Alice Springs

Sat 28 Mar.... Today is a day for a look around Alice Springs and the navigator to get some dhobi-ing done.It's a slow start, you don't rush around in this heat, 36 degrees and a bit humid but at least the washing dries well! Eventually we get packed up to drive into town. We aren't too far away but it's too far to walk.We park alongside the Todd River which is bone dry,as is the Charles River which is a tributary and joins the Todd in the town. First impressions of Alice are good though a bit touristy. Tourism is based on Aboriginal arty farty stuff. Apart from the art there is an "authentic Aboriginal Didgeridoo Shop" where you can get a free lesson on how to play one if you buy one! As we mooch around we can't help but notice how many Aboriginals there are around. It seems there are 2 types those who are trying to make a way in life and those who are not.The ones trying are the artists and the ones who make the artifacts the rest appear to be idle alkies who just lie about in the shade shouting at and abusing one another and generally being most unpleasant.
The laws here in Northern Territory are different to the rest of Oz some are to counteract the way the Aboriginals behave, for instance they are not allowed to buy take away alcohol until after 3 pm and they are only allowed to buy a limited amount of hard liquor. Anybody, including us, buying alcohol must have photo ID and there is no drinking allowed outside,anywhere. Another difference we found out, when visiting a really good pub in the town, was there are designated non-smoking areas as opposed to everywhere else in the pub where you can smoke. The maximum speed limits in Northern Territory is 130 KpH elsewhere in Oz it is 110 KpH. The national newspapers cost double and diesel is as much as 40c/litre more. Having said all this we find this a fascinating part of the country and Peter thinks he has fallen in love with Alice. ( Alice? Alice? who the f... is Alice?)
Back at base the only thing to do on a hot Saturday Avo is an ice cold in Alice and a dip in the swimming pool! We are doing this blog live and it is still 30 degrees and it is 9 10 pm.