Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Happiness Is The Road
DAY 232 - ALICE SPRINGS TO WEST MACDONNELL - OCHRE
West Macdonnell National Park, Northern Territory
We got up very early this morning as we had to be at the garage at 8 and we didn't want to suffer the wrath of the rottweiler. It was still dark and extremely cold when we surfaced to get showers just before 6. It had been the coldest night so far on the journey by miles. It wasn't quite freezing but it probably wasn't far off. The sun rose to a beautiful clear blue sky day. We arrived at the garage just before 8 and they started the service straight away. Luckily the rottweiler wasn't there yet. She must have still been asleep in her kennel! We sat in their waiting room and I read a 4X4 magazine and got some ideas for our next trip to Australia when we intend to do it four wheel drive and get off the beaten track down the even more isolated dirt roads. Just half an hour later we were good to go. The mechanics had been brilliant and we thanked them for getting the job done so quickly for us. We headed out of Alice in a westerly direction towards the West McDonnell Ranges. We first stopped just outside Alice to have some hot toast and steaming mugs of coffee as it was still cold. We then headed to our first stop in the West McDonnells, Simpsons Gap. The ranges looked incredible, very magical and brooding. They seemed to ooze energy. There are a number of gaps that pierce the West McDonnell Ranges. There was a short walking trail from the car park to the gap itself. Part of the way we walked along the bone dry creek bed. We're getting quite used now to walking along dry river and creek beds. There was a little bit of water at the actual gap but not very much. From here we drove a bit further into the Ranges to our next stop, Standley Chasm. The land here and the chasm are privately owned and we had to pay $10 each to go on the walking trail. The walk was good but when we got to the chasm the place was absolutely rammed with annoying people. The chasm was a fairly impressive alleyway in the rock but the magic of the place was ruined by all the 'sheep'. It wasn't worth the $20 we had spent and with hindsight we wouldn't have bothered. After this we drove a lot further into the Ranges to our next stop, the Ochre Pits. We had some lunch here and then we went on the walking trail. The Ochre Pits were amazing and we had them to ourselves.The colours in the cliff face were stunning, a kaleidoscope of beauty. Their shifting hues made for some excellent photos. The local Aboriginal people still use the ochre for painting and decoration. We had timed our stop here perfectly as when we were walking back to the car park a load of people arrived. Everywhere today the flies were terrible, in your mouth nose and ears. I had my usual harem of them on my back! Next we drove to Ormiston Gorge where we had a look at the National Park campground. We liked it so we found a good spot and settled down here for the rest of the day. We would go exploring the gorge tomorrow.
- comments