7am
14 degrees and clear sky. Packed up and headed back to finish off the North
Bungles.
First stop is Osmand Lookout – only a short walk up onto a ridge. Looking up into Echidna
Gorge area.
Map
of the ranges. Great view, back over where we were camped then around and over
Osmond Range. Took a video which is much better than taking the still photos.
More
info. Osmond Creek is fed by springs deep in the Osmond Range. They supply a
constant supply of water into the waterholes downstream therefore were visited
by the Aborigines frequently whereas Echidna Gorge and other areas of the
Bungle Bungle Ranges were not due to the lack of water here.
Back
to the truck for a coffee then onto the Echidna Chasm walk. The Aboriginal
story is that an echidna had to burrow down to get away from a crow. Meeting up
with people was chatted with yesterday.
More
info along the track.
Came
into a big open area with another plaque.
I
zoomed in on the shape on the wall – I reckon it’s the Easter Bunny with a bag
of eggs on its back.
Kept
snapping photos as we walked along. The white stuff is like powder.
Read
the sign about the Bower Bird. Steve spotted it further back behind some palms
so I went in for a closer photo.
More
info about the round rocks.
The
walls are getting higher and closer together and the palms are getting taller
too.
Continued
on through the narrow chasm. Took some videos as we headed in.
Came
to a big open area – looking up to the opening above us.
The
path continued on. We came to big rocks and met some guys who said it was easy
walking around the rocks so we continued on.
Came
to a left turn.
Getting
narrower. Found two big rocks wedged above us.
Up
a ladder then another. Another wedged rock.
Got
to the end where a couple of girls were resting.
Nowhere
to go but up from here.
Looking
back.
We
chatted for a bit. They were from Austria. An Asian chap with two ladies
arrived. He was very funny – always looking for a way to make money from a
situation. Didn’t get his name but his wife introduced herself later, Jenny and
they were from Perth showing his sister around.
We
had been told not to wait at the end but to go back a bit to two rocks to see
the Chasm glow at 11am. Now there are lots of rocks – I thought it was the ones
over our heads but Steve reckons it was before the big opening with the seats.
He went back there and I waited back this end to see what happened.
My
end stayed dark so I headed back to him – a bit of colour happening.
Lots
of people were in the big open area.
I
went down to where Steve was and when I looked back towards the big area you
could see the orange glow. It looked good but not as good as the photos we have
seen. Took a video.
Another
chap thought it might have been this wall that was photographed.
Headed
back. Lovely and cool in here. Now to head back to the heat.
Back
to the truck and then down to the Bloodwoods to have lunch before heading out
to do the Homestead Valley Trail. Slowly climbing up hill then onto flat ground
to a creek which we then followed up into the valley.
The
creek divided and we turned off to the right for a bit then up a slope to a
covered lookout.
A
very nice view. Panned around the shelter then took a video.
Must
we water down there as there is plenty of greenery.
Good
information too. Map shows sheep and cattle station in 1924.
Zoomed
in on the palms growing high up on the hill.
Back
to the truck for a drink then we headed to the Visitor Centre. I asked an
Aboriginal Ranger about the scent in Mini Palms Gorge but he had no idea what
it came from. Some interesting information inside.
A
couple of bus tour groups came in so we
didn’t hang around. A willy willy has picked up the ash from the recent fires.
Managed to get a photo but it was spiralling a lot higher before.
Lots
of vehicles coming in so there is a lot of dust. Back to the highway and into
Spring Creek Rest Area for the night again. Parked near where we were last
time. Only 2 vans here at 3pm and a couple parked up the top bitumen area.
We
have phone service here so I rang Mum an Dad for a chat before they headed out
for Monday night dinner.
More
vans rolling in around 5. Chatted with a young couple and three young children
doing a trip from Melbourne across Nullabor and up the WA coast to Darwin and
then back home again in 14 weeks. They are having fun and think they would love
to do what we are doing.
A
flock of cockatoos arrived making a racket till the sun set. Then they just
shut up. Rang Ron and Angela as they were coming to Halls Creek soon. Steve
gave Kev and Linda a ring to see how their gold prospecting was going. Tried
Kylie and Phil as they had texted after paying their towing bill but didn’t get
an answer so just sent off a text to them.
Clouds
are coming over as we had our drinks by the fire. I heard something rustling in
the leaves and it was a cane toad. Got Steve to deal with him – toasted!!
Near
full moon rising and as the clouds seem to have moved on it is shining
brightly.
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