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Published: November 12th 2008
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We drove to Kings Canyon and stayed at the only campsite around this area, we were warned to keep all clothing items off the lines because of the Dingo's, we saw a couple of them, really skinny dogs, quite scary looking really, children have to be kept away, there is still stories of a baby being taken my a Dingo a few years back, no one knows if this is true, but not worth the risk.
We descided to whimp out and do the shorter walk through the centre of the canyon instead of climbing to the top and walking around, good job really as the rain came in that afternoon. I did the same walk back in 2003 and it looked completely different, much drier now, fallen dead trees, no stream running through, but still amazing rock formations surrounding you. Stu gave in and bought a fly net for your head, as they really get on your nerves buzzing around you all the time, we look a right pair! We stayed here for 2nights, then headed to Ayres Rock.
We arrived at Ayres Rock and its such a strange rock, in the middle of no where, we drove
to see the sunset, it changed a shade of Orange/Red but the clouds descided to come rolling in, and the next morning, we are up at 5am for sunrise at 5.56am, but you have to get there pretty early to get a good spot, again the cloud was covering the sun, but after everyone went/gave up, as usual (slaving inthe kitchin) i made Stu his tea and the cloud disappeared and the rock came alive.
We did a short walk to see a waterhole at the base of Ayres Rock, this was nice, lots of noisy frogs. We then drove a short way to the Olgas, these are slightly higher than Ayres Rock, but lots of boulders of rock, rather than one big lump (good description ay!), we did two walks here, 1st one was into the Gorge (1hr return), it was quite space like, very windy and VERY HOT!, then the 2nd walk was a short one up in to the Valley of Winds, this was nice, takes you quite high so you get a good view of the valley below. We saw our first wild camel "Billy" .
For the afternoon we went to the Cultural
Centre to learn about the history and wild life. Then we did another walk but by this time the head was unbareable, back to the pool to cool off! LOVELY.
We stayed at Ayres Rock for 2nights, up early heading for Coober Pedy....
Now Coober Pedy, what can we say...... unique is the best way to describe it, 80% of the population live underground, because of the heat. We had a sand storm when we arrived, and it was quite cold for a change, out came the blanket and socks - burrrrr!!!!
We drove around the town and saw the golf club, its no Knebworth put it that way, but its the only Golf Club in the world offering reciprocal rights with St Andrews in Scotland, popped into a underground church, bookshop, old timers mine, this was really interesting to see, and the opal they find here is nice, lots of colours mixed together from millions of years compressing rock and things (cant actually remember what now, sorry Google will know!), we went to someones home, called Fayes, she arrived here when she was 19 and started digging her home with 2 lady friends with just a
pick and shovel back in the 1960's, it was really quite big in there and very cool, she even has a swimming pool, this was the 1st one to be built in the town.
We popped into a Didgerdoo shop, tried and bought one (Sue/Dave its on its way as we speak!), i was no good, the bloke got a bit annoyed with me, becuase i kept laughing at my attempts, but Stu made a few notes!.
We stayed here for 2nights, then headed to Port Augusta in South Austraila, this is a sleepy town, but we did see a tug of war comp, which was good fun to sit and watch for a while in the sunshine, still quite chilly though, like a English springs day. We only stayed here 1night then headed to the Barossa Valley for the WINE!
We took the scenic drive, it was lovely, very hilly, farm land, like the UK but much drier, we went through the Clare Valley (Wineries) and this town was very pretty, could live here! then went to Barossa Valley, again this was pretty rolling hills for farming and Vineyards as far as the eye can see.
We hired some cycles and went to the next town along, spot of lunch then out along the country roads, we did about 30kms that day, we only did Penfold Wine tasting, we tried two different ones, really nice, but a little over the budget to buy any. There was Jacobs Creek, Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Peter Lehnman, these are the only ones we knew off from off the shelf at home.
We stayed here 2nights then headed to Adelaide.
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Sanne
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you two bastards
I'm sorry, I don't know how to wright "bastards" in english. But I think you understand what I wrote! I'm so yealous!! I'm sitting here, on a cold but sunny wednesday-morning at the office (unfortunaly without David) at 8.15 am reading your sunny diary... it is so nice what you are doing. I hope you're enjoying every single day! xxxx Sanne