We slightly improved our pack up time from 2.30 hours to 2 hours.  At this rate, in a weeks time we will be doing it in 30 seconds..... Ha ha.

Today was a trip around the Merinee Loop with a couple of stops along the way.  My map showed it as a dirt road all the way to Palm Valley which was a good feeling knowing we were soon to leave the caravans and Winnebagos behind.  

First stop was Redbank Gorge.  While you would think once you have seen one Gorge you have seen them all.  However the reality is that they are all different each having a unique character about them.  Redbank followed the creek line narrowing down in to a gorge that you could touch with both hands outstretched.  That's if you were keen to get in to the creek that flowed through the middle, and based on yesterday there were no volunteers. 

Back on the road.... Yes I am calling it a road as it turns out since my map was produced they have tarred the majority of the loop road.  Despite dodging more caravans the road was a pleasant drive.  As the road climbed through the range and peaked at Tyler's Pass you got a magnificent view out over the expansive flat sand plains.  Most amazing however was the circular mountain range rising out of the plains.  Known as Gosses Bluff, the mountains are the remnants of a comet strike 142 million years ago.  The comet, thought to be 1km in diameter had the force of 1 million times Hiroshima's. Not sure what the odds are of it happening in my lifetime but it would make one news story.  Driving in the the middle of the Bluff was gorgeous (even though it was not a gorge).