THIRTYFOURTH DAY – WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST
Got up at 8 am had breaky, packed up and travelled further west along Namatjira Drive. Noticed many flocks of green budgies and small zebra finches. . We first went to the Ochre Pits where the indigenous men collect the different coloured ochres to use for their body painting for ceremonies etc. The colours in the pit face were brilliant – white, yellows and reds. We continued on to Ormiston Gorge which was beautiful with a big waterhole with big old red gums along the banks of the river. We walked up to the lookout which in itself was an amazing structure of rusty steel. We were amazed at how they could construct it in that situation. We think helicopters would have played a part. Then off to Redbank Gorge. It was a pretty rough road to get there but it was worth the effort. We had lunch in the sun then went on a walk to the gorge. The walk was a bit rough with lots of rocks to negotiate. I was a bit worried about my dodgy ankles but I managed. The gorge was lovely with a very cold waterhole (just ask Graeme) at the base and running through it. We then wandered back and drove to our campsite for the night which was just up the road on top of a hill with the best view. We ended up being the only campers there for the night so it was lovely and quiet and all ours! Picture this – me, sitting in my chair, in the sun, reading a magazine with a wine in hand overlooking part of the amazing West Macdonald Ranges and watching the sun go down. We cooked vegies on the open fire and had another go at camel steaks – these were better than last nights ones. We also had baked bananas with chocolate – cooked in the fire – with cream!