Last day in Alice

Tues 31 Mar……A bit more of the same is the plan for today. We are off along the West Macdonnell range again but instead of stopping of on the way we are going to the end of the sealed road and back stopping off on the inward run. We get an early start on a beautiful hot morning the air is so much clearer and clean, no haze and the mountains look stunning. It’s 140Koutruun to the Glen Helen Gorge where the Finke River passes through the mountains on it’s way to the Simpson Dessert. The river is just about flowing but there is another very cold,deep water hole to swim in. It’s a bit tricky getting in and out as it’s a bit rocky but once in it’s bliss. There is only one other person there so it was very quiet and still. There is a restaurant/roadhouse here which is surprising as it’s at the end of a 140K track. We just had to in for a coffee and a look round. It has a bar with dartboard and pool table, a shop selling tourist trash a coffee machine $3 50 do it yourself and a magnificent dining room. Who eats there? There is a small camp site for tents but apart from that very little. On the return we stop at Ormiston Gorge and Pound, another waterhole which just has to be swum in. There are walking trails all around these gorges and beauty spots but a 3 hour hike in these temperatures doesn’t appeal. A swim and a waft at the flies is plenty of exercise. As we make our way back to Alice we stop occasionally to take more photos of the mountain range. It comes high up on our list of beautiful places in Oz. A final swim of the day in our private Olympic sized pool at the camp! PS The Navigator did not have the urge to throw herself in muddy pools!