Day 16 Rest day or the East MacDonnell Ranges

Emily Gap rock art

Today our second rest day at Alice OR not.
Most elected to have the day in Alice going to the Sunday Markets in Todd Mall, catching up with friends or relatives or just simply hanging around.
Some more intrepid amongst us chose to head east and explore the lesser know MacDonnell Ranges, the other side of Alice to the Larapinta.
Breakfast at 7.30 AM, which most attended in spite of being able to sleep in if they so chose.
The adventurers were out on the road at 8.00 AM and an exclusive group, four in number, were picked by Clive, of Emu Adventures.
A cheery guy from the Congo, who sounded more Seth Efrican, and we were off.
First stop, Corroboree Rock and unusual formation, a sacred site, which we could walk around.
Then onto Ross River Resort, the home of the Ross River virus, a great old homestead, now part of the Groller empire.

Then followed a brief morning tea, followed by an exciting 4WD trip around the property, in Frank Groller’s personal Landcruiser, scratching it furiously on the narrow property tracks.
We saw the Great Wall of China, a wall-like rock formation, the Sphinx, another rock formation that didn’t look like a sphinx, then an outback camp the manager had set up, with fine hot water “donkey”, a “Thunderbox” loo and some primitive tent structures that looked surprisingly comfortable.
We saw brumbies, Euros and some interesting artists at the camp.
Lunch back at the resort where we were entertained by variously a small joey, a brace” of peacock and a rather indolent “Red” dog.
Then off to explore Trephina Gorge, with a very pretty rim walk, looking over the ochre red cliffs into a wide gorge with a small running creek.
Then down into the gorge, onto the sand and a couple of easy creek crossings then back to the bus.
On the way out of the gorge, a visit to the highest Ghost Gum in the East Macs at 33 metres, a stately tree.
Then followed Jessie Gap and Emily Gap with fine rock walls, now bathed in the afternoon light and some intriguing rock paintings.
Back to the caravan park, to catch up with the others day activities.
All in all a rather boring day!! I only took 51 pictures which you can see IN DUE COURSE.
Tomorrow we finish!