"On a train bound for nowhere"

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I just completed my first long distance train ride. I left Perth on Wednesday afternoon at 2PM Melbourne time and arrived in Melbourne Friday night at 10PM.
What a wiped out trip.
Because I'm cheap I didn't get a sleeper car, but just bought a reclining seat. (Its >$600 for the bed and only $180 for the seat).
So needless to say sleep was not all the common or comfortable. The seats are nicer than airplane seats but not by alot.
It was nice to be able to get up and wander around, buy beer, wine, crappy food and meet people. So because of the people it was lots of fun.
Wednesday night we arrive in Kalgoorlie at like 10PM for a 3 hour stop. So all of us from the train hit the bars. The only place open that late on a Wedneday night in this mining town is the "nudey" bar. Though I use the term loosely. There isn't any dancing. The girls behind the bar are wearing pasties. After about 1 hour they put their tops on and come around asking for tips to take them off again. Apparently they got enough money to take them off because they were off at 1PM when we left to catch the "boat". Yes I said boat, not really sure why, but that is where we were going.... in the middle of the outback.

When we woke in the morning, well when the sun came up. The land was the flattest expanse I had ever seen. It went for miles and miles in all directions. And it was green with little scrub growth, not dark and brown like expected. This scenery didn't change for most of the day. About 5PM everyone looked around and to a person, everyone said..."Hey, where did the trees come from?" We were done with the Nullarbo. This area has the longest stretch of straight road... like 98km without a curve and straight track... I want to say more then 400km of straight trek without a curve.
To alleviate the boredom we watched 4 movies this day.
"Kicking and Screaming" with Will Farrell -- passable
"Good Woman" with Helen Hunt -- even stuck captive on a train, this is 2 hours of my life I will never get back. I would have prefered to pull my fingernails out, one at a time
"The Perfect Man" -- Hey, I was stuck on a train and couldn't go anywhere, it was either that or think and I was long since brain dead
"Fantastic Four" -- not so bad.

I don't really remember much else about the trip. Other than just being exhausted from boredom and lack of sleep. It was fun though. I would do it again if I the opportunity was right.

Sorry I don't have pictures.
I have some on my camera but I can't connect my camera to this computer so you are SOL.
I'll post them, probably after Tasmania.
Sorry, I still haven't seen a kangaroo. Just lots of sheep and cows.

Ok the pics are here now... click this

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Comments

[Polly Albitz]

You are living the life
You really suck and I am jealous! trying to keep up with you. Wanted to be sure you were reading some type of newpaper about the riots and such over some really bad cartoons slamming the muslum world. Be careful. Americans aren't real popular right now! I will treat you to some wine upon your return! Polly

[Youknowwho]

What bad cartoons
I don't know what you're thinking. Those were great cartoons.