July 2006
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Our first outing with Chris and Kim
after they arrived in Alice Springs was to Haast Bluff an
Aboriginal settlement about 200 km's west of Alice Springs. On our all
day journey to Haas Bluff we called into Simpson Gap, the Ochre Pits and
the Glen Helen Resort. We thought the Haast Bluff community's
ingenuity to use an old car door and car bonnet for their signs was very
good. On leaving Haast Bluff we decided to
return to Alice Springs by traveling north linking up with the Tanami
Track and then back to Alice Springs arriving home about 7.30pm or there
about. Assessing our days outing I discovered that Chris and Kim wanted
to go to Gosse Bluff and not Haast Bluff where I took them. I think by the
time we arrived home we had traveled in excess of 600km's.
The next day we returned to Gosse Bluff, a circular mountain range rising out of the flat sand plain. The creator was formed by the violent arrival of a comet about 1 kilometer in diameter about 142 million years ago. The immense energy of the impact caused both the comet and the rock below it to be pulverized. Evidence shows that rocks more than 4 km's beneath the land surface were compressed and affected by shock waves. The rock recoiled beneath the point of impact, lifting the cavity floor upwards and outwards thrusting rock up into the air forming a crater 20 km's across. Going through the Royal Flying Doctor Service was of great interest, with exhibitions of the old radio systems, that they used to use, a large display of old medical equipment which was of great interest for Kim. There was also large models of some of the planes that they used to use. Chris, Josh and I went to the truck museum where we spent many hours going through the various displays. One display we spent some time at was a old camper conversion which was very much ahead of its time. It was a 1972 left hand drive V8 Chrysler Station Wagon called the Mulga Express, it was modified by Kurt Johannsen. Some of the modifications I can remember are: 150 litre fuel tank, heavy duty 16" wheels with pump up shock absorbers, fitted with 240 volt 3000 watt alternator for general power tools and flood lighting, DC Arc welder-80 amp, 40 volt for starting engines with flat batteries and diesel engines, twin cylinder air compressor for air tools and diesel engine air start and pumping up tyres, 10 metre of air hose, one chain saw, one full kit of hand tools and oxy welding gear, tow bar couplings front and back 100 foot of tow rope and high lifting jack, 100 litre water tank (tractor inner tube mounted under front seat, CB and aerial, slide out cabinet for spare parts, tools and food supplies, and fitted with gas stove and fridge, two double bunks; one on top of car and the other folds out in the rear tent, folding table and chairs. Total time to unfold netted in self supporting tent with imitation grass carpet floor is 5 minutes. The wagon was also fitted with a gas burner on the rear on a fold out bracket. The annual Alice Springs Agriculture & Horticulture show was held on the 7th & 8th July. Josh's highlight of the show was having many rounds at the shooting gallery. We visited the Alice Springs train station and watched the Ghan Train arrive. You can experience one of the world's greatest train journeys aboard The Legendary Ghan. The legend has soared to new heights with the extension of The Ghan journey to Darwin. When The Ghan first departed Adelaide for Alice Springs, it was always intended that it would one day travel through to Darwin. More than 70 years on, that dream has become reality. The Ghan now travels 2,979 kilometres from Adelaide to Darwin on this transcontinental journey through the Red Centre of Australia. The Ghan offers a twice weekly return journey between Adelaide and Darwin, and in either direction provides two nights aboard this legendary train. Marvel at the spectacular Australian landscapes; from the rusty reds of the MacDonnell Ranges surrounding Alice Springs, gateway to Ayers Rock and the Red Centre, then north to Tennant Creek, Katherine and the tropical splendor of Darwin. Off-train touring to the Desert Park Alice Springs is a feature of the new journey, providing the chance to learn more about the unique desert flora and fauna. When in town the passengers are picked up in buses and transported to the Desert Park for lunch and spend a few hours roaming around the park. The Desert Park is must see if you are in the Alice Springs area. It has a great arrangement of desert animals, Aboriginal artifacts, aboriginal talks, a great assortment of desert flowers, birds of prey, a live display of hawks flying in to collect their food, the attendant will throw small particles of food into the air and the birds will fly in and take the food before it reaches the ground. Another of our day visits was to Chambers Pillar. The main feature of this 340 hectare Reserve is the pillar of sandstone which towers 50 metres above the surrounding plain. Sandstone deposits were laid down in the area 350 millions years ago. Since then, wind and rain have eroded away the softer material, leaving this solitary column of pebbly sandstone. John MacDougall Stuart, heading north on his earliest attempt to cross Australia, first recorded the pillar in April 1860 and named it after James Chambers, one of his South Australian sponsors. We attended the Alice Springs Camel Cup which was a great day out. Camels are very unpredictable. One girl jockey finished the race struggling to hang on underneath the camel's body between its legs. The first Camel Race was run in 1970 in the dry Todd River Bed as a bet between two mates, Noel Fullerton and Keith Mooney-Smith, and was an added attraction at the Alice Springs Centenary Year Celebrations. If you're looking for a fun event not just for your family and friends, this is it. Not only do you get a good laugh just by watching the races (guaranteed that no two races are the same) you will also be entertained by fun and interaction between races, with lots of great local stalls. Camels are not as they seem: the dedicated ships of the desert destined to serve their master. These magnificent beasts can easily spit over three metres, have been known to bite, snarl and generally prefer to do thing at their own pace. The riders are either heroes or crazy! Either way, all of these bridled passions make for dynamic viewing, with camels easily conquering the riders during the day. The start of the race, with up to 15 camels, is confusing, some off in good stride, others still grounded, some going backwards, it's a nightmare for riders and handlers, but spectacular for spectators - a camel in full stride needs the rider to hang on for dear life. The Stuart Caravan Park where we are staying was the park that 24 Chamberlin Tractors owners chose to stay whilst on their trip to Cape York. The tractors came mostly from Western Australia. The tractors were either pulling Off-Road camper trailers or Pop Top caravans. On their way to Ularoo, across The Great Central Road, one caravan broke up and had to be transported back to Western Australia. The owner had to hire an Off-Road camper trailer to finish their trip to Cape York.
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