It's probably the only town in the world that has a boat race that has to be canceled if there is water in the river. The Todd river runs through Alice Springs and it's normally a dry sandy creek bed until the rains come and then it is a thrusting torrent of angry unconstrained water flowing freely across the dry sandy desert until it gets constrained by the McDonnell Ranges surrounding Alice Springs.
The town is red. Wherever you look at the ground it is a deep, old-blood red soil. When you look off into the distance at the McDonnell ranges the hills take on a purplish hue. This is caused by the type of scrubby trees that emit an oil and combined with the blood-red soil it turns the distance purple. This is best seen early morning or later in the evening because during the day the heat haze shimmers around or not much above ground level.
The Alice is located about 350 kilometers from that well-known Australian rock called Ayers rock. Many people have the impression that Ayers rock is close to Alice Springs but that's only by Australian standards where distances in the Northern Territory are considered to be 'just down the track' if they are only a few hundred K's and it's the next stop for a "coldie" or a real toilet at what is known as a roadhouse or maybe a town.
Distances, heat, flies, crows, cattle, lizards, snakes, bandicoots, camels and geckos are all just part of the wonderland of Alice Springs. If you think I'm one of the lovers of "the Alice" you would be correct, because to me as much as I've traveled, I have yet to see anywhere that pulls at my heart and makes my eyes tear-up like thoughts and memories of 'the Alice' and it's wonderland of harsh beauty.
When you travel why not take a minglestick with you? That way you can collect names, address and photos of travelling companions you meet along the way?
No comments:
Post a Comment