Pre trek

I got to Alice Springs on the day before we had to get there to have time to see what was left of the Beanie Festival in the morning before our briefing. The exhibition will continue until July 17 at the Araluen Centre so Harry and I walked there in the morning. We got there at about 9am and it didn't open until 10 so walked back a way to get some more water: it is thirsty country.
The beanies were delightful.

There is an art gallery  beside the temporary exhibit gallery which has a wall and a half of Namajira's and other well known aboriginal artists.

Later we went to the Reptile Show where they have one crocodile and lots of splendid snakes. My favourite was the spiny devil.

This caterpillar is in the gardens of the Aralueun Centre

perentiespiny devil

reflected croc

Then we were breifed in a shop where we met our guides Ben, Wes, Alison and trainee Maddy. They told us what we would be doing (same as in brochure) and what extra things we might need.