The Indian Pacific

Sunday 12 December 2010

The Indian Pacific at Cook (Population: 4)

Just a quick warning of likely radio silence till Tuesday, as I am just about to board the Indian Pacific from Adelaide to Perth. Renowned as one of the world's great train journeys, the Indian Pacific traverses the vast Nullarbor Plain, taking around 40 hours and 2 nights to reach its destination. The route also includes the world's longest completely straight section of track - covering 478 kilometres. As some of the largest towns en route only have a population of "4 humans and about a zillion flies" (to quote my cousin Steph, who lives in Perth), it seems unlikely that the wireless networks will be particularly well developed. So blogging may be out of the question. Reading a good book while sipping a glass of chilled white wine and occasionally gazing out at the animals bounding across an endless desert sunset, on the other hand, will be positively encouraged. Oprah Winfrey will definitely not be on the train, as far as I know. Not sure about her fan club though. Anyhow, judging from the people sat in the waiting room with me, my presence will lower the average age of the passengers by a considerable margin. And it's not very often these days I can claim that.