Triphena Gorge: Rain rain go away

It started in the early hours of the morning, and continued all day; the rain really halts the outdoor fun. We did some shopping in Alice Spring in the morning to prepare for our couple of days out bush. Then we ventured eastward along the MacDonnell Ranges to see some “gaps” in the big rock walls that flank both sides of Alice Springs. The furthest point that our van could go (due to unsealed roads) was the Triphena Gorge, where we camped for the night. Most of the afternoon was spent inside the van - eating, playing with Olive, and doing a little work - as the rain kept coming! Later we took the opportunity with the easing of the rain to venture along the sandy river bed inside the gorge. It is good to occasionally have a forced rest day. The ranger's weekly talk for tonight was cancelled due to the “only decent rain they have had since January 2007″.