Broome or Bust

It was another hot day, and we spent a lot of time throwing water over Chops and wet towels over ourselves. But in the morning, before the heat rolled in, we had a tasty breakfast at one of cafes and Gayle looked at the three galleries at the resort. As mentioned yesterday, Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park is closed today for Sorry business. So very little else to add except the sunset photos taken from some of the lookouts at the resort, about 15 km from Uluru. No doubt, many people have their own photos, but this is Jeffrey's first visit here. Uluru Sunset from Ayers Rock Resort Kata Tjuta Sunset from Ayers Rock Resort Miriam 31 August 2024 at 05:03 Marvellous photos - we certainly don’t have any! What a fabulous trip. Stay cool 😎 xx REPLY Lyn 31 August 2024 at 15:29 I’ve been there, but don’t have photographs. It was a while ago. A very spiritual place. REPLY Jenny 1 September 2024 at 08:15 Spectacular

Today we are on the lands of the Anangu people.  At the Erldunda Roadhouse  After an overnight at the Erldunda Roadhouse and using the cool morning for a walk, we set off for Ayers Rock Campground and Uluru.  Artilla (Mount Connor), on the road to Uluru Artilla lies close to the site of the Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters) Dreaming. This was quite a thrill for us as we have a painting telling the story of the Seven Sisters In The Milky Way by Collete Gray, that we purchased in Ceduna a few years ago. The Seven Sisters refers to the star cluster Pleiades which is important to many peoples around the world.  We will be having a quiet day tomorrow. The respectful closure of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park will take place in acknowledgement of the passing of Mrs N. Patterson, a senior Anangu Traditional Owner and Traditional Owner of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. However we did make it to the Uluru Lookout near the campground for a sunset viewing of Uluru. Trac...

Today we are on the lands of the Luritja people. We drove for what to us is now a short drive of 200km from Alice Springs to Erldunda Roadhouse, situated at the turnoff to Uluru.  We don't know why these emus are in captivity, but they were keen to share in the emu food pellets (who knew?) sold by the roadhouse. According to the information panels: The emu is the second largest bird in the world after the Ostrich.  Emus can grow as tall as 2m and weigh up to 50kg.  Emus in captivity can live up to 20 years of age.  In the wild the average lifespan of an emu is less than 10 years.  The calf muscles emus enable them to run long distances, as quickly as 50kmh. Emus are omnivores and eat a variety of fruits, insects, flowers and seeds.  Emus cannot fly, but they are great swimmers and love to play in water and mud. "That's all very interesting, but it is rather hot." Lyn 29 August 2024 at 12:10 Dear Chops. I hear you . Ask the humans to soak you in water & ...

In 1978 Gayle visited the indigenous homeland Utopia, also known as Urapuntja and Amengernterneah. It was one the first communities created by autonomous activism in the early stages of the land rights movement. Today, Gayle returned to the Mbantu Gallery, where we had spent some time yesterday, having decided that it would be very personally fulfilling to purchase some works from the women of Utopia.  Emily Pwerle, Women's Business In a happy coincidence, Helen and Johan, friends from our Port Fairy Folk Festival Group, were also in Alice Springs. Johan and his friend John had just completed a few days walking on the Larapinta Track in what turned out to be unseasonably hot weather, so congratulations Johan and John. On the Larapinta Trail (photos by Johann) We enjoyed a catch-up with them at Todd Mall. And in another coincidence, we discovered that Johan, John and Jeffrey had all been involved in the Franklin River campaign, Johan and John as trainers, Jeffrey as a mere foot...

It is a cooler day in Alice Springs. Probably the first mid 20s we have had since Perth. We went for a stroll along the banks of the Todd River. It is completely dry now, but this apparently can change dramatically during the wet season.  Red Gums line the dry, wide bed and we must say that we enjoyed the lower temperature. The forecast is back to a dry 33 degrees tomorrow, but at present we have thunder and rain. By chance on our walk we came across IAD Press and had a very interesting chat with the staff. We found out that The Institute for Aboriginal Development (IAD) was founded 52 years ago to teach classes on Aboriginal language, law, health and other topics to help all people understand each other and live together. IAD Press began very small -- by publishing learning resources for IAD classes using early copy machines. Those class worksheets gradually grew into full course curricula, and continued to grow into textbooks for IAD students, and finally into textbooks for stud...

We revisited the Araluen Arts Centre to look inside The Museum Of Central Australia. The Stockman was handcrafted by artists of Tapatjatjaka Arts Centre  based on original artwork by Johnny Young Yeperenye Grand Circle Sculpture ... Inside the sculpture We also learnt that the complex creation of the MacDonnell Ranges, which line Larapinta Drive on the way to Hermannsburg, began about 430 million years ago and peaked about 315 million years ago, but continues to the present in the form of erosion and localised faulting.  And so we drove 100 kms west from Alice Springs to the Hermannsburg Historic Precinct, where Albert Namatjira was born and lived.  The Hermannsburg Lutheran Mission was established in 1877 and was the initial point of contact between Western Arrarnta and European cultures. Its most famous leader was Pastor Carl Strehlow under whom most of the surviving buildings were constructed in the late 1890s using of a variety of construction techniques, largely base...

We spent the morning at Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs, part of the Araluen Cultural Precinct of galleries, theatres, museums and a sculpture park. We were thrilled to see an exhibition featuring the work of Albert Namatjira and other works from its permanent collection, including two from John Wolseley, one of Gayle’s favourite artists.  Albert Namatjira (1902–1959) is almost certainly Australia’s most famous Aboriginal artist and became renowned for his ability to embody his country using watercolours in a way not seen before. Namatjira had the unique capacity to grasp the light, vivid colour, beauty and even the essence of Central Australia and capture the imagination of many. Albert Namatjira, Mount Sonder with Corkwood Tree 1944 Clifford Tjapaltjarri Possum, Mulga seed Tjukurpa 1983 Emily Kam Kngawarray Awely 1992 John Wolseley Map of 32 days, 17 August – 17 September 1978, Palm Creek, Northern Territory 1980 We'll be back at Araluen tomorrow to take in the other venues ...