Friday 23/7/2010 Alice Springs to Rainbow Valley

(Alice Springs to Rainbow Valley)
After a buffet breakfast at our motel, we checked out and headed to the dreamtime tour with mum and dad. It was absolutely nothing like advertised. I was expecting a whole community demonstrating their culture, bushtucker, doing a traditional dance (corroboree) in their traditional dress, and plenty of children for Jordan and Jack to meet. I was so disappointed. It was still OK but it was definitely false advertising!!
Instead there were only 5 Aboriginal women and one Aboriginal man there. They were sitting with a display of their paintings for sale.

Other than that we had an educational session from a caucasian man, damper and a cuppa. Then we tried some bush tucker, met the Aboriginal people and bought a painting for $100. Next were lessons and turns at throwing boomerangs.

Jordan and Jack have gone to the Desert Park with their grandma and grandad.
Col and I had jobs to do. First we stopped at a mechanics especially for Land Rovers as we had a couple of studs snapped off. The guy wouldn't be back till 1430hrs so we parked at Coles. Needing a toilet, we thought that Maccas was a good idea (and snuck in a bit of food).
With the groceries tended to we set off to find the camera shop (opposite Woolworths) and bought a shutter release cable for time lapse photography.
I then headed into the laundromat and did 2 loads of washing..drying..folding. I chatted to a girl from Estonia, had some police come in searching for someone and started the next Stieg Larsson book. I needed a rest. I can't stop coughing and feel like crap.
Col spoke to the mechanic and ended up just taking some studs to replace himself later. He then went to a camp store and bought a new billy and a baby camp oven to do dampers. He didn't get sand tracks as intended as he couldn't find any. I hope we don't regret this.
Got the kids back off mum and dad near the mall. sounds like they had fun with the kites (but they didn't have a wedgetailed eagle!). Bye mum and dad. It was great meeting up with you!! Will miss you!!
Although we were already checked out, we went back to our motel to fill up our water tank from the laundry tap.
Leaving for Rainbow Valley at 1730hrs.
We saw the sun setting along Stuart Highway instead of at Rainbow Valley. It was an easy dirt road in even in the dark. We used our spotlights. There were a lot of cattle on the road that wouldn't move until you almost touched them.
We arrived at 1910hrs to a completely packed area. A nice couple let us share their bay. Quickly put up the tents then were called away. The whole group and a ranger were waiting for us. Apparently there is a ranger talk every Friday night here and every Saturday night at Chambers Pillar.
Apparently it's the biggest wet out here since 1971. After a lovely talk and picture viewing of the unique environment and wildlife while sitting around a lovely big campfire, we decided on quick sandwiches and a cuppa for tea, then to bed to read.
There was still a bitterly cold wind, it was too late and I was too tired to cook.