THE RED CENTRE

Our last blog was when we left Kinchega National Park (the Menindee Lakes on the Darling River NSW)  on 1 May 2017 - that's a whole month ago, as I sit in the caravan again at Alice Springs doing this blog on 1 June 2017!  Sorry if we've made people wonder what became of us, but so much has happened.

After leaving Broken Hill and crossing into South Australia, we free-camped at various places, stopping for supplies when necessary, through Port Augusta and then due-north on to the Stuart Highway. That felt like we were getting into the desert country, drier and warmer,but so pretty.

The photos below are from the first of these camps north of Port Augusta:

Late afternoon, about 100 metres back from the highway. There were 3 or  4 other rigs there and we were yarning with the people in the nearest, as you do!

Marilyn, enjoying the last of the sun, beside the Ladybug

Sleep time, well away from the road, but not on our own

 The trip northwards continued well, some of the rest areas we chose were okay, nothing special but our comfort was hooked on behind and there are lots of people out there travelling like this.  We called into Coober Pedy for water, fuel and groceries (fresh fruit was scarce but some nice freshly baked bread was snapped up when we found that.

We crossed into the Northern Territory and our target was a rest area on the way in to Uluru that I knew well, Kernot Range. John Marsh will recognise the place from these photos:

Remember the campfire between the two vans, John? This was taken from the top of the hill where Jill wandered off with the book on wildflowers.

After we had run ourselves ragged around Uluru and Kata Juta, we came back to this same spot for a couple of day's break

This is part of the walk around the base of Uluru  - about 14 kilometres all up

Mutitjulu permanent waterhole near the base of the "Rock". A lot of water drains into this in heavy rainfall

This one for Charlie and Max - an aboriginal guide told me on a visit years ago that the markings clearly visible here represent the Rainbow Serpent

Part of our walk at Kata Juta (The Olgas)

These two at our rest break back at Kernot Range - The Willie Wagtail seems to be saying "Come on  .. time to go!)

To cut a long story short, after we left Uluru we headed straight to Alice Springs. We had 8 days straight at the Macdonnell Range Caravan Park (which included 3 days for me to get over a tummy bug, which I think was a "free extra" from the park!).  On my feet again, we headed for Ormiston Gorge in the West MacDonnells, which was a target destination for me, and spent 10 days camped there, painting just about every day. Some of the scenes below will show why.

Sturt's Desert Rose-  Northern Territory's floral emblem

In the camp - complete with tarp on the red sand floor!

I have done more, Bob and Terry, but I did get to sign the top one!

So here we are back at The Alice, and heading North tomorrow.  Lots of untold stories for the past month, but too weary for now. I shall try to follow up with another blog soon.

Ron and Marilyn