Outback
We’ve had three days, so far, in the Outback. This part of our adventure began on Friday with a flight from Melbourne to Alice Springs.
Near Alice Springs we visited various locations like the Telegraph Station and the School of the Air. That evening we enjoyed dinner outside at the pub next to the Crown Plaza casino with some of our travel group companions.
School of the Air provides education via zoom and tutors to students in remote parts of Australia who cannot access a physical school nearby.
Our group of 18 is traveling on this bus.
Saturday morning we loaded onto a bus for a visit to Alice Spring’s war memorial which overlooks the town and Simpson’s Gap where we spotted rock wallabies.
Simpson's Gap
Along the way we stopped at the Stuart Well truckstop for lunch. Just before arriving at the truckstop we saw our first feral camels. In a fenced area at the truck stop they had emu and an impressively large flock of cockatoo. They also had a python, large collection of Smurfs, and a caged cockatoo that seemed kind of nuts. Another patron had a friendly three legged dog.
Quite a lot of cockatoos
After lunch, we continued on to the camp, arriving late afternoon. Our spirits were pretty high, despite the fact that it was sprinkling. A fire was started, music was playing, some popped open beers or unscrewed a bottle of wine. A rainbow appeared to stretch across the whole sky.
One silver lining on the rain.
Our hardworking Outback-woman guide, Shearna, doing typical Shearna things.
After a delicious steak dinner we sat around the campfire for a little bit and soon we were turning in for “bed”. They had set up for us some boxes. For us to sleep on inside swags if we wanted to try a night under the stars. I settled into my kit and enjoyed a strong breeze and a few stars before zipping up and resting my head on my pillow. An hour later I was awoken by rain, not entirely unanticipated. While tucked into my swag, I determined to leave and go to my tent as soon as it stopped. Robert was the only one of us to stay outside on the box all night, through multiple rain showers.
Al refers to this place where we camped as the 4077. Any ideas why?
Not entirely unlike West Texas.
Also not entirely unlike West Texas.
Before the sun, we arose to a morning breakfast not up to the standards we’ve enjoyed so far. Toast, grilled croissants, and instant coffee. By 7 am we were loaded onto the bus and ready for a hike at Kings Canyon. The rain continued.
We had a choice of two hikes and selected the southern ridge return hike. It was cold, windy, and rainy and also a great time.
Now we are tucked into our hotel at the Ayers Rock Resort in Yulara. Tomorrow we plan to watch the sun rise at Uluru.