Thursday 26 July – We were in no rush to do anything today, so we had a leisurely breakfast and pottered around till about 9.30 when we left the camp for today’s sightseeing.  Once again we went and topped up on petrol as I had a couple of discount dockets that could still be used, and we may as well get the bit of benefit from them.

Our drive today took us via the Ross Highway to the Eastern McDonnell Ranges, and we only travelled 50 km out.  Our first stop was at Emily Gap where we had quite a short walk to the gap.  It was pretty, and quite similar to Simpsons Gap, with a very sandy creek bed.  It was freezing cold there, as though the sun was out there was a real bite in the wind. Then another eight or ten km on was Jessie Gap which was very similar to Emily, but even wider at the bottom.  Here we talked to a NZ couple and discussed the difference between the West and East part of the Range, with this side appearing not to have the grandeur of the west.  They were doing their trip by small plane – their own, which he was piloting.  They did a similar trip in 1998 and loved it.  They were interesting to talk to.

We next stopped at Corroboree Rock – very important to the aborigine people, but though it was reasonably big and knobbly, we were a bit underwhelmed.  We had just discussed this, when the NZers arrived again, and they agreed.  We talked there for about twenty minutes before deciding that we wouldn’t go on to Traphina Gorge, as when reading the literature we weren’t sure that we could access it.  When the NZers asked if we were going on to it and we said no, they said they had decided not to as well, and asked us where to turn off to go to the western range.  They had hired a car for the day and were obviously going to make good use of it.

Back in town we first drove up Anzac Hill to get an overview of the town.  While we were there we saw the Ghan leave the station – heaps of carriages, and a swag of cars carried at the rear.  While at Anzac Hill we had our lunch then drove to the town centre, walked down the Mall, saw some interesting local indigenous characters, did some supply shopping, then returned to camp.  After packing away the shopping we sat over with some neighbours Graham and Chris Keed from Canberra and yapped for an hour or so.  They had arrived here late yesterday, but we have run into them a few times since Coober Pedy.

So we have enjoyed an easy day, and tomorrow look at driving over 500km, so once again we head north.