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| Standley Chasm, MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory |
Then it was our turn. Pilchard
produced his senior's card.
'The track is uneven and rocky, and
there's a couple of creek crossings so please take it easy and take
your time,' the kiosk attendant told us. He pointed to the trail
head, thus missing the venomous look Pilchard shot him.
But the clock was ticking, so jostling
passing a few straggling Grey Nomads and ignoring the attendant's
instruction, we raced up the track like people half our age, barely
even pausing for photos of the magnificent cycad palms and other
remnant vegetation from a previous, wetter age.
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| Entrance to Standley Chasm |
'Late' isn't a concept normally
associated with self-guided tours of gorges or other scenic marvels,
but Standley Chasm, also known as Angkerle Atwatye to the local
Indigenous people, is an exception. Although spectacular at any
time, the sun only enters the narrow gap between its sheer and
towering walls around midday for about half an hour.
And that's when those red rock walls
GLOW!
About 20 minutes too late on our only
previous visit eight years ago, I took a couple of photos. On time
for our June 2012 visit, the tally was closer to 200!
Well, almost.
As we entered the chasm and in our
haste to hog the best spot bring you these photos,
we stepped around a figure in apparent collapse prone on the rocky
floor. But don't judge us – he was no out-of-condition senior in
need of resuscitation but a cameraman filming a sequence with 'Fred'
for Grey Nomad bible favourite Caravan and
Motorhome on Tour magazine! Surrounded by a feeding frenzy
of fans, Fred's strategic position at the head of the chasm made it
difficult to reach the best vantage points.
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| Standley Chasm - RED Rock! Northern Territory |
But I guess that's why I was given elbows …
Privately owned and run by the
Iwupataka Land Trust, Angkerle Atwatye is more commonly known as
Standley Chasm, so named in honour of Ida Standley, Alice Springs'
first school teacher and first non-Aboriginal woman to see this
amazing place.
Now it's a popular stopping point for tourists
exploring the magnificent West MacDonnell Ranges out of Alice Springs
in the heart of Australia's Red Centre.
I fear at one point I crossed the
cameraman's line of vision, so there MAY be a red-head in a green
T-shirt manically taking photos on DVD #178. But if she looks fat,
you'll know the camera equipment was defective …
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| The gap between the walls - Standley Chasm, Northern Territory |
As we returned down the path, Pilchard
plotting to challenge the young kiosk attendant to a race up the
track, hordes of tourists continued to pour up the gorge to the
chasm. The urge to tell them they'd missed the best bit was ALMOST
overwhelming.
But Fred was right. No one leaves
Angkerle Atwatye without a smile on their face!
If Standley Chasm, Alice Springs and
Australia's awesome Red Centre appeal to you, or even if you're just
in need of a fabulous vacation, why not visit dialaflight.com/flights/australia/
and make it happen?!
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| Looking through Standley Chasm to the other side ... Northern Territory, Australia |
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