A town like Alice.

How lovely it was to not pack up and travel after a week on the road.  Tops & I were excited to have access to two brand new washing machines which didn't need de-frogging - but we were too early and the power hadn't been switched on in the area were in! That was easily remedied though. We all just pottered around this morning - cleaning out the car, tidying things up and the boys fiddled with electrical issues then we popped into the town centre and had a look around.

           

    This is our camp - away from everyone and even tho we've not got the nice lawn, we are private       

   and very happy. The staff are extremely obliging here at G'Day Mate - we'd recommend it to anyone.

           

 

Today we did some sightseeing and visited the Telegraph Station which is set up really nicely with so much information. We can't believe that messages were sent via morse code - always accurately and so quickly, with the messages being relayed at each repeater station. We thought the original message could be quite different from the one finally at its destination but the operators prided themselves in being very accurate. 

         

We shouted ourselves a lovely coffee there as the picnic grounds were some distance from the car. Then we headed out to Standley Chasm. It's very spectacular and we were there to capture the sun overhead. The track there is being upgraded but one poor lady from a bus tour tripped and fell quite heavily so we trod carefully after that. We think she'll have a sore head for a bit. 

         We met this lovely couple in the chasm! 

We found a picnic table and enjoyed our lunch (of cruskits again) under the shady trees. We have enjoyed being fly and mosquito free here and don't have to be swatting all the time. We're very lucky with the weather too as the days have been in mid 20's and nights just very pleasant sleeping conditions. We haven't needed winter sheets, nightclothes, hotwater bottles or bedsocks yet! But we are prepared! 

             

Simpsons Gap is also lovely and there were many picnic areas there for the energetic bike riders and walkers. The trees are beautiful with the white trunks and green foliage against the rocks and sandy river beds. 

At ANZAC hill there is a fantastic view of Alice Springs and surrounds:

    

All lawns, gardens and ovals are lovely and green so their water supply can't be too restricted. We googled the population as it doesn't seem to be a big city and at last census it was 22,000. 

We went to see the Ghan Station but it was locked as the train won't be through till Thursday morning. We'd like to see it go past but not sure if we'll be around. 

All this sightseeing wore us old folks out so we are back at camp resting up before drink o'clock!! Tomorrow we've got more sightseeing on the agenda then think we'll head northwards and do Uluru and Kings canyon on return trip. 

We trust everyone is well - we can't believe it's only 8 days ago we left home as it seems we've been away for ages. Our cars and vans have stood up to the gruelling tracks we've traversed with only minor issues easily attended to by Dennis and Darryl. 

Till our next blog, love from the 'glampers' xxxxx