When I received the proposed route from Vic Widman I felt like it was too audacious -- just too much packed in too short of time when I reflect on how much dawdling around we always seem to do on these desert vacations.
Composed of three lobes -- the west (longest), the south, and the east -- the route needed surgery and I suggested we toss out the southern lobe. We'd only take the western lobe, and if time permits, a dash around the eastern lobe.
When I went to Alice Springs early this month I wanted to drive the Finke race track, but timing and logistics didn't allow this. Instead we drove round the Old Andando route up along the western edge of the Simpson Desert. The landscape was rugged and attractive.
I've developed a slow-percolation epiphany that actually the best thing for us is to skip the long western lobe and instead do some variation of the Southern lobe, including the Finke track, as well as a comfortable trip around the eastern lobe.
Why? It offers the most robust and flexibile logistics a better and more concentrated selection of things we want to do.
The idea is that we would operate more often out of Alice Springs. Since the trips are shorter distance, we can schedule them more flexibily, according to what we want while there.
I think these two lobes have a richer and more concentrated selection of activities we want, including serious 4wd, Aboriginal culture, and more industrial archeology (Arltunga mining).
The chief sacrifice is some of the more spectacular natural world -- places like Palm Valley and Kings Canyon. Western loop seems to have more emphasis on natural wonders and less on the other things we want to do. I've seen some of the areas south of Alice Spring, and trust me, they are beautiful (and alien) also.
This will simplify the trip, make it more flexible, and possibly have a richer set of experiences with more time to soak them up. Assuming you are all in agreement, I will draft up a second rough itinerary and start tentatively booking some lodging.
Posted by Nils Blutig at June 27, 2003 12:15 AM | TrackBack