Wallace Rockhole and Palm Valley

Wallace Rockhole was recommended to me by a few people (visitor centre said there's nothing there!!) so we ventured the 20km dirt road into the proud tidy town and investigated the art shop. Paid $5 for directions to the petroglyphs and walked ourselves up the gorge to see grinding stones and an array of paintings and petroglyphs. Back at the art shop, I asked about the video of the last nomads and got to see an abbreviated version of when Warri and Yatungka were found emaciated in the Gibson Desert and brought back to their mob who had moved into Wiluna township. They were the last of the Mandildjara tribe to live the nomadic life. I'm now thoroughly enjoying the book with a fuller story of the search for the couple with some history of the aboriginal people and the explorers of the Gibson desert area by the doctor/anthropologist who helped with the long search.

On the drive out, we came across these donkeys - sadly they are regarded as a pest, but the baby was very sweet.

Then on to Palm Valley along a road signposted as severe 4WD and 3 hours to travel 20km. With trepidation and limited time (it was already 1.30pm) we set out, mainly because I'd read it was a major highlight of central Australia. A young couple who had just come out said it was an hour to get to Palm Valley, so we believed them rather than the road sign. The last 4km was severe 4WD, with the track using the big rocks of the riverbed and then big steps up and down over big rocks etc. Russ was very skilled as usual and unflapped - just as well one of us was!! It certainly was worth the nervous energy and the risk of flat tyres etc because the dark red mountains and formations were unceasingly amazing and although the palms themselves weren't that amazing (apart from the fact that they ONLY grow in this one location), the garden like arrangements of plants growing on the side of the cliffs were unbelievable. Again, Russ had to keep stopping the car, sometimes mid big drop offs, for me to take photos as the sun caught the rocks on one amazing way or another!

The drive into Palm Valley

 Shell fossils

 The walk at Palm Valley

 This doesn't really do justice to the difficulty of the road, but its a try!

Then yesterday we met our neighbours in the showground caravan park and Brian fixed Russ's sore shoulder that has caused him pain and numbness every night for 4 years and also fixed his sciatica that he's had for decades. Each cure was done in 30 seconds. We still can't believe it. We spent an amazing day getting to know them and thoroughly enjoying their company.