I slept well until 5am, pulled on my 1st blanket. I awoke about 6:30am and decided to ride out to Simpsons Gap via the bike path.

I left camp at 6:54am to try and beat the heat. Today's forecast is 36degs. I had previously mapped out where I was riding and it was all bike paths from camp to Simpsons Gap. As I was about 1 kilometer from the Gap, I punctured in my rear tyre. I had a little drama, as my pump is now nearly stuffed, I could only pump it to softish but rideable.
Decision time, do I return via the bike path which is really in no man's land or continue to Simpsons Gap and return along the main roads. I choose the latter as I thought if I get another puncture, I will really not be happy and being on the road I could hopefully hitchhike a ride. So I started, I went slower than I usually ride. Any curves I slowed down and took them as straight as I could, you could feel the rear tyre rolling. Not a good feeling.
As I rode along Larapinta Drive, you had to ride on the white line on the edge and the few cars were doing 110kph, I was continuely looking behind me, but luckily, the traffic was extremely light, maybe 10 cars passed and gave me heaps of room. I was stopping about every 2 -3 kms under the shade and drinking. I did take 4 water bottles with me, but I was doing it very tough, with the thought in the back of my mind, that I could puncture at any time and it was so hot. My ride from Simpsons Gap, the temperatures were 28 rising to 32. During this, I still was stunned by the scenery and stopped to take photos, it really is so stunning.
Got back to camp, without any further dramas. After showering, I drove into downtown Alice and bought a new decent pump.

We also visited the Info centre and found a more popular bike path that goes from our camp beside the 'dry' Todd river to the north of town. I will attempt that sometime over the next 5 days. As I said above I also called into Jaycar to thank the owner for his help in getting our Satellite Dish working properly again.

Dinner was salad rolls. They were YUMMA.

Tomorrow, is more of the same, just bugger about and check out Alice.

I slept well until 5am, pulled on my 1st blanket. I awoke about 6:30am and decided to ride along the Todd River bike path.

I left camp at 7;46am and decided that the Todd River has heaps of river gums to provide shade. There were some highlights on this ride, seeing a large kangaroo about 10 meters away, 3 dingoes just lazing about on the dry riverbed and a 'rock wallaby' watching me ride by, except that I stopped and snapped him. Arrived back at camp about 9:30am. Rode 20.1kms.

After I showered and we cleaned up around camp, we drove into the Alice Plaza for some shopping, while there we had coffee, it is a very quiet shopping Plaza. We then walked over the road to the Info Centre and booked in for a 'surprise'. We then drove over to Woollies for some food shopping.
Spent the arvo, mainly in the fiver with Air Cond on, later in the arvo, it cooled down a little and we sat outside and read, it was beautiful.

Dinner was cold meat and salad. It was YUMMA.

Tomorrow is a surprise.

I slept awful, waking frequently. We got up and were waiting out the front of the Caravan Park at 5:40am.
Click this link to see our surprise.

After the surprise, Marg buggered about camp, while I went riding to the Old Telegraph Station along the Todd river bike path plus a bit more. As I was putting my bike away, I noticed that the front tyre was flat. Bloody Hell, that is 2 punctures (front and back) in 3 rides. I drove back to the bike shop and bought another thorn proof tube (they are just thicker rubber). The bike is now all set for its next adventure.

As we have been up since sparrows (5am), during the arvo, Marg had a nanna nap, while I created the Ballooning webpage.

As it is still very warm, we are having cold meat and salad for dinner. It was YUMMA.

Tomorrow, we may drive out to the West MacDonnell ranges.

I slept very well, must have been getting up at 5am yesterday, I was a tad tired last night. About 5am, I pulled on my 2nd blanket. I awoke about 7:15am and decided to ride along the Todd River bike path. I am enjoying this route.

I left camp at 7;58am and headed off along the Todd River bike path. No wildlife showed up and a few Aborigines were sitting on the concrete path but I rode around them and they were pleasant. On my return from my turnaround point at the Old Telegraph Station, I rode through the CBD and found a coffee shop. I arrived back at camp about 10:00am. Rode 18.8kms.

After I showered and we cleaned up around camp, we drove off to Standley's Chasm and Simpsons Gap.
We left camp at 10:43am and drove towards Alice and then out along the Larapinta Drv, passing the Simpsons Gap turnoff after 20kms, we decided to visit the further spot first. After a further 34kms, we arrived at Standley's Chasm (11:53am), parked the mighty Navara in some shade and walked over to the cafe and ordered coffee and biscuits and noticed that it will cost us $10 each to walk to the Chasm. They recommend to wear enclosed shoes, I wore runners but Marg forgot hers and wore thongs. The path was smooth gravel ranging to small rocks, Marg made it without any mishaps. Just over 1 km, we appeared in the Chasm, it was an easy walk and we were in no hurry, as I stopped and took photos along the way there and back. We left Standley at 1:05pm and drove the 33kms back towards Alice and the turnoff to Simpsons Gap, arriving at 1:58pm after stopping along the way to take scenery shots of the West MacDonnell ranges.
We parked in the car park with approx 6 others vehicles and strolled to Simpsons Gap (now Simpson isn't a tight arse like Standley, there was no charge). Along the way we spotted a rock wallaby, that was the only wildlife apart from birds that we saw in both places. Both the Chasm and the Gap have absolutely stunning rock formations. Again my photos do not do them justice. We left Simpsons at 2:25pm and stopped for fuel and food shopping before arriving back at camp at 3;20pm. It was a beautiful day.

As it is quite warm, we have decided that dinner will be cold meat and salad. It was YUMMA.

Tomorrow we are off to the Todd Mall market and in the arvo will start to pack up, as we leave Alice on Anzac Day.

I slept fair, tossed and turned after 3am. I got up at 6;15am, got organised and left Marg in bed and rode out to the old Telegraph Station.

I left camp at 6:55am and headed off along the Todd River bike path. I was very lucky to see the dingoes, roo and rock wallaby a few days ago, because since then I have seen zilch. Each day there are a few Aborigines sitting on the concrete path but they are well behaved and don't give me any grief. On my return from my turnaround point at the Old Telegraph Station, I rode through the CBD to confirm if the market was on today. The Internet says every 2nd Sunday. Well they were setting up, so we will visit it around 10am. I arrived back at camp about 8:20am. Rode 16.9kms. Today was my last ride in Alice, if we ever come back, I will have my bike set up with stronger tyres and tubes and then I will ride the Simpsons gap bike trail again, as it was a beautiful ride, except for the stress of having a puncture and not knowing if I would make it back to camp without another puncture.

After I showered and we cleaned up around camp, we drove off to the Todd Mall market, walked the full distance, Marg checked out every stall. I just stood by patiently. She did buy some aboriginal tea towels, they look nice and colurful. We had some Asian dumplings, they were that nice that we had a second serve. After the market, we drove over to Woollies and had a coffee at the local cafe before doing some shopping for the next week or so. As we are on the road and away from any large town until we arrive in Mount Isa
We arrived back in camp just after midday, made lunch and slowly started packing up, what can be done today, for tomorrow's departure. At least, we only have 140kms to go to Gemtree CP.

Tonight, we plan to 'treat' ourselves to Maccas.

Tomorrow we drive to Gemtree about 140kms (a short trip) for 3 nights.