Uluru to the ocean (not along the Gunbarrel)

Yes as the blog title suggests we didn't make it onto the Gunbarrel despite our best efforts. The actual road is very little travelled these days and the entry point we had hoped to start on - somewhat inappropriately called the Heather Highway - was no more than an overgrown track with branches lashing at the car as we drove and the wing mirrors looking slightly dishevelled in the process. The road was one of the many Len Beadell roads made out here and he named this one after his wife, Heather. Travelling on our own and without high frequency radio or satellite phone we thought better of the idea and returned to the more travelled dirt tracks of the Great Central Highway. We were slightly disappointed but the route we took provided plenty of highlights and the Gunbarrel can wait for another day. The first pic shows the entrance to the unmarked "highway"

Lasseter's cave was intriguing. People still today come in search of the fabled reef of gold that he so clearly wrote of in his diary.

Lasseter's view from the cave of the river - which was flowing while he was there - his eyes would scan for the rescue party that never came

The magnificent Petermann Ranges - we didn't really know what to expect of the countryside here but there were stunning mountain ranges, arid countryside but with patches of green here and there and of course with some recent rain the beautiful wildflowers which just make the countryside smile

We can hardly help being taken with the Sturt's Desert Pea - coming up to them along the road they reminded me of little red soldier crabs huddled together

The Giles Breakaway - these escarpmetns are caused by erosion - the harder cap on the top resists the erosion while the softer sandier soil breaks down and forms the basin which is filled with many different types of vegetation while on the top only the hardy mulga can survive.

A familiar sight on these roads

Some industrious animal laboured long and hard to build this asthetically pleasing home - would love to know what it was - thought possibly a spider.

 

London Bridge but this time near Sandstone on our way west - it used to be the scene of picnics and sports days for the nearby town which boasted a population of 8000  in the early 1900s in the goldrush days. They arrived in horse drawn carts and there are photos of them going over the bridge along with camel teams as well!!! This formation is also part of an escarpment. The picture which shows a mulga tree at the left is the same tree in the early 1900s photo we saw. These trees grow about 2cm every ten years so even smallish trees can be over 100 years old.

The Great Central was littered with dead cars as well as many dead animals - we saw some massive eagles along the road but all very camera shy.

This was a car graveyard - we figured about 14 here but more than 200 along the road. 

Alice Springs to Uluru

Alice Springs is a lovely clean town and even though this was our third time here we still enjoyed looking around and seeing the changes that had been made. We stayed in a lovely bushy caravan park and met some interesting people but were happy to be heading off along the road again. As we wanted to go on the Gunbarrel Highway we had to get permits for part of the route from the Aboriginal communities we would pass through. These gained we set off south and retraced a bit of our journey to get back on the road to the Gunbarrel.

The Todd Riverbed in the dry - in the wet it is often a raging torrent. It is just beyond the roof of the building in the pic below

The National Transport Museum is a must for those interested in the progress of transport through the last century. These are some of the many there. Some have been rejuvenated to their former glory and they have a whole yard hoping their turn will come.

On the road south we revisited the Henbury Meteorite craters. these amazing holes are huge even though the meteorites that hit were no bigger than a 44gal drum but travelling at 40 000mph they would have made an amazing sight. This happened about 4000 years ago and changes over that time have been minimal. 

The main crater

A smaller crater

The Water crater with very different vegetation from the others

Our route also included a return for us to Uluru and the Olgas. On the way there we enjoyed Mt Connor again - often mistaken for Uluru - and an amazing salt lake that we were wowed by and of course more beautiful wild flowers and animal tracks.

Mt Connor at sunset

Mt Connor next day - we camped beside the road in a little camp area not far from this spot

More gorgeous animal tracks

The salt lake

 From here it wasn't far to Uluru and the Olgas - not much to say - again the pics tell the story - always awe inspiring

Many people still climb even though they're asked not to.

Uluru from the Olgas viewing platform

Had never seen this unique Upside Down Plant 

Simpson Desert to The Alice

You would think that after the Simpson anything after that would be easy but nooooo - you would be wrong. The trip up to the Alice where we are now was not so pleasant - Corrugationsssssssss and blowouts were the reasons for our nightmares. It took us four days in the desert averaging about 15-18kph  and the roads after it were about the same - you can either go at 80kph and try to float over the bumps or go a it slower and not do so much damage. We did the latter but still did the damage. It took us 2 days to drive out of the desert and the second night after 3 flat tyres we arrived at 9pm and stayed in a motel!!! We needed it.

This is just a sample Of the kms of corrugations

There are quite a few places of dreams that have vanished and sad tales of loss - this one at Bloods Creek shows what was and what is now.

And a story  of tragedy

Still the beautiful flowers kept appearing

A familiar sight on this long day

Finke - an aboriginal community at the end of the desert - also a place of former glory when the Ghan travelled past - this big water tank and crane from bygone days

Finally  some clean clothes in Alice Spriings

We will spend a couple of days here - we may revisit some of the things we have enjoyed before when we were here first in Karumba days -1973 and then again in Mt Isa days with the kids in 1995. The Overland Telegraph Station is a must - so interesting. After that we are heading west again along the Gunbarrel Highway to  the west coast. We hear it's a tough road - lots of corrugations - ha ha!!