A Town like Alice

Hello all
As I mentioned in an earlier blog I intend to feature blogs of thing to do and see around this area while here.

Firstly, to the person or people who organise things here...........you deserve a medal!

There seems to be something on every weekend, sometimes more than one thing. This is great for tourism in the town. And great for the "hit and run traveller" as there will usaully be something on while here. But as someone who is here for an extended time,  I need a rest....

This week is the National Road Transport Hall of Fame Reunion, with well over 5000 visitors in town driving everything from World War 2 Military vehicles, 1957 Clipper Coaches and every size and shape truck configuration imaginable.

Two weeks ago was the Henley on Todd Regatta, along with visits from the Aston Martin, Masseratti Lamboghini and Ferrari Car Clubs taking advantage of unlimited speed limits on some of the Stuart Highway.

Diablo 0 Holden Astra 1

Lanboghini Diablo vs Holden Astra

 Next Week is the Red Centre Nats, think Easter Nats in Canberra, Drag races, burnout competitions, Gymkhanas and Parades, closely followed by 'King of the Mountian' running race to the top of Mount Gillen and the transmission Towers and the Desert Song Festival. 

this was 5k south of town!!! imagine the people further in.

one tractor had a sign on the back. Newcastle to Alice 2015! you would have to love tractors...

Today was the Convoy through town of all the trucks, approaching 1000 vehicles. 

It started on the North side of town and travelled to the Hall of Fame about 8k South of Town.

I heard on the radio that the last truck in the convoy was expected to be out near the Tanami Track turnoff over 20k out.

The parade was like a John Farnham Farewell Tour!
Just when you though you had seen the last of it.................more came.....................over 3 hours later......

The weekend after next is a long weekend for me, so I hope to get away in the camper. There are so many places to explore around here. I hope to head to either Palm Valley or Chambers Pillar for a few days relaxing.
Bye for now..............

Henley on Todd

Hello all
Today was the Henley on Todd in Alice Springs, I have been having a bad week and it continued today.
I woke up with good intentions and headed off to see what it was all about.

Unfortunately soon after I got there I realised I had forgotten to charge my camera batteries,  As a result, don't have many photo's

paddling event

 Henley on Todd is essentially a Surf Carnival/Regatta run in a dry river bed ( the Todd River in Alice Springs)

Budgie Smuggler Dash

Pirates versus the Vikings

It was an entertaining day with all sorts of antics.

greasy pole

 The theme of the day seemed to be sabotage and cheating.

Henley on Todd

Pirate ship

Unfortunately, this is about when my batteries in my camera died..............sorry about that, but I think you get the idea of what the day is about.
I plan on doing a few post about events and things to do in the area while here, so stay tuned.......
Bye for now
 

Darwin to Alice Springs

Hello all
From Darwin I headed basically straight down to Alice Springs. I have accepted a job there for a while to top up the bank balance.
With Rego renewal, insurance, and new tyres looming very soon, the bank balance was needing a top up.
Travelling is a very expensive pass time, every time you pull up in a town, supermarket and fuel alone leave you $200-300 poorer. 
Everyone wants a slice of the pie, every way you turn someone has their hand out.
Entry fees, camping fees, van parks, supermarket, fuel, tours, new battery, vehicle service... the list goes on............  
There were a few places I would have liked to stay a while at, but unfortunately I was time limited.

Longreach Waterhole near Elliott

 With below zero temperatures still happening in Alice I wasn't in too much of a hurry to subject myself to those.................

Longreach Waterhole

 On the way down South, one of my overnighters was Banka Banka Station, where they had the cutest pet Donkey.

Pet Donkey at Banka Banka

Banka Banka

I am now in Alice Springs for a while, and mostly I am chilled to the bone...............the first morning working was -1c, the second morning was -2c and thats when my vehicle battery decided to call it quits. 

Standing around in those sort of temperatures trying to jump start the ute is not my idea of fun. Friday and Saturday made up for it though with 27c and 30c
The mornings are still cool though. 
During the time I am here I will do updates on the things to see and do around Alice Springs.
There are so many great places around here and I plan to spend quite a few weekends exploring the area, so stick with me, there will be updates but probably not so often for a while.
Bye for now.