Some of the boys enjoying a flooded road near the dorm
Near Heavitree Gap
Well, I have been back in Alice Springs for 2 weeks and at last we have seen the mighty Todd River flow!! This is something we have been dying to see but have missed on our previous visits here. It is quite a spectacle when it happens but it doesn't last for long! The rain really only started in earnest last Friday afternoon and by this morning it was all but dried up except for some very large puddles. It did rain through Thursday night I think but the main deluge was during a storm which started about 4.30 pm last Friday. A road here at the school near the boys' dorm flooded and did the boys make the most of that - they had a ball!! We set off after the rain had stopped to see what we could see in town and by then all the low-lying causeways had water over them but by 10 pm the river was a raging torrent! We watched a brave-hearted young fellow set off to ride his bicycle across one of the widest of these only to struggle to pull his bike back to safety after about 20 metres. We tried to tell him!!
Saturday morning we went in again - you have to make the most of these occurrences as they don't happen all that often, especially when you aren't a local. It is about 2 years since it flowed last. There were lots of people doing the same as us of course - there was quite a party atmosphere really. I have walked along the dry Todd so many times thinking how good it would be to see the water flowing down and now it has happened!!
My first week back was very liesurely, but this past week has seen me back into some work. I am currently doing 2 days at 'Old Timers' and getting a bit of orientation in the girls' dorm here at the college. Yesterday I joined the girls and Houseparents on a trip out to Glen Helen Gorge, a beautiful spot 130 ks west of here. It's a bit far to go really but the girls don't seem to mind. After dinner we all enjoyed 2 games of Bingo and then it was off to the dorms for showers and relaxing activities. In the dorm I was in they just watched a movie.
There have been two other major things in the past 2 weeks. One was a big Confirmation Service here at Yirara, when 10 girls and 2 boys were confirmed and lots of family came from far and wide. Many camped here in the grounds and the school fed about 400 people afterwards. The other event was for me a wonderful bonus, when Asante Sana regrouped to sing at an outdoor dinner which was part of the Desert Knowledge Symposiusm which has been on this past week. It was a beautiful balmy night and the audience of about 200 were very receptive!!
That's about it from me for now until next time...............
