Day 5 Ormiston Gorge to Glen Helen

Bloody Mount Sonder again!

Another cold morning start with the stars still bright in the sky, however all tempered by a great breakfast and some good coffee.
The bus trip to the start was brief and our start time was the earliest to date-8.20AM.
Walking out of what looked like a very posh camp ground that had taps at every camp point, gas BBQ’s and toilets and a rangers station.
The walk was an easy 14 km and followed some splendid creek lines, then a gentle climb up to a lookout point that gave good all round views including what has become the ubiquitous Mt Sonder.
It was then a descent into the Fink River, the oldest river in the world.
On the way we were urged to get a stone from the creek bed as a “story stone”. This was to be used for story telling later in the day.
Lunch was in the shade of a rock that had a large weathered hole in it, through which the trail passed, with views to Glen Helen.
We had walked so well that we arrived back at base just after 1.00PM so had plenty of time to wash, shower and do various house-keeping duties.
Some luckier members, Chris, managed a 2 hour massage, whilst others just had to manage with a vicious hand of 500.

Our  driver and the support crew had headed off to Alice Springs to get some business dealt with and their late arrival back, having demolished a whole troupe of budgerigars delayed, on their way back.
Dinner was a stir fry vegetables with sweet and sour chicken and rice followed by apricots and ice cream. Not a bad effort considering their late start.
Dinner was followed by the “Story Stone” session, run by Chris who was now feeling no pain after her massage, who asked us to tell a story about how we got into walking and how that lead to a connection with the Friends.
Most of the group participated with some very interesting insight into what started people on the path to bushwalking, why they continue and their associated with the Friends.
Unfortunately, too many to include in this narrative, but one is worthy of mention here, that being from Simon who told us he walked the Trail the first time for himself and the next time for other people.
Note the internet connection at Glen Helen is flaky in the extreme hence the lack of pictures. This will be made  good when and if I can.

Simon's thought of the day- The pursuit of happiness doesn't require movement