Back to the Freedom

Ride in West MacDonnell Ranges

Back on the road, open to the world, contacted with the wonders of nature. see the beautiful colours as the sun provide us hear the wonderful sounds of nature. Feel the earth that makes us live.

 

I share few days with Sven who travelling in Australia on a mountain bike mainly on dirt road (his blog : http://www.wtfisalice.de/)


Normally, as a single woman I didn't make fire to be discrete for more safety, one of the things nice to be with someone :)








We make fire each night, and was one thing keep you busy, I loved looking after woods in the bush, its the moment to explore our environment. Fire is the second Tv of the bush after the Sky at night time.



 



Lots of Up and Down, but mean nice and hilly and gave me challenging.






First Dirt Road ! only few km so was Fun !

Ellery Creek big Hole, lots of wild life, peaceful...

when there is not the tourist group.







Nice to met the Larapinta hiker
 along the West MacDonnell ranges,
person from everywhere of Australia and the World
who looking for some reflexion
away from influence in this beautiful Ranges. 

The Aboriginal name for Ellery Bighole is Udepata, and the permanent water made it a special meeting place for the Arrernte people on the fish and honey ant dreaming trails.



Serpentine Gorge

Ormiston Gorge



A Magnificent Mature Corymbia aparrerinja (Ghost Gum) in Ormiston Gorge



Glen Helen Gorge




Redbank







Corymbia Aparrerinja, my favourite tree if you didn't guessed ;)







My sleeping bag was not worm enough, so the only solution to be not freezing at night
was to make a fire even alone and sleep on the side,
very friendly but have to woke up for put more wood all night.
(and my sleeping bag and mat have some hole...)












Sunrise on the top of Mt Sonder, Freezing, but Amazing !










 From RedBank There is the section 12 of Larapinta, 3 hours to the top of Mount Sonder, I shared the walk with 3 nice ladies who started Larapinta, and met J.F a French man who live in Australia finishing Larapinta trail, help me a lot with gift of beanies, gloves, pull-over to keep wormer during night and gave me cereals bars and fruits with help of his group. Thank you again :)



Some cars don't care to put dirt in your face or forgot to decelerate,
but after one time, I anticipate.

This road, to Roma Gorge, Was the harder road I had in West Macs,
18km return and my rear rack remembers.



I spend my evening in a fantastic look out with a view on Gosse bluff (Tnorala)

According to Aboriginal belief, Tnorala was formed in the creation time, when a group of women danced across the sky as the Milky Way. During this dance, a mother put her baby aside, resting in it's wooden baby-carrier (a turna). The carrier toppled over the edge of the dancing area and crashed to earth where it was transformed into the circular rock walls of Tnorala.

The Aboriginal and scientific interpretation of the Bluff are similar in that both have a celestial origin.
Around 142.5 million years ago an object from space, believed to be a comet about 600 metres across, crashed to earth, blasting a crater some 20km across. Today's land surface is about 2km lower than the original impact surface and the bluff is about 5km in diameter, reduced over time by erosion.



1st SandRoad, Have to push the bike several times !




After Rocky Road to Roma Gorge, Sand Road to Goss Bluff and
Corrugation to Hermannsburg...I have got Everything in the same road
during some 20km one way.



on the sides there is too much sand, I couldn't ride.
Have to ride on the corrugation of sand to keep going.



A Beautiful place on the way that we can't see from the road. nice to be curious sometimes :)



Finke Gorge National Park



Buffel grass/Cenchrus ciliaris

• Buffel grass is widespread in central and northern Australia and has invaded a range of native plant communities.

• It can dominate the ground layer, displacing native grasses and other plants.

• Its rapid regrowth and high biomass may alter the intensity, frequency and extent of fires, changing vegetation structure and composition.

• Buffel grass is still spreading, assisted by continued planting and new cultivars.

• Its seed is readily dispersed by wind, water and animals.

• Control measures can reduce impacts at sites of high conservation significance.

• Mature plants are difficult to remove physically. Herbicide can be effective if applied when plants are actively growing and follow-up action is undertaken. Correct timing is essential.

• The value of buffel grass as a pasture species is well recognised and it is not a declared weed.

Public policy issues arising from its positive and negative aspects need to be resolved



Palm Valley, Livistona Mariae (Red Cabbage Palm)

 This region is a stronghold for rare and threatened plants. An outstanding 40 rare and relict species are known from the area including the easily seen MacDonnell Ranges Cycad Macrozamia macdonnelli, found along the Rungutjirpa Range and on the north side of the Park



Huge Mature Corymbia aparrerinja (Ghost Gum) in Simpson Gap



My time in the magnificent gorges reminded me the gap between the Aborigines and White Australians.
I noticed that the aborigines culture is unknown/unheeded/unrecognized by many people, many said me "there are no cultures and histories in Australia" While this is completely false, the Aborigines are set aside once Moreover, While these peoples take care of the lands since hundred years and have lots of different languages, stories, knowledge... Obviously the history and culture are more difficulty liveable and understandable for us since they are accessible by a small number of museums and tourists places. We missed this chance when the White people wanted to take control of their territory instead of to respect, to listen and to learn...
The Aborigines peoples don't share their knowledge with anyone and I can understand because its something from their family, part of their heart, I think its something personal.

I am aware when I walk through the land  that after hundreds of years a rich and strong culture to maintain in each rock, each earth, and each springs. 

 I wish to have the opportunities during my journey to share cultures with aboriginals.

 Maybe the people don't feel the Australian history because it's not finished?