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| Temple Gorge |
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August 25 - 27 2024 |
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We set off north along the edge of the escarpment. |
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Stopping at White Stacks. |
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It looks very dusty on the plain. |
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A short detour to Merlinleigh Station. Obviously abandoned.
We were a bit surprised it was in the dunes, the gap we thought we saw on
maps in the escarpment is wider than imagined. |
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The last bit of track to the homestead was a bit rocky, we
needed a bit of exercise, so we walked. Then we had to walk back to the
truck. |
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The descent was slow and steady, not steep, hardly knew we
were descending, on hard sand. And out on to the plain. |
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A few km southwards, past Lyons River Station, again.
Then right turn for the last 12km to Temple Gorge campsite. |
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Imposing as we approach. |
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Not far now. We weren't quite ready for the dark brown
sandstone. |
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We arrived before lunch. A few campsites left. Then a
walk into Temple Gorge.
The easy way is left, the hard way right. |
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We chose right. The honeycomb erosion is due to a
combination of salt and wind on soft sandstone. |
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The end of the track is at a waterfall (at least it would
be if there was rain) and a plunge pool that had some green water. The
bedding planes are tilted down to the west. The gorges on the east side,
like this one, have cascades. I think I mentioned that when we were in the
gorge behind Durba Spring.
On the west side the gorges are several km long. With no cascades or
waterfalls. |
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Exposed in the lower layers are worm casts.
Some of the sandstone deposited from fresh water, some marine. |
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And some very large geodes. Nodules with a high iron
content. Just bigger, and in different rock, to the chalcedony that is
Mookaite we saw on the west side. |
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Not quite all the colours of the rainbow. |
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We like nodules. |
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We imagined this as some prehistoric monster trying to
escape .... which of course its nothing of the sort. |
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Back at camp we watch the dying sun on the escarpment. |
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Next morning a quick walk into Drapers Gorge. But we
aren't particularly enthusiastic. Its a tad warm, even an hour after dawn. |
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But we do see more "wormy sandstone". |
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With smaller nodules. |
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And more worms. |
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We pack up, and drive through Gascoyne Junction. Crossing
the Gascoyne River, again.
The loop has been 288km. |
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Headed west. We stop in a scrape for the night. Carnarvon
tomorrow, the first big supermarket since Alice Springs, about 5-6 weeks
ago, then north to beachside camp at Warroora. |
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| Nick's Camp, Warroora,
Part One |
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August 27 - September 3 2024 |
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