The long straights and flat country were making overtaking road trains easier . The stops at roadside rest areas were an opportunity to absorb the red sand dunes and desert oak vegetation . The vivid red colouring was becoming more predominant as we travelled further into Central Australia . The arid centre is a great contrast to the more northly wet tropics .
We arrived in Alice Springs after a long day on the road . With a population of about 29,000 people , it seemed like a big city after the remoteness of the 1500km ‘ track ’ south from Darwin . It was a shock now to be riding in traffic .
Alice nestles in the protection of the MacDonnell Ranges . Sheltering from the harsh climatic conditions of this area . This is a town where the temperatures reach over 40 degrees in summer . Alice is a frontier town . Providing the needs of people living many hundreds of kilometres in all
directions . Even for communities such as Warburton that is 1000km to the west . This is a place big enough to have motorcycle shops if your bike needs a service or new tyre .
Visiting the Botanic Gardens in Alice we could see the soft faced rock wallabies . They were trying to hide amongst the rocks although , young ones were visible with their ears sticking up as they took peeks at us . The MacDonnell Ranges are a haven for rock wallabies who use the rocks for shelter from the heat and predators . Birds such as the Australian Ringneck Parrot with its vivid green , turquoise plumage and yellow collar entertain you while you have coffee at the cafe . The beauty and colour in the arid areas of Australia is entrancing and evocative .
Riding out in the West MacDonnell Ranges was an ideal Sunday ride . At Simpsons Gap , 18km from Alice , there are more rock wallabies trying to hide amongst the rocks . They perch high up , in well protected spots , overlooking the most beautiful dry riverbed .
The majestic sprawling white ghost gums , in the white sand with the backdrop of the glowing red rock faces of the gorge . These are the classic Australian scenes painted by Albert Namatjira with his water colours showing the soft hews of the purple tinged mountains .
Further out we found the most spectacular views of the ranges and the intrigue of looking down into a valley with mounds of spinifex grass highlighted against the reflective red rocks . At 110 kilometres from town , we rode down a corrugated dusty access track to reach a site called “ Udepata ” or Ellery Big Hole . This has always been an important site to the local people with permanent water available .
For many years Aboriginal people were discouraged from speaking their languages . On this trip in the
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