Chambers Pillar 18/19 July

18/19 July Chambers Pillar

Drove south east to Maryvale Station. Running alongside the road (which was pretty good for a dirt road) was the track that is used for the Finke Desert Race. There were a lot of wrecked vehicles left beside the road – the most we have seen on any road. The drive was quite pretty as we crossed a number of sand dunes and there were mesa type hills all across the landscape.

Stopped at Maryvale Station Store before heading the next 58kms to Chambers Pillar. The road was pretty ordinary and we had to cross a number of sand dunes. We were looking forward to that but the road over the dunes had been backfilled with gravel. There was one really steep jump up. A guy ahead of us was towing a caravan so we figured if he could make so could we.

The campsite is just near the pillar so we did the walk in the afternoon. I actually climbed the pillar 75 steps - really steep. It used to be the beacon for all the early explorers and travelers and there are names carved in from the 1800’s. There is an sunset viewing place so Allan and I walked back for sunset then got up at 6.30 AM for the sunrise viewing. My hands were frozen by the time the sun came up.

When we got into the car to return, I noticed a crack in Jo’s windscreen. We had intended to drove to Finke but the Maryvale Station person told us it was really bad so between the windscreen and the track we have returned to Alice Springs. Got to the windscreen place and they suggested that Jo not replace it until she got home. So tomorrow we are going south to Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve.