Week 13 - The Red Center
While in Alice Springs we toured the Royal Flying Doctor Service. From here they provided medical/evacuation services to the remote cattle stations (ranches), aboriginal settlements other outposts in large areas of the Outback. At the School of the Air, a teacher would contact students in remote areas that did not have access to schools. Through a computer video system, the teacher would conduct classes for various grades at various times during the week. The student would work under the supervision of on onsite person, usually a parent. At the Telegraph Station, we learned how important the telegraph was in connecting Australia with the rest of the world in the 1860’s, and the difficulty of building this line through the center of Australia.
We drove all day to get to Uluru (Ayres Rock) and saw sunset and sunrise. Watching the rock change color was fascinating. Nearby are the Olgas, a series of rock hills that proved more interesting than Ayres Rock. After a long days drive we reached Kings Canyon. There is a steep hike to the top of the escarpment, but then you can walk along the rim with outstanding views. Another all day drive got us back to Alice Springs. Here we arranged for a tour guide with a 4 WD vehicle to take us to Palm Valley and the West McDonald Range. Here we saw a wild camel. Camels were used during the construction of the cross continental railroad. They were far superior to horses in this desert environment. Many were turned loose after the railroad was completed.
From Alice Springs, we flew back to Sydney and then connected to our international flight to LA. We transfer to a flight to San Jose and the airline lost our bags. The Rosenblatts were our host there and helped us recover from our flight. Our bags eventually showed up, in two separate deliveries.
While in Alice Springs we toured the Royal Flying Doctor Service. From here they provided medical/evacuation services to the remote cattle stations (ranches), aboriginal settlements other outposts in large areas of the Outback. At the School of the Air, a teacher would contact students in remote areas that did not have access to schools. Through a computer video system, the teacher would conduct classes for various grades at various times during the week. The student would work under the supervision of on onsite person, usually a parent. At the Telegraph Station, we learned how important the telegraph was in connecting Australia with the rest of the world in the 1860’s, and the difficulty of building this line through the center of Australia.
We drove all day to get to Uluru (Ayres Rock) and saw sunset and sunrise. Watching the rock change color was fascinating. Nearby are the Olgas, a series of rock hills that proved more interesting than Ayres Rock. After a long days drive we reached Kings Canyon. There is a steep hike to the top of the escarpment, but then you can walk along the rim with outstanding views. Another all day drive got us back to Alice Springs. Here we arranged for a tour guide with a 4 WD vehicle to take us to Palm Valley and the West McDonald Range. Here we saw a wild camel. Camels were used during the construction of the cross continental railroad. They were far superior to horses in this desert environment. Many were turned loose after the railroad was completed.
From Alice Springs, we flew back to Sydney and then connected to our international flight to LA. We transfer to a flight to San Jose and the airline lost our bags. The Rosenblatts were our host there and helped us recover from our flight. Our bags eventually showed up, in two separate deliveries.
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