Sandy Supposes....

Meeting A Thorny Devil

Day 4 Train Travel Through Australia:

         

         Train travel? The most I've experienced of rail travel is day trips. Wow, The Ghan is a beauty. I envision The Orient Express. Will there be murder and intrigue? Nah. Perhaps we will kill a bottle or two while the Aussies butcher the English language. Oh, right, they love their slang.

         I couldn't help my curiosity re the unusual name.The Ghan references 19th century Afghan camel drivers who came to Australia to explore its remote interior. I also like the term 'cameleers.' My Nanny once bobbed atop a lurching camel in the Canary Islands, but I digress.

         So, today I ventured forth into the desert, a new type of scenery for me. The unrelenting sun beating down on me caused an impression. I squinted a great deal. The sand I usually slog through is next to a freshwater lake and it's not this ochre colour.Now I understand the term scrub trees. They are stubby and squat without a luxurious green canopy.

         Throughout the day, I kept my eyes open for buzzards and lizards.

          My first excursion took me along the Oodnadatta Track once a traditional Aboriginal trading route. My transport was a Hover Bus and it rocked and bounced over the rutted ground. The area is bleak and beautiful with several desert springs. We jostled into the city of Alice Springs known to locals as simply Alice. It's a desert oasis in the Red Sands Centre.

         The gang opted to hire bikes so we could stretch our legs and experience this fascinating landscape at our own pace. It felt strange to say hire of an object. I say hire of a person such as a driver not the mode of transport I pedal. I would say borrow, lease, rent or buy a bike, but not hire it. Oh well, semantics. We didn't choke on too much dust as we pedaled at a leisurely pace. Sure, some wobbling interrupted us, but we persevered.

         Without too much gasping, we discovered the Alice Springs Desert Park. We ogled the exotic wildlife and fed a flock of birds. The Bilby is a cute nocturnal marsupial that is now extinct in the wild. With its long rabbit-like ears, long thin snout , silky blue-grey fur and bushy black tail with a white tip it is striking. Apparently, it doesn't require much water. Unlike me...

         A pre-historic looking creature walked slowly and jerkily. It featured a yellow, orange and black spined body. It just appeared to be all sharp, jagged edges. These spines help it to collect dew drops from plants it brushes up against. Grooves in its skin redirect the moisture directly back to its mouth. Clever design. I like his name, the Thorny Devil.I could use his voracious appetite at my seasonal campsite. He only dines on small black ants.For obvious reasons, no one wished to pet him.

         Next we visited the Kangaroo Sanctuary in the late afternoon. At that time of day, the 'roos are awakening. Many are here because they are orphans or were injured. I must admit babies, or joeys, are so cute and yes, I couldn't resist cuddling one.

         Back on The Ghan, I put my weary feet up and enjoyed a refreshing pot of tea. Desert adventures left me parched.