The first part of our journey took us through the McDonnell Ranges and out on to Missionary Plain. Our group gathered in Alice Springs during the last week of April 2006, and we set off for our destination. After a lengthy period, the permit was granted with strict conditions. I applied, on behalf of myself, and the others, for a permit to access these traditional aboriginal lands. In earlier times the Pintubi clan visited this area but it is claimed to be the ancestral home of the Ikuntji clan who now reside permanently at the Haasts Bluff Community. Others have joined Michael Smith for various reasons and have written about the significance of this place. The explorer, Ernest Giles passed by this area in 1872, Michael Terry exploring on behalf of mining companies visited Thomas Reservoir to the north on his expedition of 1932 and Archaeologist Michael Smith, on behalf of museums, has conducted excavations in this area for a period spanning from 1980. Within the area, and encompassing the Puritjarra shelters lies a permanent rock pool, now known as Muranji Waterhole. ![]() Puritjarra was not a permanent encampment, but rather a resting place for the many nomadic tribes who foraged for food throughout the desert regions. It is situated along the eastern escarpment of Mt Winter, which again, is at the end of the Cleland Hills. Puritjarra is the name of a site of human occupation now being mooted to date back 30,000 years. Some of us were to meet personally for the first time and it would be a test of personalities to see how we got on together in the bush. I needed at least two vehicles on this expedition and with contacts and acquaintances in real life and via the Internet, managed, in the end, to gather together seven participants in four vehicles. As with many events the planning takes some time. I have been interested in particular, in the ‘faces’ rock carvings of the area, as depicted in a variety of publications.Īn old friend of mine, who has spent many years leading camel safaris in Central Australia, mooted the idea of getting to see these places, and with this in mind, I set about planning such a trip. Josephine Flood, my interest has always been to try to get to some of the places mentioned in these transcripts. Having read books and diaries by the explorers, Ernest Giles and Michael Terry and archaeological accounts by Dr. She also started making with greeting cards again. Judith stayed at home and played in her Studio painting various art scenes. I invited Internet friends along on all the trips to see how they went. Judith declined to come on camping trips and so I took mates along with me in the Datto and others came along in their vehicles. ![]() ![]() Wildflowers 2006 to 2010īy 2006 I was walking without the aid of a walking stick and I was feeling good.
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