granite outcrop that has been eroded away.

26th Aug

Car in for a recall – something to do with “dust” affecting lights & switches. We’d not had any problems. Decided to walk 2k into town – wow – so many shops!!! The only we recognise from 1990 when we were last here is the dry river bed of the Todd River.   Views over Alice from the Anzac Memorial Hill

 Mr GP relaxing with his collection of stones, shells & crystals from the journey

27th Aug

Golf comp at Alice Springs Golf club. Hadn’t intended to join the comp but hey what the hell!!! Amazing greens for a desert course.

28th Aug

We took off to look at the West McDonnell Ranges

First stop Redbank Gorge. We are not only seeing wonderful gorges but the Spring flowers are starting to appear.

Next onto Ormiston Gorge. I once did an oil painting copied from Ron Cameron’s painting of a gum in Ormiston Gorge. Thought I might take a photo of it now. This was the nearest I could find

We started our trip into Ormiston on the Ghost Gum walk – well no indication that the walk began with a hill climb!!!!!

Feeling exhausted but elated. It was a wonderful walk if a bit rocky!!!

We completed the day at Ellery Creek Hole. The water was freezing!!!

Lucy enjoying herself at the Reading Festival UK – I seem to remember another photo last year with her on Sam’s shoulders. 

Not to be outdone some more camping in the UK. Tim & Ethan in the middle

29th Aug

set off to Kings Canyon – it’s been on my bucket list for years. Rain was predicted so we decided not to go via the Mereenie Loop (165k dirt roads) which is very corrugated & boggy in places. We did take the Ernest Giles dirt road (100k) – the rain started as we got to the end.

Beautiful wild flowers on the way.

We actually stayed at a place called Kings Creek Station about 36k outside Kings Canyon. We had 2 nights here. I don’t want to mix our canyon visit with our stay here – it was a dreadful place. A stay on an Australian outback station with no Australian in sight. All foreign students !!!!!

To say the place needed maintenance was an understatement. No lights working around the area, water able to get into the camp kitchen by the only electric plug that was overloaded, gas leaking from the BBQ and a fire alarm that went off both nights prohibiting sleep. The restaurant was less than a cafe, the service sloppy and breakfast was in a leaking shack. Most of the time the “hired help” was sitting around drinking and eating themselves. My report on Trip Adviser may be worth a read. Certainly the place is not worth a visit in fact AVOID at costs.

Thats my toot and I’ll finish Kings Canyon next time.