Pumping off road in Palm Valley
Trip Start
Aug 08, 2011
1
13
52
Trip End
Dec 09, 2011
Palm Valley, Northern Territory, Australia
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Mereenie Loop was in pretty good nick - not very corrugated and not much bulldust (except in the cab of the HiLux!).
We encountered camels, dingoes and wild horses on the way through to a very brief stop at Albert Namatjira's house.
Just before Ntaria/Hermannsburg we took the right hand turn towards Palm Valley. The road is 4wd only and this is the first time we have needed to engage the 4wd. The road follows the Finke River bed - zigging and zagging across it through stones, sand and bedrock.
Both Ted and the Big Blue Bullamacanka HiLux withstood every test!
On arrival at Cycad Gorge we stopped briefly for a couple of photos and then continued to Palm Valley. Once there we went for a short walk to look at the relict cycads and cabbage palms descending from those that were there when dinosaurs walked amongst them.
We even managed to spot a rock wallaby surveying it's kingdom in a spot of sun from the cliffs that form the valley wall.
Heading back out the way we came, we drove through a fire (a lot of burning is happening at the moment - especially on days that aren't windy) and marvelled at the birds of prey hunting along the flame front.
Rolled into Alice about 5pm to set up camp for the night.
