Travel Guides

 

Over the last few days, we’ve had the fun of being the tour guide for Bill’s sister Val and as of late today, our niece, Ash. It’s been lovely to look at Alice Springs with fresh eyes again. Somethings you never take for granted – the beauty of the Gap, the majestic-ness of the East and West McDonald range or the sheer size of the dry Todd River. Other things become your new norm so you forget about it – sorry, no bottle shops open Sunday, forgot your driver’s licence – can’t go into a bottle shop, want spray deodorant -it’s in a locked cabinet, English Muffins for breakfast tomorrow – they’re in the frozen bread section.

Friday Val and I spent the day looking around the Todd Mall, having coffee and going to the botanical gardens, after getting side-tracked with taking shots of the Todd River.

Saturday Val set off to explore the West McDonald ranges while I worked and Bill went for a motorbike ride. When I knocked off Bill and I explored the flats out the back on our push bikes – the first time I’ve ridden such rocky areas and such sandy areas, all in the space of a few metres.

Sunday, the crew from around the fire went to Ross River Resort for lunch. This was a place Bill and I had driven to, couldn’t see what the appeal was and kept going in 2015. Lucky we were with people who knew about it. The size of the fireplace was mindboggling – it was so deep! The beautiful leather couches came out of the first-class carriages of the old Ghan train and the wall was made from sleepers from a bridge that had something to do with the Ghan line. Donna, who I had talked with, had spoken of the beauty of the place – this time I saw it, both inside and out, as I looked at the hill and the cycads. 

After lunch we headed to N’Dhala Gorge, only 11km away. Three cars set off but only one made it due to the 4WD conditions, the others each turned off when they decided it wasn’t for them. Luckily, we were in the car that got there.

We all appreciated the Aboriginal carvings, so special to see them just as they are, not behind a fence, Perspex or anything like that.

Then on to Trephina Gorge we went, saw the Ghost Gum that I remembered vividly from last visit, before heading back to Alice. Val was blown away, and I wasn’t far behind. So lovely to revisit places that left such a huge impression seven years ago and a chance to relive and share the stories from back then.

Tomorrow, Ash, Val and I will create new memories as we head to Uluru for two nights in a camper van! I wonder what stories we will have to share!