Gem Tree – near the end of The Plenty

Leaving Jervois Station, after a lovely leisurely morning of watching cattle and flocks of budgerigars circle the BT, we once again hit the red dirt for another 30km before we floated onto the newly completed 2022 bitumen upgrade section. What a delight! Sippy used his compressor to add air back into the tyres and away we went. Unfortunately, after only 50km on the new tar, the road again turned to red dirt. This was because we had entered onto Aboriginal land and the indigenous owners want to charge the government big money for use of the dirt to create a tarred road – so consequently this section remains unsealed. The road was quite corrugated in spots with lots of soft, red dust on the edges. You would need to be very careful if pulling over onto the side as you may get bogged. Lucky for us we didn’t pass any traffic, but Cathy did drag her sandaled feet through the dust for a photo…. she then had very red Ecco’s!

Approximately 80km out from Gemtree, just after we were back onto the bitumen, we were greeted with blue flashing lights – yes, the cops from Harts Range Station pulled Sippy over to breathalyse him! They shared a laugh with us at our disbelief and allowed us to video the proceedings for proof to friends and family back home.

Gemtree was a welcome sight as we arrived mid-afternoon. We had successfully conquered The Plenty Highway and Sippy was one happy man.

As we pulled up to our allocated site at the bush camp, we were greeted by another BT owner, Chris. A friendly, elderly chap who shared a joke or two and filled us in about his love of fossicking and knowledge on all matter of things including how to protect your side mirrors from pesky pee wees. Upon further chatting to Chris

later that afternoon, we learnt that Dr Chris Hatton was a retired Endocrine Surgeon. He was delighted to learn that Bree had just commenced at St George Hospital and filled us in about his early medical days and certain events throughout his career.

Chris and his buddy PJ convinced us to try our hand at fossicking for Zircons the following day, so we signed up for the fossicking experience along the Binn Track. After loading the gear into our car at 8am we followed Alan, our guide for the morning, at pace along the dirt track. Alan demonstrated the process, including how to identify zircon over agate and then left us to it. We had a great four hours of fun in the sun, digging, sifting, washing and searching for zircons. We managed to collect a fair few in our tin and after having them professionally sorted back at the camp we have sent two pieces off to SA to have cut into stones.

Later that afternoon we purchased an Aboriginal painting from local indigenous artist Dianne Dixon. The painting was from the Engawala Art Centre Aboriginal Corporation in the Engawala Community, approximately 180km north-east of Alice Springs, We were attracted by the beautiful vibrant colours used and the fact that the painting is titled ‘Bush Medicine’, which we thought appropriate since Bree has just started her Internship. It will look great on a wall back home.

In the evening we attended the famous bush camp cook up offered by Gemtree. It didn’t disappoint! Roast beef and lamb, onions, potatoes, vegetables and gravy, and choc chip damper with golden syrup and fresh, whipped cream for dessert. Absolutely delicious! This was washed down with the local Alice Springs Specific Ale.

Prior to our trip I had voiced my concern with friends that I may not have many people to chat to during our trip (other than Sippy), which he assured me would not be the case. At dinner we were seated next to a retired Merchant Naval Captain, Alister, who regaled many adventures of sailing the seas across the world and a lovely family from Coffs Harbour who were home schooling their 7-year-old daughter for the year. What a delightful evening. If I was at home, I doubt I would have befriended an endocrine surgeon and naval captain in the one day – LOL.