Friday, 6 July 2012 - Alice Springs to Attack Creek

We left Alice at 8.30am.  The sun was bright, but it was still cold, first thing.  However, we were 600m above sea level, which may have had an effect upon the temperature.  We were still a long way from Darwin - about 1450km - the temperature there was 29C; lovely, if there was no humidity.

We crossed the Tropic of Capricorn.  Saw termite mounds popping up in the grass; also saw two enormous eagles.

Listened to one of our "talking books" ("Not Safe After Dark", by Peter Robinson) - a good way to pass a long journey.

Stopped at Wycliffe Well to refuel & have some lunch.  It's known as the UFO capital of Australia & there were little green men at the filling station.

The temperature rose to 20C.  Pretty yellow bushes lined the roadsides & a few huge trucks passed us as we drove along, though not as many as we'd expected (hope I haven't spoken too soon!)

Stopped to have a look at the "Devil's Marbles", which were fantastic rock formations, some perched precariously on top of one another.  The termite hills became bigger & very numerous.

We passed through Tenant Creek & planned to camp at Lake Mary Ann - however, overnight camping wasn't permitted & so we drove another 60km to Attack Creek, where a policeman was set upon & killed in the 1800's (we hoped that things had improved since then!)  It all seemed very friendly & we had drinks around a campfire with a group of fellow travellers.