Day 331 Devil's Marbles

                                                                                                 Had to do a movie of this spot...we had been told about the sunset's....but we could not resists the Sunrise too! Some of the best sunset material, with just enough cloud to make it very interesting...enjoy.

Day 329-330 Gemtree

We left Alice and headed out to make our fortune (yeah right) at a place just up and east of Alice Springs called Gemtree. We just stayed for two nights but it was great to be out under the stars, with camp fires each night and showers heated by fire under drums.
Then we went fossicking for garnets....as you can see a very dirty, dusty job....but great fun if you have never done anything like this before.
We got a few...so Ted if you are reading this...I'll have a small job for you on our return..1 x 6mm, 2 x 4mm and 3 x 3.25mm. They need cutting first..know anyone?

Day 321 - 328 Alice Springs Part 8

Another day out, was to Palm Valley. This was a hour and a half drive to, then another hour in before we hit some serious rocks for Toby...the comment coming out of the Valley was, go in on a tour or a hire car but don't take your own vehicle in...I didn't need telling again..so we walked the last 1.5k.
Would you believe when we got to the information stall... there was a 2k or 5k walk....all uphill and down dale...I walked the river bed and Stephen went off again....he said it was good but we , I said we had seen better. Anyway, he did the 2k walk and got back to the car about 5mins after me!!!
As you ca see we were not the only one's to stop and walk!!
The drive in and out though was incredible..
with rock formations all over the place.... onwards and upwards....we moved on from Alice with many great memories.

Day 321 - 328 Alice Springs Part 7

We travelled out to the East MacDonnell's, in Emily Gorge we saw some more Aboriginal Cave Art, these were fairly prominent and not surrounded by cages!
We also saw some weird stuff...this little thing was attached to the front of our next door caravan....no it's not real...they just brought it with them and put it outside whenever they are in a "Not Pet Friendly" caravan park...each to their own sense of humor!
Talking of humor, we were at the Woman Pioneer Centre and came across this display, each year there is a competition for design of outfits using only recycled material. Blow it up so you can check it out..the black mannequin on the right has feral cats heads as breast plates...and the white mannequin on the left is covered in cards.
We had heard a lot about this quilt...it is over three hundred blocks with signed sections on each block. These signatures are from pioneering women in all fields, so sport, media, design, law, doctors etc.. The lady in the shot is Wendy, who was one of the ladies involved in the making of this treasure.
Anzac Hill is exactly that a hill, this shot is looking down the main street to the Gap in the MacDonnell Ranges.

Day 321 - 328 Alice Springs Part 6

The Barbie and Ken show came to town while we were there! It was lovely to catch up, if only for a short time...this shot is of us outside Turtle after a great dinner.
We organised to go ballooning in the morning, Ken was sensible and stayed in bed...we on the other hand got up at 4.30....travelled out but unfortunately the wind was to strong so we could not go up. They lit the burner just for effect.!
All this did not stop Barb and Stephen taking shots of the dawn....we tried again to book for the next morning but it was fully booked...so yet again I miss out on a balloon ride... oh well always something we can do later!

Day 321 - 328 Alice Springs Part 5

This is the remains of the Kookaburra, the plane that went out to look for Charles Kingsford Smith and crew, Kingsford Smith was found alive but the pilot and co-pilot of the Kookaburra were found dead out in the desert. Many years later they recovered the plane and put it in it's own memorial in Alice Springs.
Just out the back was the old cemetery. Here we found a couple of interesting grave sites. This strange looking statue is of Lassiter, panning at his fabled gold reef.
The other is this painted headstone for the famous aboriginal artist Albert Namitjira. We also saw a lot of his work in the gallery. 

Day 321 - 328 Alice Springs Part 4

If you get a chance ever, and this one I really mean, go to the Desert Park, just outside Alice Springs. We went for the bird show (see video) and maybe a couple of hours...well that ended up with getting there at 9.30 and leaving at 4.15..fantastic...lots of birds for my book and no it's not cheating as they are all local and as many outside aviaries as inside. This is the Bower Bird I was talking about...just look at those feathers.
Another one for my Sis...Stephen found this picture quilt...thinks you should try something like that?!!!
They had a Nocturnal building which was incredible, this Tawny Frogmouth was watching some small mice in another display..not a bad picture through glass, dim lights and no flash!
There were so many pictures that I gave up trying to select and just put the whole thing on to a video.....we had the best day......