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Published: November 11th 2014
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Yesterday I arrived in Alice Springs after a 36 hour ish trip on 3 greyhound buses over 4 legs! It wasn't as bad as I envisioned but only the first bus had a USB pier point and wifi, so for the longest trip I've done on the greyhound bus I was stranded with no wifi or anyway to charge up my electrical items grrrrr!
Anyhow I arrived on time and was met by a guy from the tour company who I was travelling with. He gave me the kiwi down on the trip how it works what I needed to take etc and he also telephoned the hostel so they could come and pick me up :-)
I got checked in and powered up my electrical items and had a snooze and a shower and then headed in to town to get dome water and snax for my trip. I nipped into the tour office too and used their computer to book a flight to Melbourne and a hostel at Ayres rock where I would be staying for one night before flying out so I wouldn't be heading back to Alice Springs,
All my roomie were also on the trip an older guy called Armando from Spain and 4 girls travelling together who me at Uni in Oz, one from Scotland, one from the UK and two from Japan and another girl Agnes from Austria. We all had showers and packed our small bags for the day trip. Those that were coming back to AS would be leaving their bags at the hostel and the rest of us had to take our bags with us on the trailer.
In the evening there was a free BBQ! We all headed to bed early as we had to be up very early for our trip,
We were up at 4.30am ready for breakfast at 5am and to be picked up,at 5.30am. However the bus was late so it was more like 6am before we got going. We loaded our bags, nipped to the office to make sure we were all present and correct and then headed off. Our first destination was five and a half hours away but we were due to stop after 3 hours for a quick break. However Mother Nature called and we had to
stop off sooner than required for a wee stop lol.
We passed very little, if any traffic traveling through the out bsvk. There hadn't been any rain here for 7 months so it's all very dry and the grass is very pale and the bushes, scrub and tress looked like they would go up in flames in seconds if you set light to them., not that I would of course. Today we were predicted to have temperatures of 40 degrees!!!!!
We arrived at our first destination and made sure we all had 3 litres of water to drink and were issued with a ham and cheese sarnie and an apple. We only had a few minutes before the access gate was closed as it was due to shut at 12 noon as the temperatures ere rising and it had something to do with health and safety and insurance.
We started the steep scent in the blazing sun but it soon closed over and was much cooler. It was hard going at first but soon the terrain levelled out and then gently rose. Our guide Rob stopped from time to time to
explain to us about some of the trees and plants and we even otter a small lizard!
The terrain was very beautiful despite it being a desert and the cheat. I bet it would make a great movie set for so,e scifi film or the next star wars film lol. The walk took about an hour and we made it to the edge of the gorge but had to keep at least 2 meters from the edge as the edges were loose and people had been known to slip,off and die!
After a quick lunch stop and a bit more info about the terrain we headed back to the bus, took a short drive to Kathleen falls and had a walk up to the creek and back. The terrain here was different from the previous walk.
After the walk we took a 15 minute drive to get fuel, use the loo and get some snax. We then had to drive back the way we had come as there is a large salt lake in the way so we have to drive round to get to Ayers rock. On the way we
had to stop to get the sleeping bags off the top of the trailer as it started to rain, but it didn't last long, I think we were just bring teased at it was never really going to rain lol.
On the way we stopped off to collect firewood, looking out for snakes, scorpions spiders and other types of nasties lol. We also stopped off to get some beers for our camp fire time later. Whilst driving we encountered a kangaroo lying in the rids sunning itself and having a snooze and it looked rather startled when we drove past slowly but it just stayed where it was lol.
We pulled off the main road and in to the camp site which is on private land so we were able to have the camp fire, currently they are banned in public campsites and other places. We all assigned different duties, making the fire, putting the beers and cider on ice, getting the swag bags out (large posh roll mats), chopping veggies etc. On the menu we had rice, chilli, carrots and potatoes in a veggie sauce and beer bread all cooked in the embers
from the fire. I was very impressed with Robs organisational and coking skills. We all took turns to stir the big pans to,make sure nothing burned and soon everything was cooked and we had a hearty dinner sprinkled with cheese :-)
After dinner we all chipped in to wash and dry the pots before rolling out the swag bags and sleeping bags, many of us decided to crash early whilst orbits stayed up to chat and listen to music. I was a bit uncomfortable with no pillow and quite warm in my bag so I didn't fully climb in the bag and do up my swag.
I obviously must have fallen asleep as the next thing I was woken by a strong wind blowing and getting covered in dust, this also woke up some of the other campers and in the distance we could see lightening. We decided quickly to break camp, load the stuff on to the bus and head for the camp site we were due to stay at on the second night. Within 10 minutes we were sorted, a quick head and beer count (no we didn't count the beers lol)
to mKe sure we hadn't left anyone behind and we were off. There was a smattering of rain and plenty of sheet and bolt lightening and wind. We avoided hitting a calf cow which was standing in the middle of the road and ran off into the scrub when we approached.
We got to the camp site and just grabbed the swag and sleeping bags. Some of us stayed in the tents which were so ready up, they are permanently there, and some in the kitchen dining area. It was getting operetta windy outside too.
Around 4am we heard the other group get up, they were there on their second night, some of group thought we had to get up too and were shuffling around but they don realised it wasn't our getting up time and went back to bed. apparently one girl screamed and woke my roomies up and asked whatbitbwas, I said it's someone screaming and went back to sleep but don't remember this at all lol. Lack if sleep made me forget me thinks :-)
Xxx
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