After a cooler night - we got the quilt out again - we packed up ( we were still hitched up ) and on the road at 8:15am , we were determined that we wouldn’t be staying at Tennant Creek , but the weather may have some say in that . The sky was fully overcast with some darker clouds in amongst the rest , but didn’t eventuate in any rain , in fact it started to break up and we had a cross tailwind for most of the drive - that’s a pleasant change !!
The landscape started to change from the flat , tree & scrub covered land , to more hills and ridges , the odd mesa / jumpup , whatever you like to call them .
Arriving at Tennant Creek , we were pleasantly surprised , it was much cleaner , the fuel station we stopped at was brand new inside , fuel is 30 cents a litre cheaper here than up the road at 3 Ways - we paid $1.34 and 3 Ways was selling for $1.64 - some mark up for only 30 klms up the road !!
Leaving Tennant Creek we continued south to Devils Marbles - we were now on new roads - haven’t been here before . Vegetation was changing again , taller gum trees - a bit more sparsely spaced , and the recent rains have left a green tinge - trees & grass & shrubs all looking like they wanted to be here , not like when we came through from Queensland last year .
Arriving at Devils Marbles , we stopped at the 1st area to look at and went for a walk . Granite boulders perched on top of others , other boulders breaking down into sand & gravel.
The marbles have been placed here by aliens , Wycliffe Well , just down the road 10klms is the alien spot in NT - so it must be true - you're reading it on the internet - it wouldn't lie , would it ?????
Actually , the marbles are formed from a large granite boulder that gradually cracks and breaks down and weathers into what we see now - rocks balancing on other rocks !!
Moving along , stopping at another spot and going for another walk & more photo’s .
One rock about 3m in diameter had split in half , almost like it had been cut with a knife .
Off down the road again and we’d found the campground sign , so headed in . Picked a spot and set up before having some lunch - it’s a good thing to get in early sometimes - by 5pm we were surrounded by Victorians in camper trailers and other caravanners as well . The ones beside us had 4 boys - some were eager to help , some were eager to argue !! We heard the lot !!!!
Before they’d arrived , we went for a walk around the marbles - patchy clouds and a good breeze helped keep the temperature down to about 27 degrees . The marbles are amazing , and a must see if you are going past - give yourself a few hours to see them though !
We found many tiny flowers , ferns and other plants hiding amongst the rocks .
There were many birds , we spotted many zebra finches - here are 10 of them , 1 in flight !!
The campground is looking pretty full now , not many spaces available - it’s pretty expensive as well - $3.30 per person , per night !!
Heading back up into the marbles to see the colour change with sunset was the plan - the clouds on the horizon had other ideas , ruining any chance of a nice sunset . We got a few photo’s though !!
And that’s it for today , here’s a map link :-https://drive.google.com/open?id=1fnQGLxLw28-FR4NLfCESYGBwjhw&usp=sharing
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