So, I found a pink one, draping over these very interesting ‘other’ flowers.
The blossom is Orchid-like, but the leaves variegated. I have no idea what it is, but it’s for Cee’s FOTD.
Did you see the olive-backed yellow bellied sunbird?
We’re staying in a caravan park with some stunning trees, covered in red pom poms. I asked the lady in the office what they were and she said Poinciana.
Embarrassing, really. The park is called Poinciana Tourist park.
They’re for Cee’s FOTD.
Cee’s B&W challenge this week had me take special note of the displays at the Mt Isa Experience. I’ve possibly stretched the theme a little…
Mt Isa is a mining town in Queensland’s Centre.
It isn’t far from the border to Alice Springs, so we arrived before midday and had time to set up and explore the caravan park, with it’s many facilities, then plan our first day of venturing further.
We began in the town, which has plenty of shops and facilities, and although it was, uncharacteristically, almost empty of people, we read about the first hospital in central Australia and peeked through the windows to where small gatherings sometimes occur.
A bigger day followed and we started at Redbank Gorge, some 150km from Alice Springs along the Larapinta and Namatjira Drives. It is a beautiful gorge, with easy access, although it is mostly on sand, so definitely not for wheelchairs or those with dodgy ankles. It was tranquil and displayed such a huge range of colours, both pastel and bold.
A short drive from here, heading back, to the Mt Sonder lookout gave us fabulous views of the mountain and surrounding ranges.
Ormiston Gorge was about 15km away and you have a choice of walks. We took the loop, from the carpark, up the hill to the lookout over the gorge, then along the hill and returning by the river bed. This is definitely the direction to take if you do the loop, as the uphill is steep but short and aided by stone steps which never go beyond 20 without a break. Again, this part isn’t suitable for wheelchairs, but the short carpark to pond walkway is and should be done. The colours and textures of this gorge are, again, stunning. If you go around a lagoon one way, look back to see the aspect on the other side, because sometimes it is so very different, it’s like being in another location. Parts of the gorge were a seabed, 800 million years ago and geologists believe something extraordinary happened in the area 300-400 million years ago to cause the seabed to rise and turn on its side. You can easily see the layers.
We decided that, as most of Australia was in a cold snap, we’d capitalise on the 27C and heated pools and headed back for some poolside traveler tips (with slide show).
Our final day we kept light, with a trip to Anzac Hill and then out to Emily and Jessie Gaps. The first provides 360 degree views of Alice Springs township and memorial information.
Emily and Jessie Gaps were disappointing, as they are very small and it was pretty blustery, so an ideal enclosure for sand blasting. The walk takes less than a minute each time and there are very unusual rock paintings of caterpillars, which the original owners ate here, and completed by women. You are asked not to photograph them as they are sacred to the people. The towering red rock faces are beautiful, and it’s a short drive out of town to the east, but I’d see Stanley Chasm or Simpson’s Gap in preference.
On our return we came across a huge flock of red tailed black cockatoos, which are considered rare, so I was very happy to get some photos of them.
Even when it’s cool, take plenty of water and a hat with you.
Having arrived at the South Australia/Northern Territory border, we handed over our paperwork (COVID-19 arrangements) and were free to go through, but not stay at this beautiful, free campsite. The officer suggested Kulgera, down the road about 20km.
We had been here before for fuel, but had not experienced its hospitality. There is a reasonable store on site, an art gallery that showcased local work and a pub.
Famous (?) for the big 4X can, it also had its own travellers ‘artwork’/ collection – of sandshoes in this case.
Good, clean amenities and plenty of room, with drive-through sites.
With a parcel of long service leave, a yearning for warmer weather and two State borders open to us, we hitched up the van and headed off. Our ultimate goal is the top of the tip – the northernmost point of Australia and the top of Cape York, but the Corona virus is seeing borders closing and opening with little notice, so we have to be flexible.
For those of you who are locked at home, or who might be missing us, you can travel with us as we go. Make sure you let me know if you want more or less information as we go and there may be a delay from time to time, as WiFi is hard to come by in the middle of nowhere.
Day 1 brought us to Lake Hart, a free campsite not far from a large salt lake. We had passed a lookout over another one, just out of Pimba and apparently there are many larger, but it was salt and the illusion of water, as far as the eye could see.
Evidence of an enclosure or jetty or some kind of structure using wooden posts, unlikely due to the original owners of the land, the Kokatha, as it is very European in design.
The rifts and lumps of salt made for good photos, as did the sunset, still oozing orange over the lagoon about an hour later.
The Ghan railway passes between the lagoon and the campsite and can be crossed by a pipe/tunnel or over the top. At 7pm the train went past, almost silently, and all campers came out to watch the dark shadow seeming to run on water.
Take plenty of water and choose free campsites near others, for safety.
Traveling in the Northern Territory, we stopped by the Finke River for a break and saw these peas, not yet with their black eyes.
For more flowers, see Cee’s FOTD
The first blossom to appear, heralding Spring. It’s from my plum tree, for Cee’s FOTD.
Cee’s challenge this week is dance it out and she had so many great examples, here.
On recent trips to the beach I have seen these seals and wondered what they were doing.
And then I saw them from above, while on the jetty.
And just in case it’s a matter of perspective, watch this and decide. (But I couldn’t make it square)
For more perspectives, see Becky’s squares.
