Alice Springs

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Thursday 5 November continued

We arrived at the b&b early afternoon and having rung the owner from the airport we were not expecting anyone there yet, but other guests greeted us on arrival.

Lesley the owner arrived shortly after and made us feel very welcome.

Pat was tired so lay down and had a rest for the afternoon. The owner was toing and froing and had more guests than rooms so stayed with a friend for the night.

A big issue for the Australians at the moment is a volcano eruption which is cancelling flights to and from Bali, some people have been stranded for days.
Hopefully we shouldn't have any problems with an internal flight tomorrow.

Another early night in bed by 8.00 pm.

Friday 6 November

Breakfast of fruit, toast and croissants was available at 8 am, we were both showered and ready.

Lesley very kindly agreed to give us a lift to the airport, which was about 15 minutes away.

Our journey to the airport was uneventful and we checked in for 12.25 Qantas flight to Alice Springs.

The flight was 2 hours 45 minutes and we arrived a couple of minutes before the stated time. Some turbulence during the flight caused havec eith drinks flying around.

We are now on Australian Central time and have gone forward 11/2 hours. We are GMT +9 hours 30 minutes.

Our baggage came through and we could see the airport shuttle bus outside the terminal. The cost was AUS$32 for both of us.

We went here, there and everywhere dropping people off and finally along with another lady were the last dropoffs. Alice Motor Inn we have arrived, no problems checking in and off to room 2. With wifi, hooray.

At 7 pm we went for some dinner, we had been advised of an IGA supermarket nearby and a few restaurants, of which an Italian took our fancy.

The supermarket was found and at the moment we just bought some water.Then a little further along was the Italian;Casa Nostra. The place was fairly busy and bubbling with noise, we chose a table and ordered pasta and pizza. The meal was fine and sad to say our best experience of food so far, which has been underwhelming overall, cost AUS$56.

Back to the hotel and settled in for the night.

Alice springs is another notch up temperature wise and the room was stinking hot when we arrived, there is aircon, which we don't like using, but had no choice.

Saturday 7 November

An unsettled night due to various reasons, but we started moving about 8.30 am.

Breakfast is available from 0400 to 1000 hours due to the many early tour starts, we took a look at 9.15 am just to see what was available, but didn't actually have anything.

We moved off to head for the centre about 1030 am and popped into the IGA first to get some small water bottles.

The centre was only 15 minutes away and wasn't as busy as I might have expected. We were looking for the Greyhound bus office to see if we could book our departure for next Thursday.

We had an idea from the internet on location but came across a tourist information office along the way and checked with them location of the office. They were very hrelpful as you would expect and helped with some other minor queries.

The office was duly found, but shut on Saturday and Sundays, at least we knew where it was.

We saw a couple of camping goods shops and we were both looking for a pillow, one of the few things recommended for our next little trip we don't have with us. I found what I was looking for, a blow up pillow at AUS$6.75

Then back into a shopping precinct, where I had a lovely chicken noodle soup. Pat wasn't hungry yet so it was just me. I was only planning on something small and easy but the soup with loads of vegetables, noodles and chicken turned out to be quite a tummy full, cost AUS$12.40.

Then a look at the shops and found a big shop called Target which had really good value stuff and we could happily have bought loads there, sort of a Primark. Pat found her pillow for AUS$10. So we were both sorted.

Then back to the motel.

Sunday 8 November

A change of plans took place today owing to Pat coming down with flu and we decided to cancel the two night / three day trip camping trip to Uluru, that we were due to start tomorrow.

Monday 9 November

Rested up

Tuesday 10 November

Rested up and visited a Doctor to help Pat's recovery.

Wednesday 11 November

One day trip to Uluru. We were picked up from the motel at 6 am and drove around Alice Springs picking others up for a while then down Stuart Highway.

Breakfast was provided on the coach.

We had a short stop at Roadhouse Mt. Ebenezer for teas and coffees.

An impromptu stop at Roadhouse Curtain Springs to sort out a tyre problem.

First sight of a large outcrop is actually Mt. Connor and not Uluru, known as fooluru.

A quick pitstop and lunch was handed out, to be eaten as we drove along.

Then into the national park and first on to Kata Tjuta, a short walk and pictures taken.

Next was the visitor centre for 45 minutes.

You can now see Uluru from one side or other of the coach at all times.

A big lump of rock in a flat surrounding area, it really does stand out.

We were given two guided tours around some of the caves at the bottom of the rock and the beliefs of the Aboriginal people.

The BBQ was readied at the viewing parking spot and we ate before sunset at 19.07.

Everybody of course wonders if this is going tobe a good one and it was pretty wonderful.

We drove off straight after for 5 and a half hours and after various drop offs git back to the motel at 1 am. A long but fantastic day.

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Comments

[Paula & Leo]

Hi Both - Hope Pat is fully recovered - thought you'd had the jab? Your Uluru Day sounded fantastic.