Aus Day 14 - Into "The Alice"

Sunday 3rd October Aus Day 14


Up at 07.00 and followed the usual routine of shower, and breakfast. This was followed by a quick update of my travel accounts (Yes, I know, boooorrrrring) and transmission of emails. I noticed while doing this that Ed Milliband has beaten his brother David for leadership of the Labour Party. David, not being a sore looser, immediately resigned from front line politics. Ahh, shame!!! Still, at least Ed Balls didn’t win.

Anyway, photographed the van on the site at Erldunda along with a cat which seemed to have befriended me, before I hit the road at about 09.30 after refuelling, with only the short hop of 200 kms to do to Alice Springs. Consequently, being Sunday, I was soon crawling along at a good 40 kph BELOW the speed limit. I was so excited when I got to the first rest area at 10.00 that I spent some time there videoing ants. Yes, that’s right, ants.

Van very pleasantly situated at Erldunda



Not MY Cat

Moving on from there I decided to excite you with a view of the terrain along the Stuart Highway:

Look to the future my son.

And then got so overwhelmed at seeing a rocky outcrop I had to stop and record it for posterity:

Rocky outcrop 58 kms north of Erldunda

Then at 10.50 I came across a real part of ancient history as I crossed the Finke River. Parts of this river bed date back some 350 million years and while it is often totally dry, at other times it becomes a raging torrent. However, today it just has a gentle stream running along the centre of the river bed:

Finke River where it is crossed by the Stuart Highway

Finke River - 350 Million years old?

About half an hour after moving on and just south of Stuart’s Well, I was attracted by a monument to a number of people who were killed on 24th May 1994 during the inaugural Northern Territory Cannonball Run. I feel sure that someone out there will know all about this event.

Cannonball Memorial

Just a little further was the Stuart’s Well Roadhouse which was founded by Jim Cotterill, the son of Jack Cotterill who had opened up tourism in the Kings Canyon. Parked out front is what remains of the Dodge Truck, Jack had used in his exploits in the 1960s. Oh! I also saw my first emu.

Dodge Truck Circa 1950s

Emu at Stuart's Well Roadhouse

Despite applying my very best Sunday driving techniques I was unable to prevent myself getting to Alice Springs by shortly after 13.00 so, I decided to do a bit of shopping before finding the Tourist Information Office and identifying the location of the most likely Caravan Parks. I eventually decide to go upmarket and went for the ‘Macdonnell Range Holiday Park.’ Having established location, I felt I still had plenty of time to do my first touristy bit and headed for Anzac Hill. I had been here before in February 2000 with my late wife Christine and I was keen to see if it still looked the same. Well the views over the town and surrounding hills were very familiar but unfortunately the Memorial itself was fenced off, presumably for restoration work.

View from Anzac Hill looking down Bath Street

JB on Anzac Hill

Anzac Hill looking towards Mt Gillern

Once I back at the Caravan Park which, not only had a very pleasant site for me but also a usable pool into which I felt obliged to plunge and I got some very obliging German chap to take the following photo as evidence. Following which I was compelled to relax with a beer while sunning myself outside the van.

Quick dip anyone?

How about a beer then?

Well that’s about all there is to report today apart from the usual Blog draft and the continuing infernal saga of the damned frustrating Internet, Skype connection. As you may be able to tell, it didn’t perform too well this evening. Still, I suppose one has to remember what the likes of Stuart and other pioneers had to contend with and take it all with a pinch of salt. Anyway, I am sure that I can hear that character Zebedee about to spring out with his usual cry of “and so to bed.”

Aus Day 13 - Head for the 'Centre of the Centre'

Saturday 2nd October Aus Day 13


I was woken at about 06.00 by the sound of a Myrna bird giving forth with a variety of different tunes. It was quite entertaining for the first 5 minutes but, then began to pale a little. However, he/she gave up after about 15 minutes and I drifted off to sleep again. I then didn’t waken until 08.00, my latest time yet but, I was not in a hurry so didn’t panic too much.

The usual shower and breakfast followed by a quick read of my emails to use up the last of my Internet time. Then, refuel and hit the road by 10.00. It is a bit cooler this morning with a stiff breeze blowing but, this eased as I drifted down the highway doing my impersonation of a Sunday afternoon driver. However, not far down the road I had to stop to take the following view of the George Gill Range where Kings Canyon is located.

George Gill Range from the Luritja Road

I called into the Kings Creek Road house with the main intention of getting a photo of Charlie, the cockatoo. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be seen so, instead I managed to get the following snaps of a magpie and a piping shrike.

Magpie

Piping Shrike

Joined the Lasseter Highway at about 13.20 where, at the junction there is a “Red Centre Way” sign and curiously, a tree festooned with clothing. I have absolutely no idea why. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

The Red Centre Way Sign

Clothing Tree????

I also managed to get a couple of shots of this butterfly.

Butterfly

Same Butterfly

Setting off again I drifted slowly eastwards, making a brief stop at Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse and then pausing along the highway to photograph a few examples of the flora that I had been witnessing along the way, some of it in great profusion. I suspect that much of it will be burnt off and disappear again in the not too distant future.

Roadside Flora

Roadside Flora

Bush Just Coming Into Bloom

Arrived at Erldunda at 15.15. This is termed The Desert Oaks Resort and self styled “The Centre of the Centre.” I was soon booked in and found myself a very pleasant powered site shaded by trees and with a patch of grass on which I set up my table and chair and was soon enjoying a cooling beer.

Hard at Work - As Usual

Once again the site had no mobile phone network coverage, although it does have Cacti and a postage stamp size pool; but is covered by PieWiFi so was successful in connecting and holding a Skype session with the lovely Eileen. Soon after this I wandered over to the Tavern and treated myself to a beefburger and fries. However, this beefburger would have fed the 5,000, assuming they weren’t vegetarian. It even included bacon and egg. It was starting to get a little rowdy so retired to the van to complete this draft and upload Aus Day 12. With luck I may even get this one uploaded before Zebedee calls.

Cactus by the Erldunda Pool

The NOT Olympic Size Pool

The Erldunda Tavern

Well folks, that's it with posting this, I am fully up to speed and I have finally beaten Zebedee, so I will go to bed when I feel like. So There!!!

Aus Day 12 - Walk the Walk

Friday 1st October Aus Day 12


Up at 06.45 this morning, definitely getting better. Showered and breakfast then wrapped van up to be on my way by 08.00. I did the short drive to the Kings Canyon car park and was setting off on the Kings Canyon Rim Walk by 08.35

Since I have spent all of today in the Kings Canyon Area there won’t be a great deal of commentary. Who shouted Hurrah??? Instead I will just let the pictures and captions do the talking. However, since I ended up with about 70 pictures I have selected just a dozen to keep you going and they will be presented in Chronological order.

Start the Walk From the Car Park

What! - Up There???

The walk from the car park is very misleading as you are very quickly faced with a very stiff climb indeed. It is not long after commencing this climb that you realise why they advise that only reasonably fit and healthy people should attempt the Rim Walk but, I decided to go anyway. (Alright – who laughed?) Once at the top, the view is breathtaking. (no pun intended)

First view from the Rim overlooking the plain

However, not quite as breathtaking as when you are sat on the edge.

I was just sitting here, minding my own business

Jack Cotterill pioneered tourism at Kings Canyon and built a bridge across a chasm which gave views from the North wall. However, that bridge collapsed in 1991 and has since been replaced by a modern wooden structure. Once across the bridge (don’t look down) it gave access to views like these.

View from Cotterill's Lookout

View from Cotterill's Lookout

View to the South Wall From Cotterill's Lookout

About halfway around the rim a wooden staircase led down into something of an oasis where trapped water gave rise to lush vegetation. The following pictures show the staircases in and out of “The Garden of Eden” and give some idea of the growth there.

Stairway into "The Garden of Eden"

Garden of Eden Information Board

Bridge Across "The Garden of Eden"

Stairway on the opposite side

Once around the other side of the rim this shot shows other people just accessing Cotterill’s lookout, having crossed the wooden bridge.

People Accessing Cotterill's Lookout Seen from the South Side

Not too long after this, the following sign came as something of a welcome relief as the temperature was now approaching 34 degrees and there wasn’t much shade to be had.

Nearly there!!!

This still left a kilometre to travel but it was now all downhill and relatively easy underfoot. Although I hadn’t been rushing and in fact had diverted from time to time to take photographs, I completed the walk in 2 hours and 35 minutes while the advertising brochure estimates 3 to 4 hours for the walk. My right ankle was feeling a little stressed but, nowhere near what I had expected. It is a walk I would recommend to anyone, assuming they are fit enough to do the initial climb, and some of the views are absolutely beautiful. Photographs don’t do it justice, particularly these which have been compressed for web usage.

Having completed the walk, I returned to the resort, gave the van a quick check over, oil, water etc and then spent the afternoon chilling out by drafting the Blog update. I think this is taking over my life. Mind you I did chance to get my legs out again; I even got some freckles emerging on my feet.

Well! That's the Van Sorted. What's Next?

Finished the day off by visiting the Dingo Bar for a beer and a meal of Barramundi and chips. All in all a good day was had by all until of course Zebedee said “and so to bed.”

The Dingo Bar - Not Bad For The Odd Beer or Two

Aus Day 11 - Kings Creek or Kings Canyon? Choices, Choices

Thursday 30th September Aus Day 11


Up in better time this morning (07.00) after being woken from 04.00 onwards by various groups setting off to do the Sunrise viewing of Uluru which, I decided to skip. It was much cosier in my bed.

Following the usual shower and breakfast, I drafted the Blog entry for Day 10 and was ready to depart by 09.30. However, I decided to take just a couple more shots of Uluru plus some of the Resort entrance and by the time I had fuelled up for the day I didn’t hit the road until 10.10, still I wasn’t in a tearing hurry.

Uluru in the Morning

Entrance Sign to Ayers Rock Resort

I suspected that, today there would not be much to stop for; particularly in the way of interesting photographs therefore I started to take a snap of the road head at each 10 to 20 kms just to try and demonstrate the changing terrain and vegetation. Consequently I ended up with some 20 views of the Road Ahead. However, don’t panic I have just picked a couple to show you.

Flat countryside with relatively sparse vegetation near Uluru

Undulating Terrain with Good Vegetation Cover on Luritja Road

The first stop I made was to get another shot of Mt Connor from the Lookout at about 11.30 then about 30 minutes later I arrived at the Kings Canyon turn off and turned North onto the Luritja Road. At a small rest area at 12.40 had a wander, to stretch my legs, and spotted a couple of pigeons snuggled together on the branch of a tree.

Aaaahhhhh - The Branch is Actually Horizontal

Another 80 kms saw me pulling into the Kings Creek Roadhouse which I had had recommended to me for a night stop. However, after a look around at some of the “attractions”, including Helicopter Rides, Camel Rides, Quad Biking and a very noisy cockatoo called Charlie, I spotted that their Internet was “temporarily unavailable” and decided that maybe the Kings Canyon Resort would be a better option so, saddled up and mossied on out of there.

Kings Creek Roadhouse

Camels, Ready to go - Kings Creek Roadhouse

I arrived at the Resort by 14.45 and booked in for two nights. The camp site was well laid out and even had areas of grass. Chose a powered site, near to the facilities, with some tree shade. Got the laundry underway for starters then settled down with a beer in the sunshine outside the van. I think this is the first time on this trip that I have had my legs out. Lovely aren’t they. However, one can’t seem to do much to beat the fly hazard although I have been trying some Tropical Strength insect repellent. Still haven’t decided if there is any improvement yet.

JB at Kings Canyon Resort Camp Site - Lovely Legs

The wind has now dropped to a gentle breeze and today’s max temperature is 29 while the forecast for tomorrow is 33 degrees. That’ll do for me Tommy!!! Indications are that Internet access is better here than at Ayers Rock Resort so fingers crossed. However, I do not have any mobile phone network cover. Still, I suppose one can’t have everything.

Hurrah, successful Skype session with Eileen and even a quick up-date with sister Valerie, then it was just time to beetle off up to the Sunset Viewing platform where I stood around with a small gaggle of others and managed to bang off some 43 photos and a couple of videos. Damn glad I’m not using roll film! Still here are just a couple for you to see.

Approaching Sunset at Kings Canyon Resort

Almost Sunset at Kings Canyon Resort

Following this I called into the Dingo Bar for a beer, with the laptop, to update the Blog. However, this proved to be too distracting so returned to the van to complete Wednesday’s update. Then of course, Zebedee arrived with his “and so to bed.”