Flying Again – Alice Springs to Melbourne
One brief final morning in Alice Springs. I have decided that I could quite happily live here. There is a beauty and remoteness that appeals to me. Still, it is time to head back Melbourne and fly back the way I came. Sort of.
I had a discussion during the Face the Outback tour about whether it was acceptable to fly anywhere while touring round Australia. Their theory being that it simply should not be done. I disagreed. Having flown into Melbourne before and seen some of this country from the air.
I have two rules about flying and seating arrangement. All short haul flight should be done next to a window. All long haul flights should be taken on the aisle. Short hauls are usually taken during the day and the scenes below are there to be enjoyed. There is never a need to get up. Long haul flights, on the other hand, have the requirements of eating, toilet breaks and generally being free to get up whenever you want and take a wander up and down the aisles to prevent those annoying aches and stiffness that often occurs.
So, flying back from Alice Springs to Melbourne and the plane takes a wonderful route over the Simpson Desert and an excellent view of Lake Eyre. This is the beauty of flying! Once you’ve covered over 1000 Km on the land it’s good to have an alternative view. There was zero cloud below the aeroplane until we reached Victoria.
It should also be noted that Qantas (the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services also known as the Flying Kangaroo) pilots are able to land planes almost as well as Virgin Blue.
Back in Melbourne, I’m struck down with a vicious cold. Having cleaned far too much red sand from my bags, clothes and from my shoes I feel like shit. Sudden changes are never good for me and moving from the dry heat of the desert to the more humid and slightly colder southeast again my body can’t handle things.
