Jewels!

Frankly, and this is hard to admit, we were "gorged out" after three nights in the stunning West MacDonnell Ranges and needed to do something different. Gemtree, east of Alice Springs, was a perfect change - we stocked up in town and headed east.

It was a great bush camping park, and we did a fossicking tour the next morning, finding a zip-lock bagful of garnets. About 10 were jewelry-standard and rest were "show-and-tell" standard (awesome!). Julia is having some earrings made from two of our bigger stones (5mm).

Rather than heading back on the bitumen to Alice a couple told us about a rough 4wd track which headed south into the East MacDonnell Ranges (Binns track).  We were off on another adventure. We came across the historical Arltunga township (the original site of the Northern Territory's second city). This is a partially restored gold mining town (1890-1920) with a dozen or so stone buildings/shacks; most in ruins.

We stayed at the Ross River Campground (in a cabin, we are also a bit over camping!). We had planned to head back to Alice Springs via the bitumen road, but Jodie, the excellent manageress told us about a rough back road. Red rag to a bull - we were driving through sand and rivers and skimming the edge of the Simpson desert. Now we are in Alice Springs in a B & B with a pool!

Watching "Legend of Korra"

Very beautiful parrots eating the Mulga seeds.

Searching for garnets

The kids opening gates on Binns track.

The reconstructed Arltunga police station. Some nong started a rumour about gold hidden in the walls so it was duly torn down.

Views from the hill above the Ross River Camp Ground. Owned by a Grollo from Melbourne apparently.

Crossing Ross River

Petroglyphs (simple carvings) in the rocks.

N'dhala gorge

On Binns track

Oh yeah!