Chambers Pillar and Owen Springs

Hello All
I had a long weekend last weekend so decided to load the camper and head off for a few days.
So off to Chambers pillar I headed.

Chambers Pillar

 Before I left town , I managed to catch up with Craig, Shantelle and the girls, who I first met at Dampier WA and then further up the coast and the Kimberley.

http://arewethereyettimes3.blogspot.com.au/ 

Shantelle has a way with words and tells it like it is ......wart's and all. I always have a chuckle at her postings. They are lovely people so I spent a few hours with them before heading off.
The run down the South road was uneventfull.

The road, although rough, was easy and I arrived at the Campground for a lazy afternoon. It was good to be back in the Camper, which I now consider home.

Ruined Castle

 The colours at sunset were beautifull, but after a pretty windy night I wasn't up early enough for sunrise.

Chambers Pillar From camp

Until the coming of the railway in the 1920s, the Pillar was a landmark in the desert on the long overland journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs. 

Many of those early travellers have left a record of their visit in the soft, white sandstone including John Ross and Alfred Giles both in 1870. 

More recently,visitors have added their names or graffitied the rock face.

Chambers Pillar

The next morning there were tell tale Dingo tracks everywhere in the red sand, but I didn't hear any howls during the night.

Chambers Pillar

the surrounding countryside from the Pillar

From Chambers Pillar, I decided to head back via the Hugh River Stock Route. I last travelled this Route in 1986 when I took my mother and father to show them Central Australia.

some Camels along the Hugh River Stock Route

 From there I overnighted at Redbank Waterhole, where a couple of Tourists decided that the other side of the dry Hugh River looked more inviting to camp. Their vehicle and camper trailer rapidily sank to diff level in the soft sand. So the late afternoon was spend recovering them from the soft sand.
From there I followed the Owen Springs Track back to Larrapinta Drive and Alice Springs.

Owen Springs homestead Ruins

 As it gets a little less hectic in town, with the travellers leaving as the weather warms up I intend doing posts on things to do and see around here. On my list is The Desert Park, the Ghan Museum and the Pioneering Womens Hall of Fame in town, and further afield, Palm Valley and the Western MacDonnell Ranges, The Eastern Macs and Old Andado.

Bye for now.........