Alice Springs

I don’t know what I expected of Alice Springs but it turned out to be a quirky place. The security shutters and lots of Police and Security guards certainly indicated they have a fair bit of trouble at times. On the positive side of things, the Todd river is quite beautiful (for a dry creek bed). It has a lot of Ghost Gums right in the middle of it and fine grade sand. Somehow I didn't get a photo of it.

I’ve got to say I have never seen so many people walking around with slabs of VB on their shoulders. It turns out we arrived here when the indigenous folk got their money so there were lots of them stocking up after payday. Later in the week we discovered we couldn’t by a 4 litre chateau cardboard. For 2 reasons.

Firstly, you can’t buy it before 6.30 pm and secondly, they only sell 2 litre cartons. It’s part of the Intervention. In the outlying towns they get stung $25 for a 6 pack of beer designed to get them back on the missions quickly.

Alice Springs is surrounded by hills. The East McDonnell and West McDonnell ranges and when you come in from the south you come through the gap between them. They really show their age. Like the rest of the NT so far, the rock formations really dominate.

Plenty of shops here but mostly for tourists. It look us a couple of days to find the cheapo stuff we prefer. Looks like they get a few victims flying in then heading straight to the Rock.

We finally cracked on the bike front here. We bought a new bike that fits in the van courtesy of the quick release front wheel. We are really enjoying being able to get on the pushy once again though early morning is best. Needless to say the lock gets employed when the bike is not in use.

Photo 1 is part of The Alice. The West McDonnell ranges are at the back.

Photo 2 is a sign for petrol designed to prevent it's use for sniffing. I think that rates as positive spin.