In Alice Springs...

Well, first part of the tour is over. I have a few days in Alica Springs by myself before heading up to Darwin via Kakadu NP and Litchfield NP. That should be excellent!

A lot has happened in the past week. The tour started off well. Our first night was in Quorn, which is just on the edge of the Flinder ranges. We spent two days there, and a lot of time climbing. I climbed Dutchman's Stern (that was a tough first walk after a long period of relative inactivity) but was great. It was raining and overcast so I couldn't see the ranges but it was still worth it to stand at the top in gale force winds and feel like I accomplished something. The next day we went to Wilpena Pound. I loved that because the walk was gradual and so green. As I said before, South Australia is the driest state but I sure hadn't seen that. It was lovely. Our Aussie BBQ was great: kangaroo steaks, emu rissoles and camel sausages... so delicious!

But then we got into the driving... early mornings and hours on the road. We drove up to Coober Pedy, one of the places I was very excited about. I knew it would look post-apocalyptic but it wasn't exactly what I thought. The homes are dug into the side of hills so that was cool. But other than that, there was nothing really important. I did get the opportunity to go noodling for opal... and I found some! Well, it was potch which is worthless but I can still say I found opal in Coober Pedy! One night was enough though: the next day we headed up to Uluru.

Now, this was going to be the best part of the tour (in my eyes) and to be honest, I was really disappointed. First stop was Kata Kjuta (the Olgas) which were really cool. It was just a short walk but nice after 8 hours driving. Then we headed over to Uluru for sunset. It wasn't as vibrant as I had thought. But it was still pretty. And I was happy I got to see that. The next day was the crucial one. As I mentioned earlier, I intended to climb Uluru. So we drove out for sunrise, but there were too many clouds so it didn't glow orange/red. That was disappointing... my only chance to see sunrise. Then I found out that the climb was closed due to winds. The one thing I have wanted to do for years (ever since I decided I wanted to go to Australia) and I didn't get to do it. I did do the base walk (just over 9 km) which was alright but not what I had geared up for. And then I was crushed because just as we were leaving the park, I saw people climbing... they had opened it back up. So disappointed.

As we were leaving, the tour guide made a few stops to go witchetty grubbing. I also wanted to eat bush tucker (or witchetty grubs). But with my luck, we didn't find any. That just added to the disappointment of the day. So we drove out to Kings canyon.

Kings canyon was beautiful. More diverse and interesting than Uluru (at least I think). Again, we did a long walk in 35+ weather... really tough work. But the views were worth it. So I was felling a little better about the tour... but just a little. Back in Alice Springs, we went out for dinner as a "group" but quickly separated. One of the things that made this leg of the tour upsetting was the group dynamics. There were no introductions made at the beginning and very quickly, there was a clique formed. So throughout the tour, there were some that were excluded (myself included). Unfortunately, the tour guide was part of the clique which made it difficult for her to act as the person in charge. So our night sleeping in the Outback at Uluru turned into the worst night ever. I have never been with a group that was so self-absorbed and disrespectful to their fellow travellers. Needless to say, I got very little sleep due to their drunken revelry and stupidity.

Man, as I read what I have just typed, I make it sound like I am having an awful time, which isn't the case. I have enjoyed the fact that I am able to see the outback for what it is. It is an unforgiving landscape, yet so beautiful and powerful. The colour of the sand alone is so exciting... I have loved our walks throughout the tour. In total, we have covered 3000 km driving, and I have walked at least 60 km... up mountains!!

I am really looking forward to the next phase of the tour (minus a few of the idiots from tour one).

So, in Alice, I am enjoying a few days of quiet. Sleeping in... washing laundry... shopping. Today, I went to a free lesson on the didgeredoo and managed to get the sound! I was so excited and loved the feeling so much that I bought myself one... yes, I now own a beautiful authentic didge. You can replicate the sound in a PVC tube but the fact that mine was hollowed out by termites... oh, I am so excited! I feel like an Aussie: I have my didge and my boomerang :)

So, everything is well with me. Not everything has gone according to plans but I am happy that I am here and have been able to travel through the never never.

Gone walkabout.

Lisa