The following day, we dusted off the walking shoes (soon to be upgraded to boots after these two days) and headed out East this time.
The drive to the East Macs isn't nearly as enticing as to the West but has it's own charm. A lot flatter and 'out the back' of the Ranges, you feel you are flanking them rather than splitting them down the middle like out West.
Still, it's a beautiful drive and we had a brilliant day out.
One of my most fond memories of bush walking in Alice was of Trephina Gorge. I'm not sure why, but when I'd always look back at the 'gaps' and 'gorges' Trephina was always one that would spring to mind. So when we were looking at places to head, it really was a no brainer...
Gearing up for the 2km Gorge Walk. Everyone, somehow, was smiling again and ready to roll.
It's a steep climb at the start as you basically traverse your way to the top of the Gorge wall within the first few hundred metres. No warm up here, just straight into it... Instantly the expanse of the Centre smacks you in the face.
"Smile!"
Surprisingly up and down for a ridge top section, we assumed the usual positions where B led the way down, and James and I made sure "that they weren't dropping anything".
Nice of the Parks department to arrange the stones into steps...
As you can see it was another terrible day for a walk... Beautifully clear and mild, we were in no danger of getting heat stroke.
I love this shot. It's completely over exposed and not really representative of the natural colour of the terrain and countryside, but it did show up the blue of the sky beautifully.
From the top of the Gorge looking back down the creek bed. Like Standley Chasm, it didn't seem to have changed much in the 20yrs since I was last here! :)
This is the shot I remember, with the sheer wall on the right and the expansive sand river bed. And whilst I think we were probably doing it an inservice visiting straight after Ormiston, it holds its own in its own style and shape.
Trephina Gorge from the base.
After rounding the 2km walk in no time (I think we were certainly getting into the bushwalking spirit now) we decided that we would 'have' to have a go at the Panorama Walk, such was my penchant for that style of photography.
And how bloody grateful am I we did?
Easily the better walk, with more spectacular views, the Panorama Walk does exactly what is says on the sign. Provide you with amazing views of the East Macs from a location I think you'd struggle to better. And yes... there were pano's taken, left, right and naturally, centre.
This shot doesn't quite capture the magnitude of the landscape in front of us. From the towers of rock to the left, to Trephina Gorge in the foreground and the ranges out the back on the right, is was all encompassing. Stunning.
The same shot, now with a few extras in it. This shot isn't forced you know. I think they too were fully appreciative of the land in front of them.
Wheel around 180 degree and you are now met with this shot. It did feel like you were on the roof of the East Macs at times, such was the distance your eyes could cover.
And would you believe it, another walker came by and we stole 30s of her time for a family shot!
The towering walls of Trephina Gorge below seem practically minute in this shot.
Australia is a big, big country.
This shot captured the colour of the East Macs at this point in time most accurately. Having said that, there is no 'one colour' to this part of the country. People call it the Red Heart, but there are so many more shades, hues and colours than that.
What I failed to mention was that the Panorama Walk had an even more taxing start to it, and by the time we had come down off the ridge we were well and truly knackered! Still, our little troopers managed to bust out another 5km or so in the Macs full of questions, discussions and conversations that always help us put one foot after the other.
Following a quick and pointless run out to Ross River and a lunchtime sanga at Jessie Gap (or was it Emily... not sure) with 1,000,000 flies and a swarm of bees, we decided we'd head for the National Road Transport Hall of Fame on the outskirts of town. A pretty cool place full of cars and trucks that I could certainly spend many an hour at!
Not just the big cars, but small ones too!
What I'm sure started out as a small display seems to have grown and grown. Shows like "Australian Pickers" and "Bargain Hunters" would have a field day here. So much cool paraphernalia and collectables!
The Museum also is home to the Kenworth Museum and there is a massive display of heavy haulage in a couple of enormous wharehouses. If trucks are your thing (and let's face it, even if they're not, they're still pretty cool) then this place is most definitely worth the stop over!
My personal favourite was this rig, "Boss Bart", a prime mover that served it's life hauling many things, but mostly mining materials. With a GCM (Gross Combined Mass - how much it and what it's hauling can weigh) of a staggering 200t, it's one powerful beast. To put that into perspective, the Rock Truck and Big Green Lizard has a GCM of about 6t!
But perhaps my favourite vehicle on display was this old school Landcruiser. With an awesome little 'sleeper cab', I reckon it'd make a pretty cool off-roader! Can't say I've seen any like this before.
And so ended our day out in East Macs. Different to the West Macs, they have their own charm and appeal. And once again, one day is simply not enough to explore the expanse of this part of the world. Still, it gave us all a 'taste' of what we could possibly come back to in the future.
But now it was time to roll on out of Alice and head to the true 'heart' of the country...
No comments:
Post a Comment