While it is terribly exciting that I am going to be travelling around Greater Australia and, in only two weeks, New Zealand, it is becoming ever more apparent that there is a lot to see and do around the Alice. On a recent day off, I got in Toby-car and just started driving around, taking roads I hadn't yet taken and venturing out of the city limits. Every time I passed a sign for a roadside attraction, I slammed on my brakes and skidded into the parking area. It was fantastic! Totally the way to travel!
My first stop was at the grave of John Flynn. Now, when I stopped, I had no idea who John Flynn was, but given the size of the sign, I figured he had to be someone important. What an incredible man! A religious minister and doctor, he saw that there was serious need in the remote stretches of the Outback for healthcare and communication, and single-handedly started reaching out to all of the people who lived "out bush" as they call it. What began as one man's ministry grew into the Royal Flying Doctors Service, an internationally renowned and ve
ry active program that gives care to remote inhabitants and, if necessary, provides transportation for those people to get to a hospital. You cannot concieve how big the outback is until you're here. Actually, I am here and I still can't wrap my head around it. Thousands and thousands of square miles of desert fill the interior of Australia and you might be more than a 20 hour drive from the nearest city and hospital. Crazy. John Flynn made incredible strides in connecting the interior of Australia. Quite remarkable.
My next stop was at the highest point on the Stuart Highway. That might sound boring, but not when you consider that the highway runs the entire height of the country, from Adelaide straight up to Darwin, around 3000 kilometres, I believe. It's especially hard to believe that it's the highest point when you look around and all you can see is flat desert except for the soaring MacDonnell Ranges to the south. But there was a sign that proved it, and a weird lookin' kind of monument, so I'll trust their word.
The next attraction was one that I was actually on the lookout for. Ladies and gentlemen, I stood on the Tropic of Capricorn! How cool is that? Aside from the fact that I myself am a Capricorn, it really put in perspective how far away I am from home. And how close I am to the tropics. It was a pretty special moment. And Australia really knows how to do weird lookin' monuments, eh?
My last stop for the day was the Warburton Memorial. Another weird one. This one is in memory of a Mr. Peter Egerton-Warburton, who, with his plucky family, travelled across the nigh on endless desert from 100 kilometres north of Alice Springs to Roebourne in West Australia, from April 18, 1873 to January 26, 1874. Well done there!
My first stop was at the grave of John Flynn. Now, when I stopped, I had no idea who John Flynn was, but given the size of the sign, I figured he had to be someone important. What an incredible man! A religious minister and doctor, he saw that there was serious need in the remote stretches of the Outback for healthcare and communication, and single-handedly started reaching out to all of the people who lived "out bush" as they call it. What began as one man's ministry grew into the Royal Flying Doctors Service, an internationally renowned and ve
ry active program that gives care to remote inhabitants and, if necessary, provides transportation for those people to get to a hospital. You cannot concieve how big the outback is until you're here. Actually, I am here and I still can't wrap my head around it. Thousands and thousands of square miles of desert fill the interior of Australia and you might be more than a 20 hour drive from the nearest city and hospital. Crazy. John Flynn made incredible strides in connecting the interior of Australia. Quite remarkable.
My next stop was at the highest point on the Stuart Highway. That might sound boring, but not when you consider that the highway runs the entire height of the country, from Adelaide straight up to Darwin, around 3000 kilometres, I believe. It's especially hard to believe that it's the highest point when you look around and all you can see is flat desert except for the soaring MacDonnell Ranges to the south. But there was a sign that proved it, and a weird lookin' kind of monument, so I'll trust their word.
The next attraction was one that I was actually on the lookout for. Ladies and gentlemen, I stood on the Tropic of Capricorn! How cool is that? Aside from the fact that I myself am a Capricorn, it really put in perspective how far away I am from home. And how close I am to the tropics. It was a pretty special moment. And Australia really knows how to do weird lookin' monuments, eh?
My last stop for the day was the Warburton Memorial. Another weird one. This one is in memory of a Mr. Peter Egerton-Warburton, who, with his plucky family, travelled across the nigh on endless desert from 100 kilometres north of Alice Springs to Roebourne in West Australia, from April 18, 1873 to January 26, 1874. Well done there!So the moral of the story is, when you're driving around the Red Centre, make sure you stop and check stuff out! It's a pretty cool place.
2 comments:
Of course, the lingering question is: How did you happen upon another car named Toby? I don't think I ever heard the story.
I refer you to my post from July 23rd, entitled "The Slacker Speaks." It was a pleasant coincidence that Aunt Alison's car happens to be named Toby. It's pretty cool.
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