Onwards to Alice Springs

Goodness knows what the Europeans were thinking when they decided to settle this place. Its bloody hot.

Boxing Day morning we woke for the journey to Alice Springs. We called in at a roadhouse owned by Jim CConnel who was a pioneer of tourism here - before it became mainstream. Anyway the roadhouse is now famous for 'dinky the singing dingo'. He had adopted a dingo which sings (or howls) . The dingo is very famous and has been featured all around the world. Here is a link to a youtube video of hime:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpO5yZ71BNE

and here is a whole bunch of newsclips.

http://www.wadingo.com/dingos/pets8.htm

I also took some videos on the camera which are very good and made me laugh.

Got into Alice Springs we went to the telegraph museum - which was the reason Alice was set up - as telegraph repeater station (in the days before the internet).

Thursday we went to a number of water holes in the West McConnel ranges - which are a series of ridges that stretch west and east of here. They are very beautiful , orange coloured, rocky with a number of walks up chasms to rocky pools to cool off. Very pretty and a contrast to my normal boxing day walk.

Today we have been to the desert park in Alice - which gives an overview of the various landscapes around here and aslo the wildlife that exists. The bird types are absolutely fascinating. Its like watching tropical birds of paradise as normal garden birds - which on fact they are. I hve even started trying to idnetify them in the local books.

Next few days we have a 1200km drive northwards towards Kakadu and Katherine Gorge. There is not a lot between here and there so its just a slog with the odd stop for an interesting roadhouse and a couple of bush camps on the way.

Next internet station will be a few days away so I'll probably speak to you in 2008. Hope you all have a Bonser New Year.

Rob