We have passed through the very centre of Australia, 1500kms from the sea and on our way to Alice Springs, 900 kms to the south. I had expected kilometres of desert or desert bush, but am finding it extraordinary how the view from the coach can change in just a short time. Desert grass, desert bush, short desert trees, tall desert trees. Escarpments to wide open plains. It varies with every few kilometres till it becomes difficult to remember what you saw where. Rick is also constantly on a wildlife tick list hunt for us as we travel along. So far, we have seen walleroos, Agile Wallabies, Rock Wallabies, 3m high termite mounds, and the piece de resistance for me, a frilled neck lizard! His depth of knowledge on all topics is amazing and interesting. When we stop at one of the remote roadhouses along the Highway, he disappears out back and returns with a beautiful black headed python for us to hold. Apprehensive but fascinated, some of us take a turn to hold him (or is it her?). Rick carefully places the centre body around our necks and explains the constriction process. For each person in turn, the snake is docile and winds its tail around their arm or into a pocket, or, In Frankie’s case, up her short skirt. Must be a male! It’s my turn and the snake hangs around my neck like a limp feather boa, it’s head along my arm till it appears to go to sleep. Then I start to feel it tightening around my neck. Quickly, I pass it on to the next eager victim. Tick ‘snake’ off my list. Then as we carry on down the road we narrowily miss running a 2m goanna over. Tick.
By the time we arrive at Mary Ann Dam, where we should have a picnic lunch and a swim, we are behind time and the swim has to be missed.
A quick shop for tonight’s dinner in Tennant’s Creek and we’re on to the Devil’s Marbles. Scrambling from rock to rock in the baking sun, it’s another welcome opportunity to stretch our legs during long days on the bus but by the time we pass the Tropic of Capricorn and arrive at our destination in Alice Springs it is already dark.
There is nothing better than an Aussie steak (sorry John!), salad and a bottle of Aussie red wine to perk you up after a long day on the bus so we decide to go and investigate Alice Springs. After a 20 min walking tour, we end up in the local hostelry, where I am tempted to try a typical Oz cocktail of Bundi & coke. Just one or two. Pretty soon its throwing out time so we set off for the hostel. Its only 15 mins walk. Two hours later, we have circumnavigated the entire town thrice, found various hostels, and could rewrite the entire street map but have failed to retrieve our own hostel, whose name or address we have also failed to recollect. Just as all hope fades for our redemption, a familiar landmark comes into sight and we creep into our dorms, hopeful that no-one will remember our misdemeanours in the morning.
By the time we arrive at Mary Ann Dam, where we should have a picnic lunch and a swim, we are behind time and the swim has to be missed.
A quick shop for tonight’s dinner in Tennant’s Creek and we’re on to the Devil’s Marbles. Scrambling from rock to rock in the baking sun, it’s another welcome opportunity to stretch our legs during long days on the bus but by the time we pass the Tropic of Capricorn and arrive at our destination in Alice Springs it is already dark.
There is nothing better than an Aussie steak (sorry John!), salad and a bottle of Aussie red wine to perk you up after a long day on the bus so we decide to go and investigate Alice Springs. After a 20 min walking tour, we end up in the local hostelry, where I am tempted to try a typical Oz cocktail of Bundi & coke. Just one or two. Pretty soon its throwing out time so we set off for the hostel. Its only 15 mins walk. Two hours later, we have circumnavigated the entire town thrice, found various hostels, and could rewrite the entire street map but have failed to retrieve our own hostel, whose name or address we have also failed to recollect. Just as all hope fades for our redemption, a familiar landmark comes into sight and we creep into our dorms, hopeful that no-one will remember our misdemeanours in the morning.
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