Simpsons Gap

I think this is my favourite place so far in the Northern Territory, Australia. We did a tour this morning on a bus out to the West MacDonnell Ranges. We also saw Standley Chasm which is more famous and amazing, but this one was equally, if not more interesting. I’m trying to get my head around how these ranges formed, I believe the softer dolerite from millions of years ago has eroded faster than the surrounding rock. There are mainly dry creeks running through the chasms but over the years the water has polished the lower rocks to a smooth and shiny surface. It’s a rock lovers paradise. 

We also visited a few other places of interest around the town. Two people were sick and we couldn’t find 2 others leaving just us. It was our own personalised tour. After the first walk the driver had set up morning tea with everything looking like a sumptuous high tea, white table cloth and all. Out in the bush. It was fun. He could talk…..wow. Chatted all morning. And drive. He didn’t mind keeping up to the speed limit. 110 unless otherwise indicated. Narrow roads. We overtook everything. I couldn’t see the speedo but we were flying. 

After lunch we decided to do the laundry and shopping and refuel. I went into the splendid new laundry and found a large modern machine. The numbers,  what I thought was the time left, was instead the amount I had to pay, ouch. Couldn’t get out once I had started. The clothes came out clean so I’ll try and forget the cost. We also went to Coles which had run out of toilet paper, goodness, seemed like Covid panic buying again. So I went to Woolworths and they were out as well. Otherwise the shelves were well stocked with excellent quality fruit, vegetables and meat. The prices were comparable with home. 

The first building of substance in Alice Springs was a lockup for the Aboriginal people who stole the cattle the white settlers bought in. They have the highest number of police per population here in the whole country. Most residences and businesses have high security fences and guards in the supermarkets. The crime rate is high. Very sad as the indigenous people lived here for 30,000 years until colonisation. It is going to take generations to fix the problems here. Other than that Alice is a gorgeous place with mountain ranges all around. It’s winter here with the night temperatures down to zero but it got up to 26° today.