Middle of the Simpson Desert-Alice Springs

Sorry to rub it in to the freezing Tasmanians- another gorgeous day! We left our camp by the road a bit after 9 and continued west along the French Line. We enjoyed about 200m of nice gravel track before we were back on sand. And onto another couple of hundred sand dunes. We were first through this morning- there were animal tracks all over the 'road'.
The plants have changed again. We are amongst spinifex now, and melons, of all things. You wouldn't think there would be enough water for them out here...

We stopped for a toilet break before lunch, only to get over the next sand dune and find Purni Bore and toilets, showers and a laundry!
Purni Bore is an artificial lake, made in 1963 when the French Petroleum Company came looking for oil. They hit the Artesian Basin instead. When they left, they plugged the hole, but it corroded and water flooded out. It became a permanent water source for local wildlife, but effected the water supply of Dalhousie, about 70km away, so the water supply into the lake is monitored. The water passes through fractured layers of hot granite, heating the water up. By the time it reaches the surface it is 85 degrees Celsius.

Purni Bore

The main car park was very windy, so we drove around the side of the lake to have lunch. I don't think I've even been so excited for bacon and eggs before.
Purni Bore is basically the end of the Simpson Desert, so we finally made it to the end of the sand dunes, onto gravel road.
After lunch we continued on towards Dalhousie Springs, arriving there about 3. The water in the springs is from the same system at Purni Bore, so also hot, about 34 degrees. We had a great swim/bath, me in a tractor tyre. There are little fish in the water, similar to the ones I saw at Berry Springs, that nibble at your feet, eating the dead skin. They had a go at my hands too when I was still, which felt a bit odd.

Dalhousie Springs

I realised something really cool while I was in the water. I can't do normal sit ups (this isn't what I realised- I already knew that) but in the water, sitting upright like I was today, I can do stomach crunches/sit ups. By clenching my abs, I can raise my legs through the water! This is a really handy thing to know, because better core strength makes my life easier in so many ways, particularly heading into school next year where riding is going to be such a huge part of my life again. I think I will spend a lot of time in the pool over the next few months...
The flies here have been very annoying this last week. Sandra was telling me that in pitjantjara, they say 'arragh boomboomba' (I've written that how it sounds, I have no idea how to spell it) which means go away fly! I think their way sounds much better....
Our next stop after Dalhousie was Mt Dare, where Leon filled up on fuel at $2.26/L- I bet suddenly your fuel prices are looking pretty good!

Travelling business class

It was late afternoon by the time we got back on the road, so unfortunately we didn't get to go to Lamberts centre of Australia, Australia's' geographical centre. Not that I think it would be very exciting, just a cool thing to have done.
We crossed back into NT and finally made it to Kulgera about an hour after dark and just in time for a counter meal. We had just ordered, when who came in but Mr and Mrs Duff! It turns out their real names are Kerry and Steve aka Hilly, and we had been only a few km behind them the whole trip! They came and had tea with us and we all had a good chat, trading stories about sand dunes and the crazy travellers we had come across.
After tea we headed north again to Alice. Sandra and Leon both have work tomorrow so we need to get back. Me, I need sleep!

Total sand dunes crossed: 1142!!!!
Driving time: 13.5hours
Total distance: 730km