hopkinsonfamilytravels: A town like Alice

Wednesday, 3 August 2011

A town like Alice - 3 August

Hard to get up early given that Northern Territory is 1.5 hours ahead of Western Australia in time, but forced ourselves up at 8am (ish) 6.30am in WA!.

Jim walked into Alice central went and collected the rental car - who wanted him to just sign about the pre existing damage / scuff marks before seeing the car - which I refused to do until I had seen the car - and it had several other scuffs on it - so I was glad that I did.

On return as a family we drove into Alice for a walk around, and a shop at the supermarket for the next couple of days.

We lazily drove up Anzac Hill (only a couple of hundred feet) in Alice for a great view of the town and the MacDonnell ranges in the vicinity. It was around 26 degrees C - so a great temperature. Last time we were here, Liz and I remember trying to make it up this hill in close to 40 degree heat and almost turning back! The extract from our last diary entry from Alice Springs (23rd April 1993):
"Began a walk to the telegraph station but too hot, so changed to walk to school of the air, but this was too far in the heat so walked up Anzac Hill, sat with hanky on head because forgotten hat"

The day before we had climbed Uluru in an hour - but that was at 7:00am as opposed to 2:00pm. We are pleased that it's much more bearable this time!
Then back to the hotel and a swim in the pool. Although it's pleasant in the day, it is the winter here - and it can get close to freezing at night. Consequently the pool although inviting was cold - no Aussies would contemplate swimming at this time of year-in fact we had it to ourselves. Enjoyed seeing colourful parrots in the palm trees around the pool.

Following the swim we drove 30 miles or so to the East MacDonnell ranges for a walk in the cool of the evening, saw some rock art and watched the rocks change colour as the sun set.

Tomorrow's plan is to be up early for the drive to Uluru.