Day four 4-8-11

 

Up at 5:20 SA time this morning , getting so efficient now that we went for  a 1/2 hour walk before leaving at 8:00.  The sun came up while we were walking, huge and blood red – quite awe inspiring, I have never seen the sun look so huge, unfortunately did not have my camera with me. Camped rough again (ie no  facilities) but the camp site was great although very stony.  Still quite close to the railway track. The company is great – good company around the campfires at night.

Michael and I were the lead vehicle all day today.  Belle, I was the leader for one hour while I drove Pa’s car.

Wild flowers are everywhere, heaps of cassia, wattles and other things I can’t as yet identify.  We have seen bearded dragons (at least I think they were) on the road, emus and brumbies, corellas, parrots and a wedge tailed eagle. The road is excellent but has very long straight sections, making it easy for a driver to doze off. Maximum speed limit in the NT is 130k. The country however is so huge, flat and very empty, lots of salt scrub and spinifex until we reached the NT when the country changes dramatically.  The sky was very hazy, apparently it is smoke from fires lit by campers in the Todd river.

We are staying in luxury tonight – a motel with shower, bed, toilet.  Never thought I would appreciate a shower so much after 4 days without.  Thank god for baby wipes!

The other 2 couples joined us in Alice Springs so our company is now complete.

We have a full day in Alice tomorrow