Day 18 - Beverley Hills 90210

Cycad Gorge at Palm Valley

Road out of Cycad Gorge

Today we ventured out of Alice Springs to Hermannsburg to look through the history of the Lutheran Mission where Albert Namatjira was born. Hermannsburg itself was a very confronting community which is what we expected to a degree. Going through the historical precinct was very interesting and showed just what a tough life it was for the missionaries and also the indigenous people. The mission was handed back to the indigenous community by the Lutheran church in about 1992 and there is still a strong indigenous art community at Hermannsburg.

Looking back up the valley - especially for Neil

After Hermannsburg we headed to the Finke Gorge for some 4 wheel driving to go to Palm Valley. Both the Challenger and Elizabeth handled themselves very well. We included the photo above just for Neil - although we didn't need any recovery gear so it obviously wasn't real 4 wheel driving.

Top of Simpsons Gap - no wallabies

Simpsons Gap

On the way back to Alice we called in to Simpsons Gap to get in one more Gorge before we head north. We were also on the look out for more Black Footed Rock Wallabies - we saw one on the way into Palm Valley but were not quick enough with the camera. Our chances of spying the elusive wallaby due to the fact that the students from Lillyvale High turned up at the same time we did, and despite the fact they were fairly quiet there was still a lot of noise. We have been stalked by this school group - Kings Canyon, Uluru and Simpsons Gap - hence the title of this post from the Graeme Connors' song "Great Australian Dream" where a busload of students from the city keep turning up when he is looking at the sights in the outback.

Tomorrow is a big driving day as we head to Daly Waters to get up to the tropical north and the sights of Litchfield, Darwin and Kakadu. Given our desire to get on the road early tomorrow morning, we have shouted ourselves the luxury of a cabin so that we don't need pack up the camper early in the morning. Therefore we are doing this post sitting at a kitchen table and we have had opportunity to soak the red dirt out of our feet in the bath tub.

Love to all
S & E