Rocked in to Alice Springs on Sunday 26 June. Rest day Monday – much needed break with a few minor repairs done – though the sliding door still continues to beat us. Tuesday was spent ‘doing’ Alice. not the town either of us had expected. We thought it was small and sitting in the middle of a flat desert. Population 10000+ and it straddles a small gap dividing what are defined as the Eastern & Western McDonnell Ranges. Desert it may be most of the time – but, along with most of what we have seen to date, it has flourished as a result of the rains. And it is certainly not flat.
Wednesday we headed out East and overnighted at Trephina Gorge. We had to wade up the river (nearly 6 inches deep in places) to get to the end of that one. Thursday we continued on out East to the ghost town of Arltunga before heading back in to the Alice Thursday night.
Friday we visited the Alice Springs Show then headed North with some determination; crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and reached Prowse Gap. Then in 2 hits of around 400k and 300k we reached Newcastle Waters after one night in Tennant Creek.
Weather has now warmed up, including overnight. Have decided 300k a day is a bit of a walk in the park; whereas 400k is stretching it a bit. We try to keep at around 90kph (NT speed limit on highways is 130kph – mind those road trains!!) – so with breaks you are talking 4 to 5 1/2 hours. We have also discovered that if you want a good spot in one of the free camp areas then you need to be in by 3 rather than 4.30pm!
Another 300k hit today (Monday) finds us at Mataranka. Saw some interesting settlements, some derelict, over the past few days. The Daly Springs pub is one not to be missed!
Rest day tomorrow!
Still trying to decide whether or not to hit Darwin. Not keen; but door on van not opening from inside is giving us the @$%#, though we managed to get it opening from the outside. Indicators on van packed it in some time today – dust, fuse, loose wiring or blown lamp? If we can not find out tomorrow think Darwin might be mandatory!
Bit of a mix of photos this week. We found the Western McD’s the most fascinating of landscapes we have seen on the trip to date; but quite frankly we are ‘gorged out’ at present. We bought a new camera in Alice; we had been a little disappointed with the lack of zoom, and capacity for close ups with the old ‘point and shoot’. So we bit the bullet and bought an ‘almost proper’ camera (not SLR but the new style digital camera). Sue is like a kid with a new toy!
