Ti Tree to Alice Springs

Day 21- Ti Tree to Alice Springs
Survived the night at Ti Tree actually it was quite nice except for the toilet facilities. Up early packed and just about to head off when a young fellow came over asking our advice about his new caravan. John tried to help, he had just bought a van and was working building community homes in the area. Think he was a bit lonely. As we travelled along the road we came across a marker so we pulled in and took our photo standing at the Tropic of Capricorn. We then stopped at the Highest Point on the main route from Adelaide to Darwin.
Driving into Alice you see the Macdonald Ranges it is so green here. First view of the Todd River no water in it, amazing. We are staying at the Winter Sun Caravan Park. Set up camp and enjoyed a swim , some dinner and bed.
Day 22 – Alice Springs – Rest Day
We had a lazy morning and then took ourselves to the Todd Mall markets, much the same as we have at home. Lots of local aboriginals selling their paintings, we saw someone hand over $70 guess that would be spent of some grog for the evening. We checked out the Big 4 caravan park but decided we were happy where we were. We have now settled here until 6 April.
Day 23 – Alice Springs – West MacDonnell National Park
Today we explored the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Ellery Creek Bighole. You can camp here a small walk down to the hole and it was just beautiful. A hugh swimming hole – really pretty. We had a good look around. The water was like ice. There were a couple of families camping and the lady on the shore said her family with out there somewhere. You could swim right around the rocks out of sight. We also did a walk down to the river, very rocky going.
Serpentine Gorge – Off we started trekking when I realised this walk was quite alot of rock climbing to the lookout. So off John went on this adventure by himself. Guess he was gone a good half hour, we could see each other him at the top of the mountain and me sitting on a rock at the bottom. When he got back down he said it was difficult and agreed I would not have made it. We continued onto the gorge this was not as nice as the previous waterhole we had just visited. We ran into a busload of boys from Victoria who were on a school camp. Bulldog supporter.

Ochre Pits – This was an interesting place, the aboriginal people use this place as a orchre mine. They use the rock for paintings and body decorations. You are asked not to take any of the rock away or remove it from the rock walls.
Glen Helen Gorge – 132 km from Alice Springs is Glen Helen Resort. The Fink rivers runs and continues on towards the Simpson Desert. Towering gorge walls are the background where the permanent waterhole is. We were going to have a swim here and was about to change into our bathers when a bus load of tourist arrived. That was the end of that.
Ormiston Gorge – Our last stop for the today and I would say the best. What a place , shady cool water, towering rock walls. Could have stayed forever. Took a swim – we both loved this place. Chatted to a couple on the sand, they arrived a few weeks ago and love it so much has started work at Glen Helen Resort. Seems alot of folks do that up this way, come for a visit and stay. We will be home.
Day 24 – Golf & Visit National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame
Today I walked the Alice Spring Golf Course with John. We had a great morning, it is such a pretty place. Lots of birds and grasshoppers. I have never seen so many grasshoppers. John had a good round and booked in for Wednesday to play in their comp calls WAGS. I visited the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame. I was enjoying , lots of reading. How difficult it would have been to live back in the early days. A pioneer woman is not only a colonist, explorer or settler but is anyone who is an innovator or developer of something new. Eg doctors, lawyers, aviators I saw names like Dawn Fraser, Margaret Doyle.
Celebrating women’s achievements over past 100 years, the 3 m x 2.5m signature quilt Patchwork of Empowerment contains 343 signatures of women who were first in their field. See attached list of some of the names on this quilt. This was very inspiring.
The display was founded by Mrs Molly Clark of Old Andado Station in 1993 and is dedicated to preserving the place of women in history and their special contribution to Australia’s heritage. I was told this wonderful lady, Molly is now 94 years of age.l

Day 25 – Eastern MacDonnell Ranges – Emily & Jessie Gaps
Unfortunately we are unable to see a couple of beautiful spots. The road has been closed due to all the rain they have had so we cannot get to Trephine Gorge or Palm Valley. With a bit of luck when we come back here in a week or so it may be opened. Today we went to Emily Gap which is really pretty. Very peaceful could have spent the whole day there. We had to wade through the water and found Aboroginal Rock Art. Thought we were there all alone and set up the tripod for a picture of the two of us and then a bus load of tourist turned up. We seem to keep running into these tourists. Finally sorted the camera and got our shot. We drove onto Jessie’s Gap – nothing there no water, very hot.
This afternoon John played in the Wags competition and I walked around. Much cooler today. Johnny said I was to say he had a tough day at the golf course. Leave it up to your imagination.