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Published: September 7th 2006
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The Ghan
This is the "today" Ghan that runs from Adelaide to Darwin. Day 146 Saturday 26 August 2006
Ti-Tree to Alice Springs (approx. 200 km’s)
Today we found a really cheap caravan park for the whole family for $20. We thought this was a bargain and it has everything that the rest of them have. We saw the Ghan train go by the caravan park and this is the train that travels from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Sporings. Someone told us that we could go and see it and possi bly look inside as it stays in Alice Springs for 4 hours so we decided we would go and see it at the station. We unfortunately could not get on it but we spoke to many people that were travelling on it and they were all enjoying themselves and said it was a fantastic way to travel. That evening around sunset Kiera and I fed the wallabys that come down from the rock mountains in the caravan park. She said that they scratched here while she was feeding them but all they were doing was holding her hands with their claws to try and get the food. This was beautiful as at least 20 come down to feed. There was mum’s with
their joeys sitting in their pouches which poked their head out now and again.
Day 147 Sunday 27 August 2006
Alice Springs
This morning we visted the Old Ghan Railway Heritage Museum where we went on the Old Chan train for an 1 ½ hour ride. The train went only a maximum speed of 25 km’s. It was really slow but saw the sights on the way. It was a full train that had the sleeping quarters of the driver, the kitchen, the dining carriage and open carriages. It was great. Dad you will be jealous as we have been on the Ghan and you haven’t. Maybe one day!!! We then visited the National Road Transport Hall of Fame. This is a huge venue that holds everything from semi trailers, road trains, buses, old cars and trucks. It had an old 4WD that was used by Lassiters son to try and find his fathers markings of the gold reef. That evening we went to the local tavern for tea to have a Roast dinner as Graeme is suffering without the oven. They had a show from the local Reptile Centre with snakes and lizards which the kids thoroughly
enjoyed. The man brought out a venomous mulga snake. The kids had a chance to hold all the reptiles except the venomous once of course. Duane and Kiera love the blue tongue lizard so guess what the next pet will be when we get home.
Day 148 Monday 28 August 2006
Alice Springs to Ormiston Gorge (135 km’s)
It rained overnight. Amazing!! This morning was very cold and we even had to resort to putting our jeans, windcheaters, shoes and socks on. It was freezing. We haven’t seen rain since we left Perth which was 4 months ago. We were in shock. We were all very excited though as this morning we were going to visit Harry and Maureen for the next few nights. Duane finished off his projects for his last unit of distance education/school and headed off just after lunch. We even resorted back to winter lunches soup and hot dogs. Usually it is salad sandwiches. We drove 135 km’s to Ormiston Gorge. We met up with Harry and Maureen with lots of hugs and kisses all around. We were able to park our caravan next to their place with power so that was a bonus.
Road Hall Transport of Fame
Jennien wanting to be a semi driver. Their place is an extended donga with two bedrooms, kitchen and family room, toilet and shower. What more do you need? It is situated amongst the rangers residence so it is away from the campground but walking distance to the kiosk which Maureen mans everyday from 10am to 4pm (but you know Maus she is there from sometimes 9am until 5ish). Harry and Maus took us to the Glen Helen pub/come resort where we had a few drinks at happy hour(this was only 4 km from the turnoff and is Harry’s local watering hole). We then had a nice bbq dinner for tea and caught up with the gossip and showed some photos. It was fantastic to see them.
Day 149 Tuesday 29 August 2006
Ormiston Gorge
This morning we had to leave at 7am to do Harry’s run to Redbank Gorge. This is where he goes twice a week to collect camping fees, clean the bbq’s, clean the fireplaces and clean the toilets. The kids stayed with Maus and Graeme and I went off in the ute to Redbank which is about a 50 km trip down a gravel road. It was a pretty rough road and in
Road Hall Transport of Fame
Graeme with his Ford(not sure whether Model T or A)? the ute we felt all the bumps. It was freezing too. Jumpers and jeans on again. Harry gave directions and Graeme and I helped clean the bbqs, clean the fireplaces and collect the camping fees. It was very nice here. We then had the opportunity to do the Redbank gorge walk which was only a 2 km walk. Nice but not the best we had seen. We then drove back once everything was cleaned and Maureen cooked up her chips, dim sims and Devonshire teas from the kiosk. Yummo. Harry, Graeme and Duane then had to clean the Ormiston campground. In the afternoon we had the opportunity of the Ghost gum walk This was supposedly to take 2 hours but Duane, Graeme and I only took 45 minutes. This took you up Ormiston Gorge and down past the waterhole. Very nice and how spectacular it was. Harry and Maureen are lucky to be able to look after this place. You meet so many nice people and the landscape is amazing.
Day 150 Wednesday 30 August 2006
Ormiston Gorge
The next morning was another early start for Graeme and I let Duane go with Harry to do his round on
Ellery Creek. This was east back towards Alice Springs on a bitumen road (approx. 50 km’s). They did the usual cleaning of the campground and removing all rubbish. Duane had a fantastic time and enjoyed being one of the men. Kiera and I did some housework and assisted Maureen stocking shelves, icecreams and drinks in the kiosk. Harry and Maureen look so well and this lifestyle suits them down to a tee.
Day 151 Thursday 31 August 2006
Ormiston Gorge to Alice Springs (135 km’s)
We woke up this morning to have our last breakfast with Harry and Maureen before we left. We had pancakes, bacon and eggs. It was sad to say goodbye as we all had such a good time spending the last three nights with them. We all had a tear in our eye when we said goodbye to them at the kiosk. We drove into Alice Springs and set up for the next two nights.
Day 152 Friday 01 September 2006
Alice Springs
Today we visited the Reptile Centre to show Duane and Kiera all the snakes, pythons, lizards and one saltwater crocodile. They even had a chance to have the olive python crawl
Rock wallabies
This is Kiera feeding a wallaby at the caravan park in Alice Springs. over their shoulders and to hold a blue tongue lizard, bearded dragon and sleepy lizard. Because Kiera had missed out on the camel rides a few years ago in Broome, Graeme and her went on a short camel ride. Nothing much else except picking up supplies as we are heading towards King Canyon and Ayers Rock tomorrow. No luck with the part for the oven so it is still not working. Graeme has given up. We will have to wait until we get back to Melbourne.
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