Alice Springs, AU Days 1-4

Hey Everyone,

We just got back from our hiking trip and have already traveled to Adelaide in Australia. But first we want to tell you all about the camping trip.

We left Alice Springs at 6:25am on Sunday 6/15. We got onto a big bus with 4 other people and headed out on a 5hr drive to our first campsite. Our drivers name was Jerry (he talked a lot) and we were going with Judith and Joe (an Aussie couple), Tonie ( a student from England studying abroad) and Lylianna (an Aussie loner!). After our long drive we arrived and settled into our campsite. We had some pretty nice tents with a cot like bed. We unloaded the truck with all kinds of food and worked together to prepare lunch except for Lylianna, which will become a common theme through this blog. We had sandwiches and salad. After lunch we got back in the truck and headed out for about 30mins to the Olgas. 36 huge rocks in the Uluru National Park. it was a great site and a fun hike in. Lylianna ran ahead and got away from the group, but we had a fun time walking through.

Then we headed over to the sunset viewing site and got chairs and wine and watched the sunset on Ayers rock (aka Red Rock). Farrell and Dan didnt realize the hype everyone was talking about. It was definitely beautiful but everyone kept saying we would see this great change of color but it really just seemed like a nomral amazing sunset. We enjoyed our wine and the setting and after just got back on the truck and headed to camp for dinner or what the Aussies call Tea, which is really confusing and does not make sense.

We had steak and sausage around the camp fire which Dan was overly excited to put together. The dinner was good and we even had mulled wine. The English girl told us about this mulled wine that she has during the Christmas holiday so we decided to make it. It involved sticking a metal poker into the fire and then into your wine to get it to fizzle. In the cup was honey, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and an orange peel. We both really liked it and will hope to bring it back home to make together and all try.

We got to bed early since Jerry our leader was going to wake us up at 5am to get to Ayers rock for the sunrise. We were so bundled in our sleeping bags and wool blankets since it is winter here and the desert gets pretty cold at night. We got up, started another fire, had coffee and then got in the truck to head out for the sunrise. Farrell and Dan got a chance to ditch the group and took a 3hr walk together around the base of the rock. It was incredible to see the sunrise despite the cold weather. We got some amazing pictures that we hope to show all of you. We both really enjoyed the walk together and getting a chance to talk on our own instead of Jerry talking our ears off about Aussie facts. We both wanted to hike the actual rock but it was closed when we first got there because it was too windy. After our 3 hour walk the rock did open for climbing and a swarm of Japanese people booked it screaming to the start. they all had their little white gloves on and just attacked the mountain flying up. It was a pretty funny site. We couldn't hike it because we had to go back to camp, pack and head out on a 4hr drive to our next camp site.

We now arrived to King's Creek Canyon camp site. The tents were the same but the campsite was a little better. We cooked our dinner in cast iron pots on the ambers of the fire. Farrell even made an apple cake for the entire group in one of the pots, without a recipe. It was damn good too! It was a really cool way to make dinner and we all had a great time eating it too. After dinner our guide Jerry was obsessed to say the least about this Ranger slide show he wanted to get us too. Farrell and Dan both felt like they were back in lecture as this Ranger just went on and on about plants, animals and landscape of King's Canyon. Farrell continues to say it was an hour of her life that she wont get back, she even tried to read Harry Potter during it with a flashlight but it was pretty obvious so she stopped. Dan didn't mind so much but would have been happier at the fire.

The next morning the group headed out again at 5am this time to hike through King's Canyon. It was really a tremendous day. Only Dan, Farrell and Joe got to hike cause Judith and Lylianna decided to stay at the base because of health issues. The hike was really hard for Dan and Farrell but the view was incredible and the pictures came out great. It was a 3.5 hr hike but well worth it.

The two then just got on a coach bus and headed back to Alice Springs (a 7hr drive) while the rest of the group continued on to the next camp site since they were on the 5 day tour and we were on the 3 day tour.

All and all we had a great time camping. It was a great taste of Central Australia and really loved the experience. We can't wait to show all of you the pictures.

We arrived in Adelaide and are staying at the Oaks Pier Plaza. The place is really posh and Farrell is super excited about doing laundry...the washer and dryer are the same unit, in our room..it is pretty cool. We are definitely excited to explore Adelaide and we will get back to you in a few days with some of the details.

Lots of Love,

Farrell and Dan