Last days in Alice.

After our inactivity over the past two days whilst we have been cooped up in a car we decided some exercise was overdue so ... bike hire it is then. Alice Springs, Upuru, etc sit in Simpsons desert which stretches into Western Australia and to the top of South Australia. We planned to ride to Simpsons Gap in the West McDonnell range along a meandering cycle track which roams through the bush.

Setting off at 10.15 we made our way the 7km or so out of town and to the beginning of the track. The weather was beautiful, about 25 degrees with a slight breeze, just perfect for cycling. Taking advice from the locals we wore long sleeved shirts with our shorts which kept a lot of the sun off us and were cooler than T-shirts. Along the track there were info. boards explaining the fauna, geology of the area and the different birds we could see and hear. We were joined for part of our journey by a wedge-tailed eagle which swooped and dived above us and kept track with us for several km.



After a further 17km we arrived at the track to Simpsons Gap. It took us another 20 minutes to reach but it was spectacular. We actually saw some water in the gap but it is water which is slowly dripping from the rocks from many years' previous rainfall.





There were rock wallabies living on the slopes but no matter how long we stood still we failed to see any, their camouflage is pretty clever.

We spent about an hour at the Gap then began our journey back, another 28km. There seemed to be loads more uphill sections going back than on the way there, but we stopped for a mouthful of our rationed water every 20 minutes. My bum was feeling very tender and it was agony each time we got back on the bikes! Still we stuck at it and got back to have a good long conversation with the nice man at the YHA from where we had rented the bikes. He had just returned from 2 months in England and was in love with the place. He couldn't wait to go back and was already planning his next trip!

Today, Saturday, dawned and, after checking out of the hotel, we wandered, had a leisurely lunch and caught our shuttle to the airport. It's now 4.15 pm and our flight to Cairns goes in an hour and 10 mins. Another 2 1/2 hours, watches forward another half an hour, and we'll see Alex again after 11 months. Can't wait. I text him this morning to ask if he had cooked ready for our arrival, he said we were going to the night market in Cairns! Nothing changed there then! Wonder who'll pay?

We're looking forward to a week in Port Douglas, then who knows, not sure where we're heading after that, but still, I guess that's the beauty of travelling like this - the element of surprise!

8pm

He's just the same! I didn't cry, but how fantastic to get my arms round him!



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Location:Port Douglas Road,Port Douglas,Australia