Light Pains In Liver Region

Week 31 - End of the desert

Monday, January 21, sunny
We decide to go east of the McDonnell Ranges. The McDonnell Ranges spread over 400 km on each side of Alice Springs. A hiking trail is available for those who are able to take three weeks to live with them.
Jessie Gap ...

The cave paintings of Jessie Gap

We return to Alice Springs in mid-afternoon and then we decide to go swimming, as you say that in these circumstances it is not too difficult to get into the water. We drive this time the West McDonnell Ranges to get away from the city.

Tuesday, January 22, sunny
's a satellite image of the McDonnell Ranges centered on Alice Springs to make you more accountable ...

We drive and we stop at Ellery Big Hole, where surprise is water.

The Serpentine Gorge (drained) lookout

Then we drive to where Ochre Pitts naturally flush of ocher, that was used by aborigines.

After going to Glen Helen Gorge we return to Alice Springs. Finally, after an hour I get a call from Michael who told me that the van fell out of gas, he had to hitchhike for someone to take in an area where the phone captures. I take the Falcons with jerry and join PA and Michael. We return all Alice Springs and finally we get to the pool. The Tamar River
, do not forget your kayak ...

the evening we went to the saloon, a bar decorated very special cow skull on the wall, notes of all the countries stuck to the ceiling, tables and wooden benches massive ago even a coffin in which lies the plain of Ned Kelly (Australian Robin Hood of the nineteenth century) and hitting the armor, peanuts fall into a basket. Besides, if you ever go to this bar, never put the peanut shells in a heap ordered on table, we throw them down. In the toilet, is barbed wire cast in clear plastic, door handles are reversed (the side hinges). In short, a fantastic bar.

Guns forbidden ...

At 23h, before going to bed, the thermometer reads 42 ° C ... goodnight

Wednesday, January 23, sunny
Today we leave Alice Springs, the team's van must repair his wheel as they too flat (slow puncture). We went to a laundry and errands to Woolies. After a meal (sandwich usual tomato or sardines), we are back on the Stuart Highway north always full. We stopped pretty quickly because we pass the Tropic of Capricorn, that's it, we are in the tropics.

We meet three porches GT3 also registered in Germany, very rare in the desert.
A dingo at a gas station ...

The road is lined with countless termite mounds, we drive to the area of Devil's Marble (the Devil's Ball), a unique geological.

Always the blazing sun that gives color to the landscape ...

... and announces the arrival of the flies ...

Thursday, January 24, sunny
Today direction Tennant Creek, the land is cheap there ... if there are interested. We take this opportunity to replenish water and gasoline. Floppy takes the wheel this time and lack of sleep on these straight lines endless. We change direction: due east towards the coast, more than a few thousand miles! That is we change state: Queensland now we change time: 1hr-over in Sydney. The scenery becomes increasingly green but still lacks the 3 rd dimension, do not worry it's just as confused as the desert ...

We stop just across the border to sleep . There is now much less flies, but mosquitoes have taken their place advantageously. I know you're never happy.

Friday, January 25, sunny
A terrible night, a plague of mosquitoes, Floppy can count dozens of bites just on his foot. As for me, I'm out of the tent (with net) at 3 am to sleep in the rocks, it was so nice compared to mosquitoes. Around 6am the sun rises, I know it is very beautiful sunrises but when the temperature rises quickly to the tent, we banished the sunrises. Strongly the coast, it seems he's cool (35 ° C, which catch the flu!)
We drive to Mount Isa where we shop, little extra today: each s'achète une glace. L'essence est beaucoup moins chère c'est une grande ville (20 000 hab.) on remplit les réservoirs jusqu'à ne plus pouvoir en mettre une goutte (80 litres dans la Falcon tout de même). Nous passons près de Cloncurry dont la température a déjà atteint 53,1°C. Nous arrivons enfin à Richmond. Nous parlons avec des locaux. Au fil des minutes, des jeunes arrivent en masse, bienvenue au rendez-vous hebdomadaire de Richmond. En parlant de voiture avec un gars (pour changer) il me montre la sienne, une vielle Holden (marque australienne) de 1974, il me fait conduire son V8 de 420 chevaux enfin je donnerai plus de détails aux intéressés sur mon essai routier en mode Top Gear.

Saturday, January 26, sunny
We decide to stay part of the day in Richmond. We burgers at the gas station. Besides buying the hamburgers, we were told (after eating) that the price of hamburgers is more expensive than the price that was announced on the panel and must pay a supplement, it is a joke anyway . Do not worry, we paid nothing more. From
jetski in Richmond, well known!

A small road train

Resuming the road we approached the coast, we stopped near Townsville (a 130km to the west) to spend the night. We receive a text message from Paul and Valentine who say they are on the road and they will be in Townsville tomorrow. Perfect, it is also our case.

Sunday, January 27, sunny
We will resume flying to Townsville. Finally the sea! In addition it is fine, it's rare because we are normally wet season. We find Paul and Valentine and we decided to swim. The sea is beautiful, we are not far from the Great Barrier Reef, the highlight is that you can not swim anywhere under penalty of death. Do not worry there is no authoritarian regime in Queensland is simply that the sea is full of deadly jellyfish. So there are nets in the sea to avoid that.