Larapinta Trek - Day 1 continuted: Telegraph station to Wallaby Gap

Our first day of hiking along the Larapinta Trail leaves from the edge of Alice Springs. 

Day 1 description:   We pick you up from your accommodations between 7 and 7:30 am.   Our walking commences from the Alice Springs Telegraph Stateion, which marks the beginning of the Larapinta Trail.   The stone buildings here date back to 1872 and they housed the first Europeans to live in Central Australia.   The trail passes through witchetty bush and mulga scrub, and over exposed hills and shady woodlands, before we arrive at the deep narrow passage of Wallaby Gap and transfer to our camp.

The Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve marks the original site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs. Established in 1872 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide, it is the best preserved of the 12 stations along the Overland Telegraph Line. Construction of this Telegraph Station began in 1871. The township of Alice Springs takes its name from the waterhole a short distance to the east of the Station buildings. This Telegraph Station operated for 60 years, and then served as a school for Aboriginal children.

Early into our hike, we walked passed an old graveyard.

The trail follows the route of the very first road that linked Alice Springs to Darwin, which is no longer used. The first car followed this track in 1907 as part of an unsuccessful attempt by Harry Dutton and Murray Aunger to cross Australia form south to north. The same two people completed the first crossing by motor vehicle one year later.
Parallel to the road is the Overland Telegraph Line which from 1871 to 1928 was Australia's only direct link to the rest of the world. We saw remnants of old poles and wires during this part of the hike.

We pass under the Geoff Moss Bridge that carries the Stuart Highway north towards Darwin.   The bridge was built in 1980 as part of major improvements to the road.  I know these are not very exciting photos, and the next one has really bad color cast, but, just wanted to include them for anyone who wants to see where the hike actually goes, in case they are considering doing it.

Now you can see the bridge off in the distance...wow, look how far we walked already!!

We crossed over the Alice Springs to Darwin railway line, which was completed in 2003.

The trail then swings west, following a range of low hills towards the West MacDonnell Ranges. These lead to the highest point for the day on the Euro Ridge with there is a fine view of the south-east of Alice springs and to the west are glimpses of higher ridges.

All this hiking made us hungry for lunch....

Ah, time for rest and relaxation....here is my home for the night.

Time to fix dinner!  But, I don't have to...because I am on VACATION!!!

Tjukurpa
Beginning Dreaming

Very ancient tradition says the people departed the islands to the north of Australia (the Indonesian group) and crossed the Timor Sea to Australia.  Recent research has indicated that they had originally lived in the Indian sub-continent but were driven out by the southernly drife of the Arya tribes.

Tradition says that a boastful man threw his boomerange across the ocean and claimed it had reached the furthest island on the other side.   His claim was, of course, disputed and derided.   But the solution was proivded by a little boy who cut out the entrails of a koala.  He then proceeded to blow into them until they formed a rainbow bridge across the ocean.   All the disputants crossed over the entrail bridge and, arriving in Australia, they becuase the mothers and fathers of the Aborigines.