29.9.18 Gosse’s Bluff to Palm Valley via Hermansberg.

Up to catch the sunrise and moonset. Mary and I braved the cold. The moon was setting over the bluff while sunrose over the creek. 

Sunrise Pano

More sunrise

Moon setting behind the Bluff.

Sunrise

Colours on the clouds at sunrise. 

Moon in the morning over Gosse's Bluff.

Moon and the bluff

Sun hitting the bluff, the colour change is stunning to watch. 

Long shadows as the sun rises behind. 

Moon setting behind Gosse's Bluff

Man it was cold last night. So cold the water in my container was a slushy when I poured it into billy this morning.  

Slushy water.

Frozen water in the Billy.

Once we’d packed up we went back to Gosse’s Bluff to walk up the bluff. This was caused by a comet of frozen carbon dioxide ice and dust of less than 6g. Amazing. 

View from the top looking over the crater. 

Here we all are, up to of Gosse's Bluff, overlooking a crater like area. 

The info on Gosse’s

At Gosse's Bluff

Looking over the crater 

Then onto Hermansberg - Phil and I needed fuel and I phoned Alice Springs to arrange new tyres and a wheel alignment. We had contact from Steve and he should be in Alice Springs on Monday and so will we. Phone calls made to home and then off to Palm Valley. 

Amazing how the rocky walls appear.

The road in. 

Entering the Finke River.

There go Mary and Phil.

Into the National Park.

A crested pigeon at the Palm Valley Campground.

We stopped at the info point and decided to camp here, get firewoood, do a walk and maybe cook a roast. 

Nice possies at the Campground. Communal Fire pit, good loos and showers. 

Col and Greg’s home for tonight.

Stef and Milani in Roof Top Tent 

Mary and Phil in the camper

My tent and car. The fellas went to get wood. Mary,
Milani and I had a leisurely lunch and cuppa

After collecting the wood and Phil getting bogged the fellas  returned to camp.

It was decided that Mary, Phil, Milani and I were keen to do a walk. Stef, Col and Greg wanted to do the walk in the morning. So they stayed back to prepare the roast. We went in the Pajero to do the Palm Valley - Arankaia Walk. It was a good 4wd trip to the start of walk. Phil handled it well. Fabulous rocks and walls on the way in. 

Here we are enjoying rhe warmth of the day on the walk.

Milani at the start of our walk along Arankaia (Run-kee-yah) walk

Looking back to ‘from whence we came’

Looking back to carpark from start of Palm Valley walk

Beautiful scenery

Palms in the Valley

Mistletoe 

Milani...on the edge!

View one. 

The scary view

Beautiful white trunk.

Looking into the Valley.

Rocks bent under pressure...I guess. 

The textures and patterns in both the rock and the tree - stunning.

Phil walking along the track.

Long thin Milani

Just hanging around. 

Coming down stairs into the actual Palm Valley

Looking down onto the Palms

Water pooled in the rocks on the floor of Palm Valley

Some water in the waterholes. 

Looking up to the Palms. 

Patterns on the rock, where water has evaporated from. 

Red Cabbage Palm I think

Patterns on the rock left by the receding water. 

Arty farty shot

A tree hanging on to the rock. Roots hanging in thin air.

Red cabbage palm. 

Mary and Phil on floor of the Valley

Milani amongst the reeds. 

Sun on the rocks leaving the Valley.

Not sure you can see the dangerous load of firewood

Roast was underway when we arrived back about 5.30. Milani and I started preparations on an experimental - Berry, banana, Nutella and sage loaf cake. We mixed it and put the mixture into three small loaf tins and the empty berry tin. These sat in my Bedourie Oven ready to go on after our roast. At 7pm there was a ranger talk and slideshow right near the fire pit and our roast prep. The fellas did a great job of roast. 

Unfortunately the fire pit was taken over by other campers after the talk.

Phil brought some coals over to where we ate and did the dishes which we sat the Bedourie on. Almost an hour later the cake was ready served with cream and custard. Verdict was that it was pretty good.  

Then some time by the fire with a cuppa before bed about 10.30.