Alice is a myth somehow. Almost everybody in the world knows this city, although it has some 25,000 inhabits only. Probably it’s because Alice is the only bigger settlement within 1,500ks of nothing, no matter which direction you chose.
But Alice also offers a great variety of galleries, which are worth a visit and a traveller should take some time to discover all the hidden treasures.
It’s not only all about the aboriginal art, these people are eventually visible in this city, not only hanging around in parks (from a western point of view) but creating the town itself. The town is packed with wonderful art and quite an intellectual challenge after all these days riding through the Outback
There’s one thing I want to pointing out: I visited the “School Of The Air”. These guys there bring education to 135 pupils in a classroom of a size of 1,300 000 square kilometers, which is more than 3 times the size of Germany or double the size of Texas. Here education is brought to some of the most remote areas in the world and the pupils obviously appreciate that; they are almost on the top of the average.

A couple of days later, school holidays have just started, I’ve heard the following conversation on a campground:
A) How far d’ya live from the next intersection?
B) Approx. 4.5-5hrs. depends on the road conditions.
A) Ya lucky, ya. Got 7-8 hrs to go.
These guys were talking about sand or gravel tracks which lead to the next asphalt road!!!!
My respect to all of them; teachers as well as pupils. You’re doin’ pretty well.

But not only for culture and education Alice is worth a stop. It’s also the perfect spot to start day trips to the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, even it’s pretty long ride to the West. But at least, you needn’t to pitch down your tent.
Last but not least it’s the most common starting point for trips to the King’s Canyon, the Uluru and the Kata Tjuta.

But do not underestimate the distance: Both NP’s ain’t suburbs of Alice; it’s a 450ks ride each, but worth to drive every single meter due to the breathtaking landscape.
By the way: met there a young couple from Frankfurt, riding their way home from New Zealand.
Join their ride on
www.charowo.net.
Right now I camp at the Marla Roadhouse. It’s the north end of the Oodnadatta Track which I’ll follow for approx. 400ks. 400ks dust and sand tax free into your lungs. But cigarettes…
What for one’s riding to Oodnadatta? Just because my dear friend Ralle forgot to buy some bloody stickers from the Pink Roadhouse a couple of years ago. Reason enough to go there…

The Oodnadatta Track is in a good condition, only partly harsh corroded and some quite rocky parts but at the end it’s good riding. Nevertheless I’m happy to reach Pink Roadhouse after some 200ks, with its promise of a well chilled beer. The campground is rather a mess, you have to pitch up your tent pretty much in the dirt.
After that I picked up the key for the Ghan Museum from the local bar and visited the exhibition. Until 1980 Oodnadatta was connected to civilization via the Ghan; now the Track’s left…

I’ve been the only one on the campground, so I wasn’t annoying anybody when I lit a big campfire to fight the cold.

Just the other way around. The campfire attracted the local kids and it didn’t take long and almost half of the school was sitting around the fire in the dirt, listening what the old white man from Germany has to tell them. Luckily I’ve filled my Jack/Coke in an neutral bottle before, so that remains undiscovered…
Next stop was Coober Pedy which is just straight 200ks along the Oodnadatta Road back to the Stuart Hwy. Whoever wants to learn something about the difference between a Track and a (Gravel) Road, the best opportunity to do so is here. Still you have to watch the road carefully and still it’s unsuitable for super bikes, but it’s an easy ride compared to the track, yesterday.

Coober Pedy is famous for its Opals which can be found there. There are holes and shafts everywhere around the city.

Here, people are digging for opals on more than 5,000skm and 80% of the inhabits life actually underground.

The campground is underground in an old mine as well. Unique.

During my sightseeing I was roaming around in a gallery and ran straight into Tommy Crow. That’s been something special to me, because I appreciated his work in Alice Springs so much.

I left Coober Pedy with a strange feeling, one I probably had as well during the Nice Bikes Tour in Las Vegas: strange, weird but likeable in a way.
Probably a way of life you’ll only find in desert towns. I don’t know.