We decide to walk rather than drive.

We cross Rooney Creek soon after leaving camp.

We scramble and slip a bit walking up the track. Wondering at the river worn stones. A bit like marbles under foot.

The gorge for the baths is central in the pic.

We'd previously noted conglomerate at the top of the cliffs at the entrance to the baths gorge.

The cave is in the conglomerate on the opposite side of the valley.

The source of the river worn stones.

The strata are vertical.

In places the rock has broken, the fracture through the stones rather than round, leaving a flat, smooth, face.

Conglomerate is not a common substrate, the combination of colours is unusual (to us), there's no white ochre, its bright, as if new. Its abstract.

But really, we have no idea.

Jean-Paul Turcaud was a prospector. He is credited in some circles with discovery of the Telfer Mine. A bitter battle with Newmont. But didn't share in the spoils.

He named Moses Chair, Ghost Castle, and Desert Queens Bath. His naming of other sites, including the Pascale Hills where the Telfer Mine is located, were refused. We've yet to locate Ghost Castle. Pascale was refused because it was the name of his living sister, and names of living people are not allowed. Later Telfer was named after a very much alive Bert Telfer, a member of the mines department ..... a tale of two rules?

Desert Queens Bath has its origins in a line from a poem that Turcaud recalled. "Where the queen of the desert comes to bathe". I can't find the poem. Even when I translate the line to French.

There are many references to Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. But Turcaud's naming is a couple of decades before the film. Perhaps a reference to Cleopatra and a far off desert pool.

Life is made up of such small mysteries!

There's a track along the valley. Reputedly lots of waterholes in the creek.

The single purple with yellow centre flower caught our attention.

The round seed heads are prickly, as are the leaves and stem.

As the seed head opens there is a smooth round fruit, with a hard outside.

Silverleaf Nightshade. Some species of which are poisonous. Also known as bush tomato.

Back for coffee. And a rest.