Monday, July 13, 2009

The Australian Outback in Pictures
















The Aboriginal flag






Overhead View of the Todd "River" (aks the dry bed beyond the footy field)



The McDonnell Ranges viewed from Anzac Hill










I think the mountains are that way






It's a long way to civilization outside of Alice Springs






Finke Gorge National Park - stopping for morning tea





Wallaby hanging out a few yards away





View of Palm Valley from overhead cliffs









White Gum tree




Palm Valley as seen from the bottom





Thanks for the hat Matt - finally came in handy...the Outback sun is unforgiving







Deep canyon in Palm Valley









"Sally", our 4WD for the day (along with Leigh our tour guide and the very inquisitive Russian man)









This enormous boulder defied gravity



View from Karralinga lookout


The Ampitheatre












Doing some curls


Another view of The Ampitheatre











Dinky the singing and piano playing Dingo (look him up on Youtube)


Red sand in the desert


The drive to nowhere


Salt flats

Mt. Conner (commonly mistaken for Uluru)





Cattle wandering onto the highway



Uluru (white folk call it Ayers Rock)










One of the sacred sites on the rock ($5K fine if they catch you taking pictures)





























The Aboriginals consider it disrespectful to climb Ayers Rock (35 people have died trying)


After climbing the Rock and completing the 10km base walk around it


Distant view of The Olgas


Wolpa Gorge










Bus driver got a speeding ticket



As the sun begins to set over Uluru















Knocking back a camel burger


Grand prize at the Camel Cup




Between race snack













Greyhound, our camel






















Taking a post-ride dirt bath