In just 2 hours by plane we have arrived in the Red Centre of Australia. From the plane we could pretty much see land all the way and most of it was desert. This is a big country.
On disembarking from the plane the heat hit us with a great whoosh and immediately we felt over dressed. A minibus took us the 12k through Heavitree Gap into downtown Alice and our motel on the bank of the river Todd. Well I say river, just a dusty gully with the odd Red Gum Tree dotted about. (see the photo). After a quick lunch by the pool we donned cooler clothes, wide brimmed hats (no corks) and "slip slap slopped" the sun cream before taking the 5 minutes walk into town.
There have been aborigines here for 40 thousand years and for the first time we see them present in the community. It was the arrival of the overland telegraph line in the 1870's linking Adelaide to Darwin that brought the first white settlers. Charles Todd led this early vanguard and whilst the towns river has his name, the spring or billabong was named for his wife Alice.
Alice Springs now has a population of 26,000 and is the largest settlement in the interior. Not many of them to be seen out on this hot dusty afternoon though. The temperature whilst hot for us at 32 reaches 45 in the summer months. Not pleasant that.
Our wanderings led us to the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame in the old town Gaol. This turned out to be a good find. The story of women in Australia told by personal stories of hardship and amazing achievement. 19th century women living out here were incredible. Survival was a daily battle under such harsh conditions. Giving birth was highly likely to be the most dangerous of all the things they had to endure. In fact it's amazing that any of them survived at all. If you want to follow this story as we did you can see the virtual exhibition on www.pioneerwomen.com.au
The sun is setting now and we are heading for an early supper as we have an early 6 am start.
Our adventure continues with a journey further out into the desert taking the 300 mile drive through the Macdonnell and James Ranges to Uluru.