We spent Tuesday exploring Alice, we visited the Olive Pink Botanic Centre, a tranquil but obviously very arid setting, where desert plants are showcased. the terrain around Alice is rocky and we climbed to the top of one of the outcrops. We were gazing at the view when we realised that one of the rocks was moving, it was a kangaroo, so well camouflaged, it set off up the slope and about 10 others emerged from their hiding places and set off after it. It was a magical moment.
The photo above shows the Todd river, it's dry all year but for a few days some years when it floods. Alice holds the alternative Henley-on-Thames regatta, it's called Henley on the Todd, a race in bottomless boats along the dry river bed!
This is the dry, cool season in Central Australia, or Winter, as opposed to the hot, wet season, or summer. At this time of the year day time temperatures are about 24 or 25 degrees with night time temperatures of 4 or 5 degrees. In summer the temperatures can reach 45 degrees with cool evenings. It is a beautiful temperature at the moment, because there is no humidity at all the heat is perfect, it is peak season because all activities are manageable. In summer trails and excursions stop because in the desert there is no respite from the searing heat.
We had a trip to the Flying Doctors service to learn about its formation, where it flies and the service it delivers. Fascinating stuff. You can't believe the distances between places. We past gates leading to cattle farms, or stations, as they are called. There were signs showing how far away the homestead is from the entrance - 80, 100 or even 150 km!!
Uluru was on the agenda for the following day, so we collected a hire car and took ourselves to bed early in readiness for the 460km drive. Jim set the alarm on his phone for 5.40am, which was fine but the spam phone call from the UK about mis-sold loan insurance at 1.40 am was not!
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Location:Todd Street,Alice Springs,Australia
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