Alice Springs, what can I say? I was pretty excited to be there, but even more so because I was gonna get my contacts sent there. I was getting pretty tired of wearing glasses in bright light and having to squint my way though the days.
Alice Springs is kinda weird. We checked in to the Macdonell Range Caravan Park. I don’t know much about caravan parks, but this one is oh, so sweet! It has a jumping pillow, pools, an impeccable kitchen and some of the friendliest staff.
The first night Eirik comes to the kitchen and says there’s a snake in the boys’ bathroom, and that he thinks it may be a legless lizard. Eager and curious, we grab the field guide to Australian reptiles, a torch and a camera. Slightly distracted on the way by geckoes, and large, orange and black insects, we make our way to the bathroom where the snake/lizard is hanging out under the bench. As we perhaps a bit too eagerly approach it it flings itself up and around, fast as greased lightning. The field guide comes out and we’re trying to figure this out. Have a closer look. Hm... is it a brown snake or a legless lizard? We think legless lizard.
Later, I go back to photograph it and get up pretty close and personal to get a shot of it. Flash him a few times. Smile for the camera, Mr. lizard! Oh, how cute he is, the little fella. Lost in the boys’ bathroom.
Later that night the assistant manager, Pete, comes along. I remember the lizard and tell him about it thinking we can put the poor creature back out. I take him to the bathroom and walk up to where the lizard is. All of a sudden I hear “ Stop. That is NOT a legless lizard that’s a brown snake. Stand still and watch him while I get something to catch him with.” I stutter a few confused words and promise to stay there and watch him. As the door closes, I’m not feeling all that safe anymore. I walk over to the door and try to get Steinar’s attention thinking they should get the camera and come film this. Pete returns and calmly asks me to leave. Naively I ask if he’s going to be ok...
A few moments later he comes back out. Snake is taken care of. He finds the whole legless lizard-thing quite amusing as we freak out about how incredibly close to it we got and how dumb we were in the first place assuming it was harmless. Pete is one sweet guy. I think he enjoyed our stay as much as we did. And there’s my first ever snake experience. Check out the video of the whole ordeal including an interview with Pete on www.theinlandsea.com.au
Alice Springs, what can I say? I was pretty excited to be there, but even more so because I was gonna get my contacts sent there. I was getting pretty tired of wearing glasses in bright light and having to squint my way though the days.
Alice Springs is kinda weird. We checked in to the Macdonell Range Caravan Park. I don’t know much about caravan parks, but this one is oh, so sweet! It has a jumping pillow, pools, an impeccable kitchen and some of the friendliest staff.
The first night Eirik comes to the kitchen and says there’s a snake in the boys’ bathroom, and that he thinks it may be a legless lizard. Eager and curious, we grab the field guide to Australian reptiles, a torch and a camera. Slightly distracted on the way by geckoes, and large, orange and black insects, we make our way to the bathroom where the snake/lizard is hanging out under the bench. As we perhaps a bit too eagerly approach it it flings itself up and around, fast as greased lightning. The field guide comes out and we’re trying to figure this out. Have a closer look. Hm... is it a brown snake or a legless lizard? We think legless lizard.
Later, I go back to photograph it and get up pretty close and personal to get a shot of it. Flash him a few times. Smile for the camera, Mr. lizard! Oh, how cute he is, the little fella. Lost in the boys’ bathroom.
Later that night the assistant manager, Pete, comes along. I remember the lizard and tell him about it thinking we can put the poor creature back out. I take him to the bathroom and walk up to where the lizard is. All of a sudden I hear “ Stop. That is NOT a legless lizard that’s a brown snake. Stand still and watch him while I get something to catch him with.” I stutter a few confused words and promise to stay there and watch him. As the door closes, I’m not feeling all that safe anymore. I walk over to the door and try to get Steinar’s attention thinking they should get the camera and come film this. Pete returns and calmly asks me to leave. Naively I ask if he’s going to be ok...
A few moments later he comes back out. Snake is taken care of. He finds the whole legless lizard-thing quite amusing as we freak out about how incredibly close to it we got and how dumb we were in the first place assuming it was harmless. Pete is one sweet guy. I think he enjoyed our stay as much as we did. And there’s my first ever snake experience. Check out the video of the whole ordeal including an interview with Pete on www.theinlandsea.com.au
A brown snake is one of the most venomous snakes in the world. There are several different ones. It is a very aggressive snake and it will attack when feeling threatened. This was a small one, but still potentially deadly.
The next day we head into Alice Springs Reptile Centre to learn more about snakes. We get a talk about wildlife and get to hold various lizards and an olive python. I have always been terrified of snakes and have never held one. The lizards were cool, and they feel great to hold, though one decided to pee in my hand. Then there’s the snake. Oh mama. I had already promised myself that I was not to leave before holding it. The first minute or so freaked me out, but then I fell completely in love with this beautiful creature. It feels so good on your skin and is so gentle, yet amazingly strong. Once was not enough, I had to hold it again, and would have had it on me for a while if I could. I may just want to get one some day.
Now, it goes with this story that we showed the photos of the snake to the lady at the centre and she said it was a legless lizard. Confusion be thy name. This was not to be the end of that story.
I learnt a few things that day that I have later been told were terribly wrong. It is hard to tell this story in its entirety without jumping ahead, but we’ll get there to everything.
- When you see a snake a couple of meters in front of you stop. If it gets up in its defence position, stand still. It will loose interest and forget that you’re there in about 30 seconds and move along. According to this woman snakes are nearly blind.
- when bit, start wrapping from the furthest end of the limb, like the fingers, wrapping upwards all the way to the elbow. I was a bit fuzzy accepting this having read that you start on the bite to stop circulation, wrap down to the furthest end of the limb, then all the way up, then splinter it or immobilize it otherwise. I’ll stick to the book version if push comes to shove. Makes no sense not to start on the bite when that’s where you need to stop shit from getting into your bloodstream. Do not under any circumstances follow this Reptile Lady’s advise. It could kill you.
A few other things also happened while in Alice. The story on 86 year Molly Clark from Alice Springs can be found on Steinar’s website soon. She is the founder of the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame and quite the character. Her life is worth hearing about. She amongst other things made the road from her homestead on the edge of the Simpson Desert to the Stuart Highway. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. I have nothing but admiration for this lady.
We went and saw part of a gig with a local Aboriginal heavy metal band after dinner one night. It was funny, but got old after a few songs. The guys had a good night at the casino, which gave us a sweet feed.
Crossing the road one day, I walk past two Aboriginal kids, one tall and one short. As I pass them (carrying my wallet in my hand) I can see them talking behind me in the reflection in the window on the opposite side of the road. The short one says something to the other one and speeds up behind me. I have a feeling something is going on. I move my wallet from my side to the front, and as I get to the other side I decide to stop all of a sudden in front of the shop window figuring that if I turn the corner he might try something. The kid almost walks right into me. I turn and he says “ you looking for book?” “Nah, man, I’m not looking for a book.” Next thing I know, Ben’s friend, Lauren, walks up and says hi and the kids quickly move away. Are you looking for book? If that’s the best you can do under pressure, kid, you better stick to trying to rob old ladies. And you should remember that your reflection is visible in shop windows. Though luck. Wasn’t much to steal in there anyway.
I must have gotten over my fear of snakes at some point, cause I fell in love with this Olive Python at the Alice Springs Reptile Center.
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