Alice Springs

1st - 10th May 2016

A week in Alice for a "maintenance" session. Hopefully get the car central diff lock sorted. Stock up on groceries. Wash the red dust off everything inside and out. And another instalment with Centrelink!

We spent some time in Alice last trip, so did a lot of sight seeing then. Only a couple of places on the list this time.

Hello Alice and cheaper supermarkets and bottle shops!

All set up and time to relax!

Home sweet home for a week, which turned into 9 days because of the torrential rain!

A wonder around the Botanical Gardens sounded nice. Lovely cafe for lunch. Not really anywhere to put down the picnic blanket! Very outback.

There was a walk up to the lookout which Dezzi was thrilled about! Fantastic view of Alice Springs and the MacDonnell Ranges.

Looking west.

Looking north.

Looking north west.

Looking west to the MacDonnell Ranges.

Just what Dezzi loves.....more steps!

Just as well there were seats. No grass to be seen!

Dez looking up information on the Eastern Bower bird we had seen.

These ants nests covered one tree.

Back to the pool for some R & R.

So....the car! Went to one mechanic who had a look but couldn't help and suggested another workshop. Called them up and they could have a look that day. To make it easier for the mechanic to look at the problem Dez took the bash plate off from under the car. Joy oh joy...another problem. The inside c.v. boot has a tear in it. Big sighs and groans.

Well, after two days of having the car, and us having their work ute. Which was great. Only the c.v. boot could get fixed. Still only have 2wd until Darwin. Lucky it is bitumen all the way!

The workshop were terrific. No charge for trying to find the difflock issue. Loaner car for two days. And very reasonable charge for the c.v. It was a really funky set up. A Jeep for the office desk!

Pretty cool desk.

Front entry to the workshop.

Next day Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Love my history. The Telegraph Station was built in the 1890's as part of the telegraph system that ran from Port Augusta in the south, through central Australia right up to Darwin. The cable then ran under the sea to New Guinea. Mind boggling.

These buildings (that have been restored) were the first buildings in Alice. It always amazes me how the pioneers endured such primitive lifestyles.

The whole family slept in one room. There was a cot in there too!

The formal dining room. Only used for visitors.

The main utility room. Cooking, eating, sewing.

The telegraph desk.

Some of the morse telegraph equipment.

No posturpedic here. The beds are made of cow hide!

The garage!

This is a camel saddle. I thought it was lovely. The outback would not have survived without camels and the afghan cameleers.

Laundry anyone!

Next up, because it was absolutely pouring rain, was the ........

This one has been parked a while.

The early road trains must have been something to see.

Don't forget the portable radio!

Thought this was interesting! The tray back was really long.

The Cunnamulla Fire Brigade.

My first job on the Sunshine Coast was with Kwikasair from 1988 - 1997, so I was very interested in this display. However, you know you are getting old when you find some Newsletters that you had typed!

I felt quite Auzzie proud to read this. I had no idea that Kenworth trucks have been manufactured in Australia since 1971.

So from amazingly rugged humble beginnings to the awesome prime movers we have on the road today keeping all manner of freight on the move!

Mother's Day and the rain poured down, and poured down! After spending the day reading and eating chocolate, decided to wander down to the Todd River crossing just down from the Caravan Park to see if there was any water to be seen. The Todd is pretty much always dry. The water runs underground. Well, there wasn't much, but nonetheless the Todd was flowing!