3am
– the wind picked up from the north east blowing onto the bedside so had to
close the door.
4am
– the wind changed to the west and started blowing harder. Got out and packed
up some of our stuff, closed the kitchen door then went back to bed. Left the
bed door open now. The big desert oak beside us is really making some noise
now.
6.30am
– 22 degrees and the wind seems to have settled though it still sends a strong
gust along every now and then. Luckily there isn’t any loose dust around here.
I missed sunrise – supposed to be good on a dune on the other side of the
pillar.
As
it was too dark last night I didn’t get our camp shot.
Photos
of Chambers Pillar and Castle Rock on the other side of the campground.
Our
route for yesterday.
Steve
had a sleep in till 8am so I passed the time reading. No flies here which is
nice.
Had
breakfast and washed my hair – so thick with dust. The other campers have
packed up and left. Did our washing and left it flapping in the breeze while we
explored Chambers Pillar.
Checked
out the information.
Walked
up onto a dune for a full view of the pillar.
Followed
the track to the pillar then climbed up the steps.
A
big piece of white sandstone stands out – some people have carved their names
on it.
Info
about Stuart.
Looking
up at the pillar.
Lots
of old engravings of explorers etc then all the modern ones which of course one
day will be historical too.
Walked
along the boardwalk checking out the other engravings and the unusual shapes
caused by erosion.
At
the end Steve spotted a kangaroo resting in the shade of the rock below us.
View
across to the Jump Up and the track we came down last night.
More
information and some more engravings.
Took
a video and panned around the view from the boardwalk. The other pinnacles
don’t have names. You can see how Castle Rock got its name though.
Looking
up the pillar from the other side above JRoss carving.
Found
Alfred Giles mark.
Back
down the steps.
Walked
around the other side of the pillar.
Found
another graffiti site. Looks like the Murphy family have visited a lot.
Another
two angles as we head back to the truck.
On
the dune looking back across the campground to Castle Rock.
Back
to the truck for a cuppa. The washing is dry. Packed up and headed back along
the bumpy track.
Up
the Jump Up to 488m where we stopped for a view back to Chambers Pillar etc.
Going
down the other side – nice view.
445m
on the plain. Didn’t realise how much we have climbed in height about sea level
since leaving Dalhousie Springs which was about 100m.
Back
to 380m as we run alongside Charlotte Range. Mt Charlotte reaches 511m. Straight
ironstone layers and capping.
Through
Hugh River and soft sand section then past the community and Maryvale Station.
They have a shop and fuel available here. Wide graded road.
Passed
a few old metal telegraph poles.
Turned
onto a smaller track to go across to the old Ghan Track again and up to Rodinga
Siding.
Had
lunch in the shade near the ruins. Much nicer day, breezy and not hot.
Read
the info and checked out the rooms.
Crossed
the race track.
Someone
has a sense of humour here.
The
road leaves the rail embankment which continues heading north further to the
east.
Through
more desert oaks and small sand hills. Into large rock covered hills then the
road, racetrack and the Ghan meet again.
Race
track goes to our left and the Ghan and road become one.
Back
into red sand hills again.
A
bearded dragon was on the road and Steve pulled up just in time. He took off
when I got out to take his photo. He ran up a shrub and tried to hide but I
found him. As I walked around the bush he moved around the trunk.
Steve
saw an ‘abandoned salt mine’ on Hema so we turned off onto a track that was the
Old South Road. Past some rocky hills and then onto a two wheel track to some
rocky outcrops of gypcrete/limestone. Looked about like the quartz ‘walls’.
Steve
climbed the ridge but couldn’t see any salt pans or a mine as such.
Headed
back. Spotted some taller pinnacle rocks further over against the hills.
A
Beekeeper flew by then sat in a tree for long enough so I could get some
photos. They normally zip around so much I can never get a photo. They are so
cute and colourful.
Back
to the main road and continued on a little bit to the turn off into Ewaninga
Reserve. Found some telegraph poles and line of the OTL.
This
is an important Aboriginal men’s site so Aboriginal women and children are not
allowed in. Followed the track reading the information provided.
Kept
going looking for the old Ghan siding of Ewaninga. We turned off and found a
track going west, crossed the race track again then found the siding with a
couple of tankers.
It
was restored years back but by the looks of it a motorbike group had taken over
at some stage.
Got
phone signal and a text came through from Jon so rang him back. Doing good with
his golf and Jess was having some job interviews. Made a cuppa then rang Mum
and Dad to let them know all was good. Sad news – Rhonda has lost her battle
with cancer and passed away last week. Will give Dennis a call when we get into
Alice. Julie and Greg are flying down to join the rest of the cousins for the
funeral and support Dennis. Mum said they had about 10ml of rain yesterday and
that the Tablelands and Babinda did get hail. Getting hot and humid up there.
Robyn had rung too so will ring her back later.
Back
to the main road which is parallel with the railway now. More telegraph poles
by the railway line heading to Alice Springs.
McDonnell
Ranges and The Gap come into view.
Onto
bitumen, 110kph!
Found
the last siding – Mt Ertiva. Only the sign and platform left.
Passed
the start of the Alice-Finke Desert Race. Stopped at the old Ghan train engine
for a photo. Will check out the museum when we return to Alice in a couple of
years.
Through
the Gap into Alice Springs. The railway line still beside us but this takes the
new Ghan now.
Went
around to the wreckers to find out about fuel tanks. He only had one and that
was full of rust so we gave that a miss. The new Ghan was in town so I got
couple of photos.
Rang
Dennis and had a nice chat. He is doing ok and has his kids around him. They
will celebrate Rhonda life with good memories. Rang Robyn back and they are
near Port Macquarie. Got caught in a hail storm which was not good. They got in
trouble at Mt Dockrell with an exploration company and got a warning from the
Mines Dept so they will be extra careful next year. They won’t be back to WA
till later as they are doing a cruise to Hawaii for Robert’s 70th
birthday which will be fun.
Around
the corner from the wreckers was the old Stuart Town Cemetery of 1889.
Steve
pointed out some camels sculptures near the railway which I checked out. Some
information about the desert etc you could read but all the other plaques were
ruined.
Around
to Coles which has a great mural on one wall.
A
ring-necked parrot was wandering around the car park.
Coles
is open from 6am to 11pm every day except they close a bit earlier on the
weekends! Grabbed a hot chook and buns for dinner and headed back out of town. Another
mural showing the Alice now-a-days.
Decided
to camp near Mt Ertiva siding. Found a spot near a creek beside the rack track
instead. There was a shelter shed up the track. The rail line is further over.
Unfortunately
it is home to some nasty big meat ants and one managed to attack me even though
I had my boots on!! Luckily I had some sting/burn cream to take away the pain.
Steve
climbed under the truck to put some more goo on the fuel tank after we checked
the ground for those nasty ants. I stood guard stomping on them while I chatted
with Erica.
Lovely
sun set colours.
Our
route for today.
Worked
on my shopping list and the next section we are travelling to check fuel needed
etc.
Cool
light breeze. Very quiet out here except for a few cows mooing. I worked on my
blog while Steve continued with his book.
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