9^th July: Bungle Bungles

It was only a short trip down to here and we arrived for lunch. The scenery as we drove down was amazing. Australia is such a beautiful country with such diverse landscapes! Here it is rugged, startling and such a testament to the powerful forces of the past. Ancient, eroded and bare mountains with alluvial plains covered in spinifex and the occasional dry creekbeds. It is a strangely beautiful and fascinating landscape. Photos cannot do it justice!

The camp ground at the Bungles is dry, dusty and packed with vans of every description – from huge Winnebagos to back-of-truck Rvs to campa trailers and tents. Facilities are basic but most of us are here for only a night or two. Apparently, there are many who are free camping at a rest area near by. Lot of that happening! They drive to the Bungles or come in to catch a tour or a helicopter ride.

I had booked a ride for Glen and I on a helicopter. Another person wanted to come too and so it was cheaper. I told Glen to sit in the front as it was his turn. I'm so glad he did as, while I was able to see everything, I couldn't get any photographs. I had chosen the wrong side of the helicopter! He did fortunately! It was a long way over to the Bungle Range and half the time in the air was spent getting there and coming back. There are no doors on these helicopters and the wind was very strong and gusty. A bouncey, fun ride! The scenery was fantastic – once we got over the range as most of this area belongs to Mabel Downs where they run 45,000 brahman cattle on 1 ½ million acres of mainly very rugged spinifex country, watered by the Ord River and its many tributaries, mostly dry at the moment. (The cattle are for export to Indonesia as Australians don't eat this tough, rough countrry beef!) We were able to see a number of deep gorges and then the famous “beehives” at the southern end of the range. We had time for only a single pass over the range, but the trip was exciting and enlightening to see these awesome sculptures of God in our Ancient land!

Larry and Gail arrived late and we had dinner together and we were able to each recount our various adventures. In the end, we packed up and retreated inside as the temperature was dropping. 2 C the previous night and going the same way tonight. Tomorrow, we hope to drive in. It will be interesting!