Thursday, while we were getting a new jumper for Lyn, we bought our discount tickets to the Camel Cup, and today was the day of the big race.
We got to the ground just before midday, following this sign on the highway. A big surprise was the number of people already there. It was packed. The whole event was a fundraiser for the Lions club. The weather threatened to turn bad, but there was no rain, and the wind held off after blowing strongly all night.
Lyn had a cuddle with the Lions roving belly dance camel while we looked around the stalls and entertainment.
We found the yards where the camels were held.
Then we walked around the a bit further and found a spot near the start line.
This is the field for race 2 just starting.
And here is the first few at the finish
In most races about half the field were very late. Some just turned around on the course and others stopped to look at the spectators.
It was very hard to pick a possible winner, but Lyn managed to pick "Doctor Who" and he did come in first.
Pity we did not put some money on it!
As a memento of the day, we bought this cute gemstone camel in corral.
It was quite a good day. Things were not as expensive as the show, and the weather, while not spectacular for photos, was pretty comfortable for walking around.
The rain has stopped this week, and so today we left early for a trip out the Ross Highway. We had been told good things about the Ross River Caravan park and wanted to have a look ourselves.
The first stop was at Emily Gap. There were two campervans already there even at this early hour. We thought they had camped there overnight.
The gap itself was really nice, but you could not walk all the way through as there was a lot of water in the billabong.
A little further along the road was Jessie Gap.
This time we had the place to ourselves, and there was no water in the gap allowing us to walk right through.
The main attraction of this gap was the rock walls.
On one section of one rock wall there was an area fenced off to protect this rock painting.
Here is Lyn by the sign in the gap.
Quite a way further along the highway was Corroboree Rock.
We walked around the rock and took this photo from one side where there was a natural cave-like opening high up. It was quite impressive and obvious why it was a meeting place. There was no one else around and it was a very peaceful and beautiful site.
Our final destination was the Ross River Resort. We had been told it was a nice place to stay, and the signs about it were impressive as we got closer,
but around the final corner the road just stopped and there in the muddy dirt road was the 'resort'.
We decided not to stay for dinner, and turned around toward home.
The East Macdonnell Ranges that we had been travelling alongside changed character the further we travelled. Around Ross River they were very much like the Kimberly and the Victoria River valley.
Further toward Alice Springs the ranges character was closer to that of the Pilbarra, although the colours were not as rich. And finally, near Alice they were different again. This time distinctive of central Australia.
It was a pleasant drive, and the scenery was really unexpected.
Lyn has been keen to leave the museum before the chaos of the big reunion that is being held there in August, so after a bit of looking we found a site on the Ross River Highway. It's a private acreage house that had been a caravan park many years ago, and they still had one site set up that we could have for a reasonable amount.
Friday, it started raining again and things started turning to mud, but after a few last minute mind changes, we finally packed up and left early this morning for the new place.
The new site is more open, and today was very cold and windy, so it was not a good first day, but we did get everything unpacked and set up again before noon. Just got to hope this is the last of the rain though.
With nothing else planned for today, we decided to make the trip to Glen Helen and see what we find.
The first part of the trip was the same as when we went to Hermansburg, but after the turnoff to Glen Helen, the scenery was rather different.
On the top of a rise was a rest area, and from it you had a vista along the West Macdonell Ranges. In fact it remided me of photos from calendars.
The next stop was Ellery Creek Waterhole.
The road in was unsealed and corrigated. We nearly turned around, but persisted slowly and eventually came to the main camping and picnic area. It was quite full of campers so after a walk to the waterhole we got back onto the dirt track back to the highway.
The ochre pits were the next stop. Good sealed access road, and when we arrived, we were the only ones there.
The ochre beds stretched for quite a way along the side of a river bed. It was very colourful and well worth the stop.
We arrived at Glen Helen resort just on dinner time, so our first move was to order.
After our meal we walked to the gorge entrance and looked at where the Finke river had cut a channel through the range.
There was a wild dingo across the river who did not seem to mind us being there.
Lyn even ventured out to the small sand island and we watched the dingo climb right to the top of the cliffs.
Tired after all out travels, we headed home for a good rest.
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