Alice Springs cont

 Friday 4 May – Alice Springs

The East MacDonnell Ranges beckoned today so headed east along Larapinta Drive to check out the gorges. Started at Emily Gap where a short walk along the dry, sandy river bed with red rocky cliffs took us to a cave with paintings from the local Arrernte people depicting 3 caterpillars. In the aboriginal culture, the caterpillars at the rock away which formed the gap in the range where the river runs. We then went on to Jessie Gap another 10 km s down the road which is also a part of the caterpillar dreaming story. Jessie Gap was similar but still different which doesn’t really make sense but it’s difficult to find words to relay the differences are they really are all sandy dry river beds with red craggy cliffs. But all so different from the last.

We drove on to Trophina Gorge with the hills around us looking as though we were witnessing the death of a mountain range. Eroded to almost nothing with ridges of rock that looks as though a brick wall was constructed on it. Then there were areas that had great rocky ridges that with not much imagination could easily have been the backbone of extinct dinosaurs jutting through the earth.   I know this is getting repetitive but everywhere is so amazing.

We decided to continue through to Ross River just to see what was there – not a lot. There was a “resort” which was just tin huts and a campground but it must be popular as on the way back we had continual traffic heading out there packed up with camping equipment. We found out later that there is a music festival being held there this weekend. It is a long weekend here in NT so this is obviously where the locals go for a break.  Speaking of the traffic, the road to Ross River is what is known as a development road, which means one strip of bitumen down the middle which you drive on, but when another vehicle approaches, you both need to move over and have two wheels on the shoulder gravel. Not a problem on the way out but with all the traffic coming towards on the return it was a little different. Most people were fine but there’s always some who think it’s OK to hog  the road and not give an inch. There are cowboys everywhere!