ps.. on the bus ride to alice.. there were families of aboriginies...they spoke to each other alot .. the language very musical and beautiful.. they look you straight in the eyes and dont turn away... very cool people.. they got off the bus in the middle of nowhere and had someone waiting for them.. they drove down a dirt road... some got off at roadhouse at walked somewhere... it was desert area.. red dirt , scrub brush...
got off bus in alice.. started walking wrong way to hostel.. annie's... but got there... alice is pretty.. hot too.... hostel laid back, a pool, some kind of hockey played under the lights across the street... high school kids... kitchen not well supplied but free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches offered for breakfast and coffee,, instant.. we took advantage.. an irish girl behind counter,, girl from holland getting married soon to one of the tour guides and living in alice.. music throughout.. loud but quiet after 11...restaurant and bar attached.. 5$meals offered.. lots of internet spots..nice japanese gir who said her mom would put us up in japan but we never got her address.. ha.. some english, scotch , american mom and daughter.. french, belgian couple...
we opted for a campout tour of uliru, thinking this would be the best way to see the red center and experience australia since we couldnt see it all.. it was for monday, tuesday and back on wednesday.. we spotted a much older couple standing around, hoping they would be in our group.. .. make us not the oldest.. hahahaha...
next morning.. sunday we went into town.. music played by an aboriginal band on town green.. rocking out. very good too.... too hot here for us... putzed around.... town.. kind of touristy.. aboriginals , except for that band, not doing much except sitting in cool places or walking around.. pretty sad...
monday morning.. all to meet at 5'30... grab free pnut butter sand.. get on bus for tour.. our guide a guy names mark.. good guide.. the american mary and mom martha, ron and joan the older couple.. him 80 .. joan.. 75.. he had climbed rainier.. tetons and more.. and wanted to climb up ayers.. they only let you go if the wind is not blowing.. it usually is on top... we walked up a canyon.. it was hot.. kings canyon... ron left us in the dust... going like a house a fire.. and joan his smoking wife did alright too.. she looked like an older gene tierney.. she a retired teacher in private.. fast walker .. but the fastest were the fastest.. damn... there were about 6 of them... one guy spoke no english, quiet.. one a hoot.. i called him kangaroo man cause he hopped around.. he seemed to always be warming up for something, running, hopping.. exercises.. anywhere anytime.. there were about 6 young brit kids, funny as hell.. some finished university, others on holiday... mark played a good assortment of music.. loud... he made us sandwiches for our trek up that canyon.. for lunch.. and for supper camel meat and bean stew.. 2 of us veggie.. he held the camel.. ha fb said good.. a little gamey.. or as he called it.. chili con camel.. wash own dishes..
we started up the hill.. hot.. .. it was a called heart attack hill.. steps like monadnock..to the top of a ridge then a walk around the blazing hot rim.. 80 yr old ron was right up there with the leaders... not us or me i should say.. but at end ron ran out of steam.. he got sort of sick.. luckily we had oranges. we gave him some and he got his engine started again... had my gatorade and downhill was lookin good..
got to campsite.. pitch black.. whats going on.. mark says.. need people to search for firewood.. put our headlights on and off we go into the bush .. pitch black so only can see what headlights show.. not much... listened for voices of the leaders... dragged dead, dry trees back to site.. get the swags out.. sleeping bags.. mark has everyone help.. lay them in circle around fire.. this is a chilly night.. in forties... lots of stars.. big milky way and southern cross.. milky way looked 3 dimensional.. time for bed.. i didnt sleep well.. but whats new.. cold.. at 6 am mark yells time to get going.. did we join the army.. made fire.. mark serves yogurt , wheatabix, bread and apricot in can.. pnut butter sand..of course and a favorite of all.. nutella... clean up, roll up swags.. get things put away.. get on bus, driving to uliru..lots of driving on this trip.. glad we went on tour and left driving to them...
forgot..... on the way to this canyon we stopped at a place that gave camel rides.. and there was a dingo there, kangaroos and emus.. a few took rides.. camels galloped.. saw some wild ones later.. if you can bring them in alive you get 1000 bucks... tons of wild camels in australia... the sunset bright bright orangey red.. big sky..
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3 comments:
hi mom and fb. Read all of the entries. Great stories, could picture the places. The farm sounded like a nice place to be stuck. The places sound hot and hard to deal with. But hidden and restful places in between. Glad to hear you got a rainy day to write. Most be tough listening to the Chinese about the olympics. I guess you don't speak the language yet. p.s. we got more and more is better, censor that! School on tuesday, canada good and no work good. Tree house done mostly at least useable. Time must be flying. I'll bet that your really getting into the traveling now. What's next?
YAY!!! You're blogging again -- i love these! Can't wait to hear about Stewart! And Japan and China and Mongolia oh my!
awesome. sounds very cool camping under the stars. What a scene -- must have been beautiful.
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