Simpson Desert Day 1

It is always an exiting day when we depart Alice Springs for our 8 day tour of the Simpson. Today was twice as exciting because my Nissan decided to give some slight trouble, requiring a new brake caliper. Despite the mechanical issue, we departed on time and headed for the Old South Road.

When we started on the gravel, everybody was instructed about the footprint method of tyre management.

The old poles of the Overland Telegraph line marked our way southward to Ewaninga where the most amazing petroglyphs tell the stories of the old people.

From Ewaninga the spectacular colours of the landscape had everyone busy taking photographs. The desert oak lined sand ridges are beautiful.

We continued past Tijikala and on to the Chamber's Pillar road. We crossed the ancient Hugh River where the 1870 construction crew gathered timber for the telegraph poles.

We gathered firewood before cresting the Charlotte Range where we were greeted by a spectacular view of Chambers Pillar about 8 kilometers away.

We continued over the sand ridges calling ahead on the radio until we reached our campsite at the foot of Chamber's Pillar.

The camp here is one of the most picturesque we visit. The air is so clear that the light falling on the pillar and Castle Rock is and between the desert oaks has to be seen to be believed.