Alice Springs, Gem Tree, Devils Marbles, Banka Banka and Daly Waters Pub

Hi every one

Well another installment to our travels this time we have moved approximately 1000Km north to the Daly Waters Pub main reason to say hello and see Lyn and Errol our friends from last years travel we are working here for 3 month or more, before getting here we visited a number of places.

Alice Springs
5 Days in Alice is enough, 16 years ago the Town was nice, now commercialized and smelly expensive and to get alcohol pubs and bottle shops don't open till 2Pm.

Palm Valley approx 140 west of Alice Springs, four wheel drive only the last 30K. Before getting there we stopped at the Lutheran township of Hermannsburg

This town was set up to convert the local aboriginals and they achieved quiet bit here in fact the new church was build not so long ago.

Palm Valley now this is worth a visit this valley in a Gorge is coverd in palms and is a left over from ancient times remember that Alice is in a arid dessert with very low rain fall per year, although what we have been through you wouldn't think so we have seen some rain, anyway I digressed.

The road into Palm ValleyLetting tyers down before going in

Sandy Roads up to the axles

River crossings a plenty



The Palm Valley

We walked the lower track and than returned via the top Platuea and some great scenery.



Visited the various Gorges around the West and East McDonald Ranges

The Ochre pits,
Gorges full of water



but this year didn't swim in any of them to cold maybe I am getting to old for swimming? or maybe due to our little friend here




Travelers like us on the road outside of Alice this guy has been on the road for more than 10 years like this.

Gem Tree next a small town with a CP, you are able to go fossilkin looks good with the pick don't it.

, we had a great time and found a few Garnets and where lucky to do this on the day we were there as the next day rain set in for the next few days.

Aboriginal Woman and Child
Even saw visitors from outer space

The day we left it rained for a few hundred K's and cleared when we set up camp in free camp for the night, next morning we headed for the Devils Marbles.

See how strong Bianka isIt's all ours


How about this for Strenght splitting this boulderYou are able to camp here there where 2 CV in the area when we got there at 12 noon and by 4Pm 33 where parked , great atmosphere it was.
Sunrise looking past the Van

Leaving here we decided to travel to Banka Banka Station

for a clean and rest, we polished the Van and Car over 2 days and a walk to Banka Banka water hole

via the ridge 3Kl walk



and then off to Daly Waters and only stopped in Tennent Creek for fuel, talking about fuel, they realy see you coming here driving up the middle as fuel, food is so expensive in one place we stopped Diesel was $2.05a ltr, in most places it ranges from $1.49 to $1.79 I heard today that Darwin is $1.28.

Well we are here for a few days seeing Lyn and Errol, nice, have a nice spot and are able to relax for a while.

Till next blog B & S