Alice Springs to Wauchope

The old overland telegraph line is over 3000km long
Adelaide to Darwin passing the occasional billabong.
One, Charles Todd decided to named after his wife
But Alice Springs lack of water caused them strife.

A true engineering feat across inhospitable land
It’s final connection to Europe deemed it grand.
Today the Stuart Highway follows the same path
Yet from Alice to Darwin we’re only covering half.

Seemingly endless kilometres with very little to see
Sighting the Aileron man sculpture in Anmatjere.
An overnight stay at Wauchope for a stunning view
Of the Devil’s Marbles now known as Karlu Karlu.

A speed limit of 130kph on this two lane road
Majority of drivers ignoring the Highway Code.
After 7000 kms in 4 weeks our Jeep requires
A stop in Tennant Creek to replace all tyres.

Surprisingly there’s a noticeable lack of road kill
Roadsides are dotted instead with various ant hills.
These protuberances tower tall from the red dirt
Some ghostly dressed in folks discarded T-shirts.Read more