THIRTYFIFTH DAY – THURSDAY 12TH AUGUST
Slept in a bit this morning as we didn’t have too far to go. We began to travel back east and checked out Glen Helen Gorge. There was a ‘resort’ there and campground but we just walked to the gorge. It was quite lovely with the rocks reflecting in the water. It was a shame we couldn’t walk through the gorge and see the organ-pipes rock formation which is on further. The Finke River was a bit full and took up the full width of the gorge so no one could get through unless you had a boat/kayak or swam. We then kept going west back to Alice Springs. Along the way we checked out a lookout which is near these awesome rock formations that form part of the range. They look like the plates of a stegosaurus or a serpent swimming in the sea. I just love how they stick up out of the mountains. I have also noticed that Spinifex or pincushions as I like to call them, seem to have a bit of a personal space issue. They like to grow separately – you know, with space around themselves – hey! Just an observation! They dot the mountain side with precision and grace. I love how it looks – the pincushions and the orange rock form stripes in the mountains – just brilliant – my two favourite colours together. We arrived in Alice about 1 pm, filled up on fuel then I got onto the internet to do some blogging while Graeme went and did a bit of shopping. He bought some marshmallows but couldn’t buy a toasting fork so not sure how we will cook them over the fire – maybe a stick! We then went and checked out the Mall and looked at some Art Galleries and had lunch – Kangaroo Salad with native berry dressing. While we walked the Mall an old aboriginal fella named David called us over. He was crossed legged, sitting on the ground. He gestured for us to sit next to him cause he wanted to tell us a story. Well! He wanted me to take a photo of him and Graeme – which I did and I guessed what he was going to ask – he wanted us to give him ten bucks cause he said he needed petrol, then he said he had a small daughter who needed food. I gracefully declined to give him money – I felt bad not giving him some though. He soon disappeared when police wandered down the mall. We then dropped into the info centre to find out about Ullaru camping – got a phone no. I booked a couple of nights at the camp ground as we were told we should book, for next Monday and Tuesday. We then headed back west after looking at our timeline and so decided we would check out Hermannsburg Mission tomorrow. We found an out-of-the-way campsite which is really as outback as we are going to get I think. We are camped in the middle of a ‘grassy’ area – no pincushions at least, but there are these three-corner-jack type things which stick in the bottom of your shoes and also little seedy things that attach themselves to your pants and just work themselves in – ouch. We then shifted the camper to a less grassy area and hopefully less ouchies. Graeme gathered up some firewood and made a fire while I looked around at the little foot prints – tracks in the sand and tried to determine what they might be. I think possibly some are from little lizards and little hopping rodents of some kind and maybe a snake! I noticed there were little piles of husks next to ant holes and had a closer look. I watch for awhile and noticed some ants collecting seeds from the plants and taking them into their hole, and some ants bringing out the husks and placing them in a pile near the hole and there were other ants bringing up little grains of dirt and placing them away from the whole. It was quite fascinating to watch. Then one ant got a bit adventurous and tried to take a big seed in and it blocked the hole. Other ants then helped to push it into the hole so the rest could go in and out. I know – I am amused by small things! I also love looking at the many little plants that are flowering right now. If you didn’t stop and look this close you would never know they even existed. I then discovered a bit of fencing wire and brought it back for Graeme to make a toasting fork so we can cook our marshmallows in the fire tonight. Graeme did a nice job untangling the wire and twisting it to make a fork. It works fantastically – best ever toasted marshmallows. Cheers.