Day 13 West MacDonnell Ranges to Alice Springs

 Today was a long day exploring all the various amazing features and gorges within the western side of the MacDonnell Ranges. First stop was Glen Helen Gorge, where we found the path to the gorge was hidden by grasses taller than me. We found the creek bed and then the gorge, full of cold, deep water. They even had a life saving ring, just in case. The orange and white cliff faces were pretty awesome. 

 

From there we went to the very popular Ormiston Gorge. It even had a kiosk, being in the middle of nowhere. They had a paved walkway to the beach and water hole. I spotted some wild budgies flying around too. It was very popular and busy there. We opted to do another walk, the Ghost Gum lookout walk, which took us up many steep steps, but the effort was worthwhile, as we got spectacular views that overlooked the beach and waterhole and around the corner of the gorge, that you couldn't reach because of the water. The colours were varied and again pretty amazing. There was one lone white ghost gum on this little peak within the gorge, hence the name of the walk.

 Ormiston Gorge

 Below, there is a photo of a lone little wild purple daisy plant, trying to sprout through rock and concrete. When I saw it, I saw me; I saw something beautiful, trying to breakthrough, to be strong, despite the lack of water and soil. I saw its resilience and courage to overcome the conditions, to survive; me.

From Ormiston Gorge, we explored the Ochre Pits, with many shades of rock that had been used by Indigenous communities, to make paint. 

 

 Next stop was at the Ellery Creek Big Water Hole, which lived up to its name. The water was very deep with amazing rock faces all around. A lone kestrel was soaring above, and occasionally diving into the water to catch a fish. This was a popular spot, with a few braving the freezing waters for a swim, there were influencers filming themselves, waiting for others to leave the water so they could get the perfect shot, families, hikers, and an ultramarathon event was stationed there to check on the participants, as they ran past. We enjoyed lunch and watching all the action before us.

Next stop was Standley Chasm, where we had taken our 4 children aged between 1 1/2 years old and 6 years old in 2004. It was very green this time, and although we had taken them to see the rock faces in the middle of the day, this time we had gone in later in the day and it was much cooler and thanks to recent rain, was very green and lush. Again you could see where the water had washed away the orange red colours, to leave a polished white and grey rock. The rock shaped like a slippery dip, that was smooth and shiny and made a great slippery dip for our kids all those years ago, was still there. The height of the rock walls was awesome, as you stood between them. This part of the park is now privately owned and run by an Indigenous community.

 

The last amazing sight was Simpson's Gap. This had even taller cliff faces than Standley Chasm and was equally as spectacular as Ormiston Gorge, with pools of water and sandy beaches, between the cliffs. At that time of the afternoon, it was much cooler and very pleasant, and the trillion flies were starting to dissipate, much to our relief. We took some cool photos of the 2 Clippers in front of the gap as well. 

 The Larapinta and Namatjira roads have spectacular escarpments and cliff ranges and mountain views, all along the roads, on both sides. At the moment, we have been blessed to see it at their best because of the recent rains. It's teeming with life and health. We feel so privileged that we can see it like this, with the orange rocky faces hidden amongst the green, swishy grasses, white ghost gums, she-oaks and limestone mallee about to burst into flower, to name a few. We eventually drove into Alice Springs and were able to meet and stay with a fellow from our Clipper club, who is slowly restoring a Clipper. A long but wonderful day, immersed in God's creation again.

never have I seen or eaten so many flies... why God, did you not make enough spiders to catch them?? 

No,  wait... i see your reasoning...

oh and i may have killed our portable step that we put at the door to get in easier, like old people do,,, it seems it puts up no resistance when 8 tonne of steel rolls over it. mmm  

and we must be old cause they charged me pensioner discount to get into Standley chasm. bloody teenagers.