Surviving the bumps
Trip Start
Aug 24, 2009
1
5
15
Trip End
Oct 07, 2009
Palm Valley, Northern Territory, Australia
Friday, August 28, 2009
We left Glen Helen resort with the bitumen behind us and the start of our real 4WD adventure heading towards Hermannsburg. The road was quite corrugated and full of red bull dust, with the car shuddering with the bumps. Until we found the right speed (around 85 km/h) , the children were bouncing from side to side padded by our excess luggage.
After a couple of hours we arrived at the historical Hermannsburg mission, which was established by Lutheran pastors in the 1870s. It was also the home of Albert Namatjira, the famous Aboriginal landscape artist. After a quick lunch, it was back on the side road for the trip to Palm Valley. These 21 kms took us the best part of the hour with the last 4 kms deteriorating into rock hopping and sand sliding.
Finally at 3.00 pm we arrived at the heart of Palm Valley. This is famous for 25 m high red cabbage palms and cycads, which are relics from when central Australia was a rain forest. We traversed along the valley floor and then climbed to the sandstone plateau for great views. It was hot, and we returned back to the camping ground to set up for the night. The ground was so hard and the wind was so strong, that we had to secure our tent by boulders.
Where I stayed
Palm Valley camping ground
Comments
Wonderful memories!
Dear Robert, Fiona, Victoria and Eliza,
I am currently up in sunny Brisbane with Grandma and we have just gone through all the photos and messages that you have sent so far. We are both reminiscing about our own trip to the Centre and Darwin only a few years ago. We visited all those wonderful places that you have been to, and it is fantastic to recall the great times we also had there. We can imagine clearly the sounds, sights and vivid images that you will be confronted with daily. It is an experience that you cannot describe, but must live yourself! I was particularly struck by the colours of the 'Red centre' with the neutrals, as well as the purples, reds and oranges.How we hope to be able to share with you soon the impression that you are left with by Palm Valley, Hermannsberg, the gorges, Uluru and Alice Springs. Grandma even got out all her prints that we bought of Namatjira and Henk Guth. The Macdonnell Ranges were certainly one of my favourites!
I am very impressed by your camping skills! I imaqine I would feel rather woozy sleeping in the roof tent, but perhaps it is better that then the sauna of the dome tent! We both found the days' activities ezhausting, and I cannot imagine at the end of that, having to set up the tent and then cook, let alone pack up the next day. I am sure that this gets easier with practice! Have you been bothered by the flies yet? Have you tried kangaroo or snake or crocodile or witchetty grubs (?)yet? I imagine that you will all be keen to live off bush tucker just like the 'bush tucker man'!
Grandma and I have both agreed that we must follow in your footsteps and do the trek from Darwin to Broome. Can you arrange this for us please?
We await your next instalment,
Lots of love,
Susy and Granma.
Hi from Iain & Family
Really enjoying your updates and your photos - brings back memories of our trip. You are obviously having a great experience, especially putting the tents up and down! You will be able to do it with your eyes closed by the end of the trip! Keep enjoying.
Iain, Joanna, Grace and Ross.