Day 10 - Katherine

There are but a few places on this Planet where I have left part of my Soul behind

One of which, is the Beautiful Nitmiluk Gorge 

last time we were here I said I would return.

And This time I was torn between cruising the Ancient  waters of the Katherine River or going Deeper into the History of this Area.

And Deeper we did go!

From an Entire Train Full of People just DH, Myself  2 Others (and the Journey Beyond Staff Member) chose the New Katherine Excursion to the Cutta Cutta Caves.

As we have traveled the opportunity to check out a "New" Cave has become a To Do Item.

Compared to some, the section of Cutta Cutta that is open to Tours is relatively small.

Limestone caves are Uncommon in Northern Australia and Cutta Cutta is the only one open to the public. 

It is relatively easy to get to and with the exception of One 'pinch point' and a few steps, quite accessible.

Unfortunately we didn't see any of the Rare Ghost or Orange Horseshoe Bats.

We did see signs that local Snakes (Harmless Brown Tree Snake) had visited recently

I was just happy to enjoy the 'Private' Tour as it gave me the opportunity to see just how well my iPhone performed in the low light.

(Taking good Photos in Caves is notoriously difficult.)

Discovered c.1900 and named 'Smiths Cave' then '16 Mile Cave' during WW2 and finally in 1979 to Cutta Cutta the Jawoyn Name for "Many Stars".  

The Aboriginal People didn't enter the Cave as they believed it was where the Stars rested during the day.

THIS is because in places, the Cave Sparkles!

After collecting the rest of the Travellers we headed on to the Nitmiluk Visitors Centre. 

We were treated to a Shared Meal which included Kangaroo, Barramundi and Crocodile all delicately flavoured with Indigenous Salmon Gum, Citrus Myrtle, Saltbush and River Mint.

From here it was back to Katherine Station where many a traveller waited to get that Iconic Photo of the Ghan engine... only to be disappointed that the Train was being hauled, as it sometimes is,  by  Pacific National.

(This does not detract from The Ghan experience)

Our Time with Journey Beyond and Outback Spirit is drawing to an end.

Just one last beautiful Evening Meal on Board as we watch the Sun Set through dusty windows, as we roll into Darwin.

 

Ghan Photo:By Bahnfrend - Own work, 

CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41744599

Day 9 - Exploring Alice Springs

This post actually starts Yesterday when we were given the choice of being dropped in the Middle of Alice Springs or taken back to the Hotel.

The Hotel didn't have Ice-cream or Coffee 

(The only place we could get a drink was the Bar and they didn't have a Coffee Machine...)

And Stowaway Frog wanted Out of my Bag - So Town it was!

Whenever we go Anywhere our first stop is always the Information Centre.

Here we pick up Maps to let us know where to Go and How to Get There

My Souvenir Patches -IF they are available

And Local Knowledge of ...

Where to get the Best Coffee :)

We did some Shopping, buying an Original Artwork 

and some Fabric (My First Fabric purchase in I don't know how long) at the Aboriginal Fabric Gallery

(This is to finish my 2019 Temperature Quilt)

We visited The Women's Museum.

A Fascinating Insight into The Women who shaped not only the Outback but the Skies Above.

The Women who ascended into the Highest Courts in the Land and all the  way to Australia's Parliament.

From here we called in 'Next Door' to the Royal Flying Doctor Information Centre.

We very much appreciated the time spent out of the Heat while we watched a Short Film on the Life of John Flynn and the History of the Flying Doctors.

* * *

And that brings us to Today.

With just the Morning to ourselves we decided to walk the 1.3 km to the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens.

We certainly didn't have enough time to explore all the 16 Hectare Australian Arid Garden but it filled in the morning.

And WE have a Train to Catch.

And Little Frog has a Very Big Apology to make for the fuss he caused a week ago.

That is  IF he will stop mucking around...

Day 8 - Back in Alice

 The Quote for Today:

"Sleep is Highly Over-rated!"

Ok - Long story short - 

"The Other Bus was broken into last night, We have been up with the Police and other Drivers to swap our Bus with the damaged one so it could continue on while we Hope & Pray for a new window to arrive - So Yes, that is why we have no snacks on board and the window has Glad-wrap on it".

And with THAT briefing out of the Way, we set off on our Last morning with Outback Spirit.  

First Stop - Everyone just HAS to Visit the Alice Springs Welcome Sign 

because, 

"Pics or it Didn't Happen!"

Just a group of strangers 5 days ago now Friends who have shared an Epic Adventure.

Now we are off to see/visit - mainly dead people.

The Resting places of the Pioneers that shaped Australia.

7 km West of Alice Springs at the Foot of the MacDonnell Ranges lay the Ashes of Rev. John Flynn (and his Wife Jean Blanch Flynn).  

Founder of the Flying Doctor Service and First Superintendent of the Australian Inland Mission.

Harold Lewis Bell Lasseter

Explorer, 

Gold Prospector

Only He knows if his Legendary Reef of Gold Actually exists 

Though many have searched

- to date no one has ever found it.

Albert Namatjira

Resting in the Shade of His Beloved Ghost Gums

A man of the Western Arrernte People

Famous in His own Lifetime for his Watercolour paintings of the country to the West of Alice Springs

Our Tour officially ends at ANZAC Hill.

The Highest point of Alice Springs it's Central location offers a great View of the Town and surrounding area.

Visiting here will not only give you awesome Photo Opportunities but also an insight into Australia's fight during the Second World War.

Time to say Goodbye to our Outback Spirit Team and Fellow Travellers. 

 

Tomorrow we explore The Town Called Alice on our own.

Day 7 - The Mereenie Loop

Another 7:30am start - 

Our Route today takes us onto the Mereenie Loop. 367 km of mostly unsealed Red Dirt road.  

Our Driver did his best to avoid the ruts .... and the Camels.

(There are a LOT of Camels in Australia.)

Second stop for the Day.  

A very welcome Morning Tea at the "Exclusive Mereenie Cafe".  An Outdoor Venue with Tablecloth Service and an extensive menu.

The Ladies were advised that the On-board facilites were available.  While the Gents were told to Go take a walk and find the "Lavi-trees".

When travelling in Australia is is highly advisable to STOP - REST and REFOCUS and not to forget RE-Hydrate!

So there were lots of small stops along the way.

Gosses Bluff Crater.

A big Hole in the ground made 142.5m Years ago when a 600 m wide Comet crashed making a 20 km Crater.

Then on to - Mount Sonder

Just a 'leg stretch' and Photo Op here.

Known as Rutjupma (The Pregnant Lady) This Mountain is Sacred to the Western Arrernte People.

245 km after leaving Kings Canyon we pull in to Ormiston Gorge.

This was our Lunch stop for the Day and although we were told the Kiosk served Awesome Iced Lattes, we were more than happy to enjoy the provided Picnic Lunch that appeared from beneath the Bus!

After Lunch we took the shorter Waterhole Walk. 

 

The sight of the Ghost Gums against the Blue Sky transported me back to the little girl who admired a Painting that hung in the Corridor of my Primary School.

This is where Australian Indigenous artist Albert Namatjira painted many of his Ghost Gums. 

Our next stop was to be Standley Chasm however it was closed to tourists for the Funeral of an Indigenous Elder.  

So we were able to see the Ochre Pits instead.

This is where Aboriginal People have extracted Ceremonial Ochre for thousands of years.

It is illegal to touch or remove Ochre from these Cliffs. 

We were also able to stop in at The Ellery Creek Big Hole. 

Tempting as it was in the afternoon heat - there is no way on earth I would venture into those waters.  

(And that was before I heard of the lives this place has claimed).

Back on the Bus for another 136 km (1.30 hr) drive 

We saw the Graves of Pioneers 

and marvelled at The Caterpillar Range - Learning all about the Caterpillar's battle with the Stink Bugs.

And why the Rocks have Stripes.

We crossed the Mighty Todd River (That's it in the Photo) 

and The Ghan Rail Line 

Before finally arriving back where we started just 5 days ago in Alice Springs.

It was a very long Day.

Day 7 - Royal Flying Doctors to the Rescue

Leaving Kings Canyon, it will be 9 Hours before we arrive in  Alice Springs.

And for our small group it will be filled with concern.

The first we knew that anything was wrong was a sense of unease, then one of our Group Lorraine, advised us  "My Sister is no longer with us..."

"Oh No that's not right - No,   She had a Fall during the night and was Medevaced Out". 

Lorraine spent most of the day on someone else's phone, trying to get a Mobile Signal so she could contact Family and Hospitals from the Middle of Nowhere while we continued our tour.

It was not until we reached Alice Springs she learned that, On arrival her Sister was diagnosed with a tear in her Aorta and immediately Flown to Adelaide by The Royal Flying Doctors.

Australian readers will know of the Flying Doctors, but for others The RFDS provides a 24-hour aeromedical emergency service, with Flight paths that reach across the continent anywhere - no matter How Remote within hours. 

They also provide Telehealth consultations, fly-in fly-out GP and Nurse Clinics, mobile Dental Service, Neo-Natal and a myriad of other services so that people living (and yes, visiting) Rural and Remote areas can enjoy the same health outcomes as those living in the Cities.

How much does this cost?   

Millions (Each Aircraft is a Flying Intensive Care Unit)

How much do we Pay for this Service? 

Nothing.  It is a Free Service 

It is funded mainly by Donations 

and Australian Federal Government Assistance.

Do we support the RFDS?

Yes we Do!

Day 6 - Kings Canyon

When asked if she'd watched the Dawn, 

Our Tour Guide stated

"The Sun has been rising for Millennia - 

It does not need my Supervision"

But I say when it Jumps Up - bangs on your door 

and says "Hey Look at Me". 

You just have to pay it some attention!  

(At least I didn't have to walk anywhere for this shot!)

We needed an early start for today as we were going to The Kings Canyon Rim.

A 6 km loop - that takes about 3 - 4 hours that is ONCE you climb the 500 rock steps to the Rim.

Yes OK - we checked it out and NO ONE on the tour thought it a good idea!

I have left this photo at full size.

If you look closely you can see a Japanese Couple on the steps - She had no Hat and was dressed entirely in Wool! 

(By her body language I think she was having second thoughts.)

The forecast temperature was for Over 35℃ and it was already climbing.

And it was only 9:30 am

We chose the 1 . 5 km Riverbed Walk. 

Taking much longer than the estimated 45 minutes as our Guide kept stopping to tell us about the local Indigenous Bush Food. 

And taking Photos for Random Tourists.

The Path was easy for those of our Group who were not as Young or Fit as they used to be.

You felt a sense of pure tranquil Peace.

"Core of My Heart - My Country"

And then you look UP -

To "Her Pitiless Blue Skies"

and the Soaring Sandstone Canyon Walls

And you realise how small you are in the Great scheme of things.

Time to head back to Base for Lunch and .... "Pics or it Didn't Happen!"

Is that Stowaway Frog ...

in a Helicopter?

Yes - He wasn't going to miss out on this extra treat.

Our 30 minute Flight took us

Over the ever changing Landscape

There had been Rain recently and the amount of Green against the Red Soil was surprising.

And Over Kings Canyon, where we had walked its Valley this morning.

Our Pilot informed us that this is where the Iconic 1998 QANTAS ad final scene was filmed.

*See footnote If you would like to see the most expensive Australian Advert ever made.

With Feet firmly back on the ground I was able to check my photos and was totally 'blown away' by the quality and detail of the shots from my Iphone 13 pro

(This photo is cropped to 75% and condensed for Web Viewing.)

Our Last event for today was Canapes and Cocktails while we watched the Sunset and Moon Rise over the George Gill Range 

I had the wonderful experience watching the absolute Joy of discovery, when teaching some of our new friends that there was more to Phone  Photography than Landscapes and Selfies. 

Some of the Reflection Photos they got were awesome with one Friend capturing the Full Moon in the bottom of Her Glass!

The Day Finished with Bruce Monro's Light Towers.  

 

Made entirely from Light Filled Bottles and set to a mesmerising Soundscape, we wandered trough its Maze just enjoying the experience.  

I Preferred it to Uluru's Field of Lights, which I thought very messy and chaotic.  

* * * 

The following is a statement from Bruce Munro

“The intention of Light-Towers is not to be some spectacle of lights that flash in the desert. Rather it is simply about enhancing the feeling of wonder and the sense of place that somewhere like Kings Canyon naturally gives you. I hope Light-Towers will become a place where people can reconnect with nature, reconnect with themselves and escape the noise of the everyday in an incredible location.”

And Kings Canyon is Certainly Incredible!

*Link to a Documentary on the Making of The QANTAS advert

I Still Call Australia Home

Day 5 - On the Road .. again

One thing I must say is ...

These tours really are NO GOOD for People who want to Sleep In!

7:30 am we were well and truly on the road with a full day's driving ahead.

85 km down the Road at Curtain Springs Station.  We enjoyed Morning Tea and an Informative Talk on the running of an Outback Cattle Station, before being whisked across the road to have a hands on demonstration on their side venture - Paper making with Local Grasses.

We stop to have another look at Mt Conner.

 

Standing 244 m above the plains and situated on the 1 Million Acre Curtain Springs Station, it is often mistaken by Tourists for Uluru earning the nickname "Fool-uru".

170 km later we stop for a quick Lunch at Kings Creek Station. 

Then on to Kathleen Springs. 

A lovely (if not hot) walk past Wildflowers and long deserted Cattle Yards leading to a deep Waterhole.

Signs along the track tell stories of Aboriginal Culture.

As the Setting Sun competes with the Rising Full Moon we settle in to our Accommodation for the next 2 nights. 

Having travelled just on 400 km we are looking forward to a Dinner we ordered 3 days ago and a Good Nights sleep.