Visiting The Alice for Tory's 21st

 

Christina straddles the border

Although we have lived at Tanunda in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, for nearly five years, our son Dale, daughter Meredith and grandson Tory still live at Alice Springs.

Tory turns 21 on November 24, so we travelled north to spend time with our family and visit friends.

There has been a shipload of rain in the northern regions of South Australia. We've travelled up and down the Stuart Highway for decades. In my case since 1959 and have never seen so much water on the road, next to the road and also in the salt lakes.

Lake Hart was completely covered in water which we have never seen before.

The photo below shows Lake Hart with the water spreading from side to side. It's a few kilometres long so the photo is just a small portion of it.

Lake Hart

Usually, one sees the salt crust lying above the hard clay base and not a drop of water. Now, it's full, but it's salt water.

What was that line from "The Ancient Mariner" that I recall from school, "Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink."

The rain and warm weather have brought out a cornucopia of lizards, snakes and the occasional emu. Unfortunately, the lizards like to lie on the road for warmth and get flattened by traffic.

I managed to steer around a black-headed python snake and several lizards at 120 km/hr but regrettably took out one lizard and two small finches that crashed into the kangaroo bars of the vehicle. So sad, I hate killing wildlife. 

We take two days to drive the 1500 km. No longer do we spend 16 hours driving as we have in previous years. With cows, kangaroos and emus about, it's hazardous during dark hours as one never knows what's going to emerge from the scrub. We drive to opal mining town Coober Pedy and stay overnight at a motel. It's roughly half way but the southern South Australia section usually takes longer because of road works and an 110 km/hr speed limit. In the Territory it's 130 km/hr but I don't exceed 120 km/hr otherwise the fuel consumption skyrockets.

Our once-loved township has become overrun by Aboriginal youths creating havoc and crime and turning the place into an undesirable place to live. One has to live behind security screens, high fences and install security cameras and maintain vigilance when walking around the township.

The understaffed, demoralized police force can't keep up with the crime and the Labor Government seems impotent in dealing with it. It's simply getting worse as the bail provisions the government legislated to keep statistics of indigenous incarceration down, means that criminals are bailed at their first court appearance and let loose to continue offending. No penalty ensures continuation of behaviour. It seems to be on a par with some of the Democrat run states in the USA.

All three of our family will leave when the time is right. In the meantime, we plan to enjoy celebrating Tory's birthday and return to Tanunda before Christmas.

Stay well.

Robin