We spent a few days at Kings Canyon "resort" - two reasons, it was a great location with a great view, and secondly, our friends from Adelaide were also there, and it seemed like a great excuse. We did the creek walk up the canyon which was very good - the kids were hoping for a big waterhole, but no, just big views. That night we had a dingo circle our dinner table while we were eating, which had the obvious effect of getting Trixie and Oscar onto the table, and the dingo not leaving. He eventually left, but it did scare the kids. The next day we packed the backpack early and we all went on the Kings Canyon Rim walk. This is walk that was for experienced walkers, which by this stage, we all think we are. It is a 5.6km walk with some very close cliff views, lots of stairs and uneven tracks. We all made it - including Trix - and saw some amazing features.
We packed up the next day and said our goodbyes as our SA team members went south home, and we started on our trip north. We got a permit to enter aboriginal lands and took the Mereenie Loop road to the West MacDonnell ranges - well we got told this was a 4WD road, so expected it to be rough - but can I tell you - no-one from Byng had ever better complain about their roads again, and sorry Cath and Neil, we have found a worse road than yours! We rattled and shook for over 100kms - and going 20 or 60km /hr made no difference, and in fact, you would not have been able to go 80 if you tried!! The first 20kms was fun - the next 80+ was just crap as we bounced across constant corragations. Sharpie, we are pleased to say that the box held together, and in fact nothing smashed - which defies belief. We stopped at the Glen Helen Gorge where the Finke river goes through the gap - plenty of water, we then stopped at Ormiston gorge, by now the kids are nearly over the gorges, and Trix can identify most native grasses. We camped the night at a bush camp at the Ellery Creek Waterhole and shared a camp fire with a family from Kurrajong that are travelling for 6 months. We packed up this morning and landed back in Alice - we booked in early into a caravan park as they are all getting full - which surprised me. We spent today doing a few tourist activities - went to the Pioneer Womens exhibition, the Desert Park which was great, and the kids got some time at the skate park - which is Oscars new sport of choice.
The kids managed to get their journals up to date, and Oscar and Hunter have nearly finished all of their Maths work. Hunter got a blog from a class mate to say they are doing government and resources this term, so we will find some extra things on this over the next few weeks - you would not believe his excitment at that prospect. We are all well, and looking forward to venturing north.
Hi,We are home safe and well. It was a long drive. Had a great laugh about the road. Our turn next time.
ReplyDeleteTayla's back at school tomorrow - Friday.
Keep having fun!
hi wardy's
ReplyDeletewow, lots of walking, & sounds like you are having a fab time, we are all missing all of you, i am missing my little mate going places with me, I hope your having a good time trix, Oscar you will be so fit from all that walking, you will be running rings around us when you get home. Hunter good spot on top of the trailer I'm sure mum felt much safer with you spotting the dingo's. I'm glad the box held up to the rough road, he would have herd about that for a while if it fell apart....
We have a funeral to go to to-day, young matty lenehan, Mick's son, only 24, so won't be a nice afternoon.
well not much else happening here, Pete is away working, ford's are all sporting on weekend, we have netball sat & hockey Sunday, but not much else business as usual.
talk to you soon jules
Hi Ward's
ReplyDeleteGreat hearing all the travels and walking oh my god you'll all be so fit and skinny when you return. Glad you got to climb the rock as it is once in a lifetime experience. Glad I did it when I was 20 odd.
Busy for us, sport most days and all weekend, Tom has been picked in a rep rugby team and the training happens to be in Wellington!! handy. He also made the OSSA soccer team so off the mudgee and cowra. I told Westy to expect some kms on the car in the next couple of mths. We went to Sydney last Week for the State of Origin - while it was very wet we were just undercover and had a great time.
A nice day today but it was still cold at Jack B - boys had a draw 2 all with Ex Serv - a great result as they are comming 2nd.
Keep having a good time - and we will catch the next blog.
West's
Hey Dek, Kate, Hunter, Oscar, Trix and Nan!!
ReplyDeleteIts been great reading about all your adventures, brings back memories for me of when we were up that way. Sounds as though you are having a really amazing time. Good job on the photos of Uluru at sunset Hunter! Its amazing how much the colour of it changes isn't it? Kings canyon is pretty steep in some places well done Trixie for making it all that way, that would have been quite a hike!
Bit of news from Perth.. have exams coming up next week so have been madly studying in preperation for those (hopefully I do a bit better than last year!), nathan has got a new job working in Perth still to do with Gorgon but not on site anymore so in about a month he will be back in perth full time which is a very welcome change. I had a car accident a couple of weeks ago in which my car was totalled, thankfully it wasn't my fault so Im just in the process of harrassing the other persons insurance company trying to get some money out of them, 3 cars involved but thankfully no one was hurt.
Looking forwards to hearing where your at in your next post! Hope you continue to have a safe and enjoyable time!
Love to you all,
Stace xoxoxox