A somewhat restless night with the clattering (we had a loose window in addition to the RR track noise) and jostling, and then a final waking when the train stopped at 4:00 am. Odd that the silence was an issue, but it happened, possibly because I knew that we were likely stopping to set up for the traditional sunrise viewing at Marla.
That was scheduled for six am, but the crew had to set up for it with a bonfire and coffee, tea, and snacks. The sun was just below the horizon in the northeast when we all detrained.
The “star “ in the middle of the upper sky, as I found out with my Skyguide app, was actually Venus, tightly aligned with Saturn and Neptune, screen shot here:
The bonfire not only added welcome warmth. It also produced sparks that I swear I’ve seen considered significant in aboriginal practices.
In any case, it produced dramatic light for a lot of selfies.
The red earth added color to the scene…
as did the Ghan itself, its aluminum sides and roof reflecting the early light.
The attendants walked around with copious little scone pies – the day’s brunch not to be served until 10 am. Nonetheless, by 9am there was quite a throng gathering in the lounge car, waiting to get in on the first seating for it.
None as ready as Dana, however, who managed to be first in line when the call was made. I quietly slipped in with her.
We wound up sitting with an interesting “couple”: two clergymen from San Francisco: one an ancient Irish Catholic gentleman (heavy Irish brogue) who had been a cruise ship chaplain – who knew that was a thing? The other, his companion apparently, was the odd little India guy who had over-kibitzed at our card game yesterday. A nice person actually. They were going to visit the 600,000+ acre cattle ranch of the Irish guy’s nephew. He said they needed 1000 acres per cow on the place.
I spent much of the next hour watching the landscape as it got more interesting, with the red and green contrast growing.
Ironically, it got greener as we went farther north into the Outback, especially as we approached Alice Springs.
The area was known as Mparntwe to the original inhabitants, which translates as “watering hole” likely for a perpetual pool in the otherwise dry Todd River. But the current greenery may have more to do with current water conservation and restoration efforts.
A dramatic rock formation came into view as we entered the town…
a harbinger of things to come.
We were two of the few people detraining here, most were going on to Darwin. We had been told to arrange our own taxi to our hotel, but that proved to be problematic. None were at the station, and the Ghan staff there said they could just give us the taxi phone number. I had trouble with the prefixes and a guy helped me call, but the dispatcher said they would out us on a list for the first cab available.
Meanwhile, Dana talked with a guy who said a shuttle was coming and we should take it, which we did, and we got dropped outside the Crown Plaza, Lassiter, which turned out to be a rather extravagant place clustered around a casino. Our room is a huge suite, really an apartment, with excessive amenities and great wifi. The light system is a little odd, but we’re not complaining.
We had dinner at an open bistro type place in the resort, learning how to deal with the bush flies that are likely to be with us for the rest of our time in Australia. Ignore them and they go away, unless you’re sweating – they’re after the water. Actually, use deet.
We again turned in a little early from a long day.
Dana and Roger Travels 
Neptune! And in that glorious desert sky. Wow.
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