Thursday August 27

Now I can't remember if I published a blog yesterday and will have wait until we next have coverage to check. 

Last nights camp was in the overflow which happened to be at the local race track and was temporary home to a large number of people. We left this morning to start our exploration of the Alice Springs area, and a lot of other vans left today some to dodge the influx for tomorrow's race meeting. 

We headed east along the Ross Highway noticing that the town is surrounded by ranges, in other words it is in a hollow. The first stop was Emily Gap which is quite spectacular. It is also home to the 3 caterpillars who the aborigines believe created the Alice Springs area. There are rock paintings attesting to this belief and to further amaze us trees growing out of the rocks. The next stop was Jessie Gap and Creek also well worth the look. The rock structure here in both places is great slabs separated by cracks and looking like a row of dominoes falling on each other. Then to Corroboree Rock which was a slight detour off the road. Again an imposing large, tall rock with a walking trail around it giving one a varied view of the rock. 

At last after 76 kms we arrived at Trephina Gorge to look for our camp spot. There are 3 campgrounds here totalling about 20 campsites, the first is tents only and we found a spot in the last campground which is now full. Incidentally it is very expensive at $6.60 per night. After we settled in I did one of the shorter walks just 40 minutes or so climbing to the gorge rim,about 150 mtrs high and back. Then after dinner we went to a campfire talk given by one of the local rangers.