Whatever floats your boat

My little brother turned 50 earlier this year and decided he'd like an Aussie outback holiday to celebrate.  So, along with his partner, and two friends, we flew to Alice Springs on August 16, which just happened to be the day of the ridiculously nutty Henley-on-Todd Regatta. A regatta is a day of boat racing which usually requires something called "water". This is us crossing the Todd River. Not a drop of wet stuff anywhere.

Alice Spring's water is generally located well below ground surface which makes it a little difficult to float a boat. The Todd River only flows for a few days each year. If it did flow in August, the regatta would be cancelled!

The regatta involves racing boats with the bottoms cut out, carried by people running. There is also good commentary, lots of pirates, vikings and sailors walking around in the crowd, and a not small amount of alcohol involved. The final event is a flour bomb and water cannon battle between three large boats built around trucks manned by pirates, vikings and the navy. The winners are decided by the loudness of the audience cheering and applause.  Run by the Rotary Club since 1962, is their major fund raiser and a great community event.