Alice Springs

With another scorcher forecast for today, we were determined to hit the road early.  Despite the boys' very late night last night, we were packed and on the road by 8am.  The trip to the border was quiet and largely uneventful, with only the occasional snore and grunt from the back seat disturbing the peace.  We did see some wild brumbies, one with a small foal at foot, which was pretty cool.

Fanciest border sign we've come across so far

 



We arrived at Kulgera on the SA/NT border around lunchtime.  The stop there was brief as the mercury had hit 41 degrees and the flies and the dust were intense.  So, after a quick stale sandwich eaten in the steaming hot van, we all bundled back in the car with the air conditioner on full blast. 

We had originally planned to camp in Kulgera overnight, but due to our early start we had time up our sleeve.  After a family vote, we agreed to press on to Alice Springs, another 300 kms north along the Stuart Highway.

We had only just left Kulgera when tragedy struck.  The USB containing the Harry Potter Audio Books stopped working.  The car erupted into screams of protest, howls of dismay, tears of frustration.  Luckily, Bruce and I had come across this issue before.  We let them stew for 20 minutes or so, then pulled over, turned off the car and turned it back on again.  Voila!  All fixed.  Weird car!

With Harry Potter back on board, peace reigned once again.  The highlights of the afternoon's drive were the mercury cracking 42 degrees and the many dust devils that we passed by.  We even drove right through one!

A dust devil is a pretty big willy willy, ranging from small (half a meter wide and a few meters tall) to large (more than 10 meters wide and more than 1000 meters tall).   They form as a swirling updraft under sunny conditions during fair weather, and are usually harmless.

By 4pm we had arrived safely in Alice Springs.  We set up at the Gap View Motel campground and headed straight for the pool.   While the campground didn't look too flash, we have power (for the air conditioner), showers and flushing toilets.  And the pool area is gold!  There are two pools - one lagoon style pool with a swim up pool bar and the other pool has its own spa.  There's palm trees, picnic tables, real green grass and icy cold beer!

We all had a thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable time until Fletcher got stung on the face by a bee.  As it was past 7pm anyway, we called it quits and headed back to the van to administer some first aid and eat some grub.  All boys asleep by 8.30pm.  I won't be far behind them!