Post 60 – Old Ghan Heritage Trail

Rodinga fettlers camp

 

On the way into Chamber's Pillar we came across part of the Old Ghan Heritage Trail so took part of it.

This is Rodinga, a fettlers camp complete with kitchen and cook.

 

 

 

Bundooma

 

 

Further down the track is Bundooma, obviously an old watering station for the steam locos.

Post 61 – Chamber’s Pillar

Chamber's Pillar

 

The road from Maryvale into Chamber's Pillar is pretty rough. Lots of large corrugations and one big long dust bog hole, where we chose to take one of the bypass tracks both in and out. Also one steep pinch. I chose to use low range on the descent and then on both the climb and descent on the way out.

Still I think it was worth it.

 

 

Chamber's Pillar

 

 

The pillar is not an isolated feature. There are a number of other less prominent features in the same area.

Chamber's Pillar

 

 

Graffiti or historically significant? The accessible base of the pillar is soft sandstone and it is possible to engrave your name in it. There are old engravings from explorers through the area and then from some of the pioneering families. AlsoTom, Dick and Harry in 2018 who don't think the signage requesting that you do not engrave your name is referring to them. The lettering of the old engravings is much better than the modern stuff.

Post 62 – Uluru

Uluru - again

 

Back to Uluru. While having lunch at this sunset viewing area we realised that the fridge wasn't working. That rough road in and out of Chamber's Pillar. It is Friday again. Phone calls to Alice Springs and looks like we can get it fixed on Monday. Only a 800 km round trip. Still it turned out alright in that the fridge was repaired under warranty. Then back to Ayres Rock Campground ready to hit the Great Central Road.

 

 

Post 63 – Great Central Road

Gill Pinnacle

 

What a great camp-site. We almost had this great spot to ourselves - only one other group. A couple of other vehicles did come in during the afternoon but drove on. I am not sure what else they could have wanted in a camp spot.

We did drive into the the township of Docker River on the way here. It looks like a pretty tough place.

Road is pretty average. Not the good road that our next door neighbours in the Ayer's Rock Campground described, but also not as horrendous as some others who had travelled it described.

 

 

Explorer motorhome

Len Beadell Tree

 

Today we managed to find this tree marked by Len Beadell (of Gun Barrel Highway fame). I know it is almost in the middle of the road, but we still managed to drive past it and had to turn around.

Lasseter's Cave

 

We had lunch at Lasseter's Cave. I'm not sure if the reef of gold really exists but I'm convinced that Lasseter believed it.

Post 64 – Great Central Road day 2

Camel

 

This was not the only camel we saw. We saw a small herd yesterday but this is the only one that I photographed. It was a bull and I suspect he was too old to maintain his own harem so is now on his own.

Passed a cyclist today. I am not sure if I admire him or think of him as a "bloody idiot". I hope he has done some planning - I don't know what he did for water. He didn't have the same luxury as us with the ability to carry 100 l.

Went through Warburton today. I was disappointed that when we found the art gallery, it was locked and uninviting. We didn't look any further even though there were some instructions about how to get the gallery opened.

Still haven't looked up that Midnight Oil song. "Stars of Warburton"

Road was better today.

 

 

 

Rock holes - camp site

 

Tonight's camp site is called the Rock Holes.

These are the holes. The white ring around the hole is finch poo. There is still some water at the bottom of this hole and the local Zebra Finch population drink here.

 

Rock holes - sunset

 

One again we had nice views and a nice sunset.