Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap

This morning we packed a picnic lunch and headed out to Simpsons gap, despite the drizzley rain. Simpsons gap is a gap formed in the mountain range after millions of years of floods and raging rivers flowing through Alice springs and wearing away at the range. The bushland at the gap was really lovely and we really enjoyed exploring the area. The rock walls were just enormous and there were huge chunks of fallen rock everywhere some the size of garden sheds or cars. The rock was really pretty too it looked like it was coated in a dirty pink coloured quartz. There was water at the bottom of the gap and small patches of water in the river blank that led down to it but it was norhing like I guess it would have been years ago when the wearing away happened. It was such a beautiful, serene place.

Simpsons Gap from the walk in

Simpsons gap

After Simpsons gap we drove another 40-somthing K's to Standley Chasm. When we arrived there we went up to the kiosk (As you have to pay $10 to go in) and there was a bulky, stoney faced aboriginal man working at the counter. I expected him to be sort of harsh and sick of being asked stupid questions by us tourists, but as I got closer he cracked the biggest, frinedlist smile. He was the most lovely, kind man. We paid our fees and began the 40 minute to 1 hour (round trip) walk to the chasm. Zachery did the entire walk by himself which was just crazy because there were parts where his tiny short little legs meant he had to climb miniature rock walls and not to mention that it began sprinkling on the way back and was ridiculously slippery. We are both so proud of him he loves bush walks and pretty much every person that passed us either commented on how great he was doing finding his way along the VERY rough tracks, or how well he speaks (which still shocks me because I thought he spoke fairly normal for his age!). When we came to the chasm we were all blown away with amazement, it was absolutely beautiful and at 80 metres high the cliffs were just such a brilliant sight. We explored the chasm a bit and took some silly photos of Brent and Zaccy posing among the rocks, then we sat down and ate morning tea in the rain on a rock. We then made our way back with Zachery refusing to be carried and walking just as fast as we were the little machine! We got back to the kiosk and the fireplace was lit and the man working was still at the counter. I asked him if we were able to order some hot chocolate each and he said he doesnt make them (they wenret on the menu)  but that he would do his best to make us some. However he got busy and completely forgot about them so eventually we went and asked (not that we were in a hurry, it was lovely sitting in front of the fire and watching zachery boss around all the elderly ladies whom were fawning over him and collecting sticks and rocks from the garden as per his demands). He felt so terrible tht he had forgotten them and he began making them immediately, I had a chat with him while he was making them and as I had heard every single tourist that walked up complaining about the rain to him. I said that we were actually glad it was raining because all the photos in the pamphlets are of it in the glistening sunlight so its sort of a treasured moment to get to see it in a different light and different weather conditions. I told him how beautiful the water was running down the rock walls and that even the big walk back was great in the rain seeing the colours of the rocks on the ground change as the rain drops hit them. I think it really shocked him to hear tourists who had no wet weather gear, had a toddler and were all soaked through, so pleased with their rainy day exeprience of the chasm. He was so cheerful and positive about it all and said that it was so great that we had enjoyed the experience despite the weather. He gave Zachery a free popper when we went to leave. I had such a nice day and it was so nice to meet a friendly local.

Walking through Standley Chasm

Walking back in the rain

Picnic morning tea in the chasm

warming up by the fireplace.