Desert Irony...

When we arrived in Alice late January, it was a week of 40 plus temperatures which knocked the socks off us literally (it had been raining and we left on a flood watch in NSW).   It also proved to be a good reminder that organising a rental interstate is not always the best decision...we dont have aircon *insert audible GASP here* we have only an ancient 'swampy' or evaporative cooler in the roof...which spits rust when turned on and doesnt always even do that much.  This despite being assured in several emails that indeed we do, and also ceiling fans in every room....well the lounge is large but it is not every room.  SO, we made do....by having lots of cold drinks, wet flannels and drawing the blinds to keep the sun out.  It worked, well we survived but not sure I want to do it again.....

That week we made best friends with the pool attendants at the local swimming centre, and we also rediscovered that sardonic NT humour, or what we now have dubiously titled 'desert irony'.  A well meaning (I like to think) local mentioned the swimming hole at Simpsons Gap.  SO, being a short drive we packed a rustled up a small picnic and cool drinks and headed out ready for some splashing....only to find this and my sweaty, irritable children at this point did not at all see why my husband and I started to giggle slightly hysterically....

 
We somewhat wisely did not endure 3rd degree burns attempting to make 'creek sand angels'.  And the kids got over it and found their own fun.  Rocks to climb and puddles to splash = lots of fun.  So the day was saved and having gotten over our initial disappointment at not being able to swim (yes I am still sitting here chuckling to myself at our gullible selves lol) we had a lovely day and it is really a beautiful place.  There was indeed some water after all in the crevices...and even ducks, which given the stark baked land all around us I found quite amazing. 

For more info have a look a this link, just so I dont lead YOU up the garden path...
http://www.nt.gov.au/westmacs/places/simpsons-gap