Left Kings Canyon knowing there were no more free camps from here to Alice so it was going to be a more expensive week. Headed off on the Mereenie loop road knowing it was going to be a bumpy day on the corrugated roads and we had heard that there were road works being done. Well, what a mess they had made. The road was 4WD where they were trying to improve it. We have great photos after the road works when we decided to check the caravan to see if any cupboards had opened. Well, what a site. The Lego and cars box tumbled out of the caravan door as we opened it and lay strewn all over the road and caravan, the kitchen table had fallen off and lay in the middle of the floor, all cupboards were open and all the contents on the floor and the television had made it's way from being tucked tightly between cushions and the table onto the floor. Unbelievable nothing was broken so we returned everything to its place and headed further on.

Turned off at Gosse Bluff for lunch. After travelling a few hundred metres we decided to take the caravan off, leave it locked on the side of the road, and venture in with the car only, which was sensible as it was definite 4WD. Had a great time though doing the short walk and cover picture is at the top of the lookout where Ashley decided to practice her dancing steps, yet once again. I think also, as per usual, she has minimal clothing ( try and keep clothes on this girl ) and inappropriate shoes. Amazing place to see as it is millions of years old and an old crater from a meteorite/comet that fell to earth and was so powerful it was more than 100 of the atomic bombs that dropped in Pearl Harbour at the end of the war. I always think it is amazing when you look at the earth moving events that have occurred in the past and wonder if anything that has happened in any of our lifetimes has changed the geology as much. I don't think so??

Onwards we go towards the amazing gorges and chasms that awaited. Briefly visited Redbank Gorge, however due to taking the wrong walking track missed the one we wanted. Would have been a great quiet place to camp if we had an off road caravan. Luuk and I promised we'd do this next time when we are real Grey Nomads.

Camped at Ormiston Gorge for the next 3 days which was great, apart from finding the corrugated road had caused the plumbing of the hot water system to unscrew and we had a flood in the caravan. All our books and schoolwork was wet and had to be hung out to dry over a few days. Just what we needed after a huge day in the car from K.C and such rough roads. Great camp site though at $25/ night and nice walks and swimming spots to die for in the Gorge. Kids, once again had a ball jumping over rocks, exploring the caves and tempting the cold waters. There were regular ranger talks and we went to learn about fossils and how to identify animal tracks to catch some bush tucker. Maybe witchety grubs but anything bigger than that we'll leave for the experts.

Glen Helen was also lovely and Luuk and the kids swam and made baths in the sand. Sam went exploring a little further to see if we could see the church organ's pipes and a window through the rocks but it would have been a deep, cold swim to go further and no one was game to do this and carry the camera on their head. Have to wait for the next drought to see this one.

The ochre pits were amazing. $5,000 fine if you take any of the ochre because the aboriginals still use it for ceremonies and paintings. Amazing material though, feels like a very soft clay formed in so many different earthy colours. We found some in the Flinders Ranges so still have to experiement with the colours and dot drawings.

Stanley Chasm was also an amazing stop in the Macdonnell Ranges. $25 entry for a family but worth the short walk. It started to bucket down when we were there, so with our raincoats on, we started on the walk up to the chasm. Waterfalls were springing up everywhere and the small creeks on either side started to fill, so by the time we walked back down to the caravan the paths were all under water and we were all soaked right through. Spectacular rock formations so tall and steep on either side with just metres in between to walk through.

Drove in the afternoon to Alice Springs which Luuk thoroughly enjoyed as it doesn't happen often that there is at least 30 cms of water in the floodways over the roads in this part of the world at this time of year. Gave the car a well needed wash. On to Alice...