Day 89 – The Alice

Today was a day all about the heat. It was one of the hottest mornings so far and carrying our packs wasn’t pleasant. At the check-in the guy commented on how hot it was going to be in Alice Springs, 40+ was forecast.

The plane was half empty and we managed to grab front row seats with plenty of leg room. Taking off out to sea we soon turned back inland and I watched as the landscape changed from tropical to desert like. The further we went the more barren and the land appeared; its only discernable features being the scars of dusty roads and dry river beds.

Exiting the plane at Alice was like walking into an oven. Not quite as hot as Death Valley but then I didn’t have to live in that for three days. Getting to the YHA in town was simple enough, via an airport shuttle. After checking in we went for a wonder round town.

First impressions of “The Alice” we that its unlike what I expected. I thought it was going to be a single dusty street with a bar and a few shops. Instead its a large town with all mod cons and shops. The thing that does strike you, something I’ve heard commented on before, is the number of Aboriginal people wandering around. It reminded me somewhat of Detroit where people sat on the sides of the roads.

Exploring further I walked up Anzac Hill to the war memorial for a view of the town. Its amazing that a town can be built in a place as barren as this. Next I headed for the river Tully, or more precisely the dry riverbed. Wander along it I was shocked at the amount of empty cans and liquor bottles strewn in the sand. In and around the trees I could see a number of locals drinking. It seems drinking in the one thing everyone does here; the tourists in the bars and the poor on the streets. I say poor because I saw a few white people drinking with the Aboriginals.

By the end of the day the clouds had rolled in and I even felt a spot of rain. The temperature came down to 39. Hopefully it shall stay cool when we arrive at Yalara as if its too hot some of the tours don’t run.

Ended the day with a, not quite a pint, of Victoria Bitter on Bojangles, the famous bar with the webcam.

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