Karlu Karlu is the Aboriginal name for the Devils Marbles. Over the last 1600 million years (give or take) a huge granite slab with fault lines through it has eroded into slabs that have weathered into the smooth round ‘marbles’ we see today. They are up to 7m in diameter. OR they could be eggs laid Aby the Rainbow Serpent. Can’t be sure.

They are right next to the Stuart Highway, and require no increase in heart rate to wander through. Hence, they are a popular spot to stop. Many wear thongs.
As I’m going for the marble theory, it really is an impressive bit of nature. The angles of repose are extraordinary!

And where there’s rocks, there’s children. If they can’t throw them, they’ll roll them.

There are literally hundreds of these boulders strewn over a large area, and I might have taken just as many photos! So I’ve had to be quite ruthless in choosing just a few for you. This one had to go up.

And the trophy shot.

But maybe they are eggs?

John had a yearning to run along the ridge top of the MacDonnells near Desert Park to Mt.Gillen, the highest peak in the area. As the rain finally abated, he made a dash for it, rising above the clouds to achieve views to Mt. Benstead and Undoolya Gap to the east and Mt. Giles and Ormiston Pound in the west.
After breakfast, we packed up the trailer and then John took the boys for a ride to Mt. Gillen, past Flynn’s grave (founder of the RFDS) and then for the climb (John’s second ascent for the morning!). They made a great video report from the summit, which I’ll put up when I get some good reception.
It was a rather precipitous climb, and the boys took great joy in posing for this photo just for me.

Naturally another planking instalment was necessary:

I did something nearly as challenging – the grocery shopping. We loaded up the food, the bikes and the family and vacated our site in the caravan park for the Nomads who were anxious to take our spot. They like to settle early, the Nomads. And it was after 1.00pm by now. They need to get sorted for “sundowner” drinks, which actually seem to start about 3pm, well before the sun goes down. Can’t wait to be a Nomad! (I’ve already got the Grey bit under control).
We moved on, skipped the East Macs and headed for warmer weather in the north. Stopping for lunch by the Stuart Highway, the boys couldn’t resist climbing the windmill.

Today I hitched up the trailer – almost entirely by myself. First attempt, and nailed it. Just couldn’t get the jockey wheel off on my own. Otherwise a success!
AND – I also backed the trailer. And then drove it for about 250km. Not that the driving thing is very hard. The trailer will pretty much follow you. I learnt that towing the trailer of kayaks back from Albury one time.
But the hitching and backing stuff…..feel free to congratulate me.

This is a setting moon that we have been watching. But Harry’s star still rises.

We pulled off the highway a few hundred metres along the Davenport Ranges turnoff, then into the red sand and the spinifex.

Here’s a rare sight.

Now I might get found out by one or two people (Sam?) but at this particular spot, the Todd receives a boost from some storm water run off. Other areas were trickling along though.
Anyway – all I’ve ever seen in the Todd is ….sand.