THIRTYTHIRD DAY – TUESDAY 10TH AUGUST
Got up fairly early and had a shower and washed hair since we were in a proper caravan park and we paid for it so use what we can. We had pancakes for breaky and then off we went to buy some more meat for next few days. We can’t keep meat for too long so we like to just buy it a couple a days at a time. Then off we travelled west towards Simpsons Gap. We went for a little walk along a rocky path to see the gap that has a river running through it. The rocks light up when the sun came out. There were quite a few clouds so I hope they disappear before get to Standley Chasm so the sun can shine nicely. We then went for a little walk to look at some local flora and a very big ghost gum that was a couple of hundred years old – although looked a lot older. We then travelled along further to Standley Chasm where there was a cafe. It was so cold we decided to have some hot drinks and a toasted sandwich each. Then we went for the walk up the gorge to see the chasm. The walk was beautiful with ghost gums, river red gums, cycads, and other bushes and trees along a very rocky creek bed all set into a gorge of red/orange rock. The contrast of colours were amazing. The clouds began to disappear (yay!) and the sun came out to show up the beautiful white of the ghost gums against the orange of the rocks and blue of the sky. We arrived at Standley Chasm just at the perfect time to see the sun shining on one side of the chasm which in turn gave off reflective light onto the opposite side to give an amazing glowing effect throughout the chasm. Simply breathtaking. The colours were absolutely wonderful. We stayed to watch the sun shine into the chasm and onto the other side but somehow it wasn’t as effective as the other side. We then ambled back along the lovely rocky walking track while I took a few photos of the amazing colours. I just love this place with all its colours. We then kept going onto a place called Ellery Creek Bighole. By this time it was about 3pm so we decided to stay in the camping ground. We set up camp and then went for a short walk to the ‘big hole’. Which in fact was a pretty big hole in the ground, filled with very cold water surrounded by big old river red gums, at the base of another chasm. It looked very peaceful. As we were in no hurry to go anywhere as we were staying we walked along the rocky dry river bed which runs along the river which actually has water in it. There were many old red gums along the river and the sun was shining on them making it look very picturesque. When we got back to the van I downloaded my many photos of the day while we began preparing for dinner. We had camel steaks – which were a bit tough actually – so was a bit disappointing, and steamed vegies. I am about to put my scones in the oven to cook and to help warm up the van as it is *#**#! freezing tonight.