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So next part of the journey, from when I last wrote, we had a nice couple of days chilling out at the hostel, both exhausted ! We had a new roommate so 4 of us went to the supermarket to get food for lunch for the two days ! was quite straight forward, thought it might be more stressful but we all seemed to agree on it and it was yummy. We caught up online with all our photos and then hit the shops. We spent ages on the main street, the shops were full of gorgeous souvenirs, hard not to spend too much money ! So then headed back and caught up online and called Mum J Then we headed out for dinner, and it was only about 830 but everywhere had stopped serving food, so we went to a take away pizza place and had a couple of slices! Then to the only bar - Bojangles, where Amy my cousin requested a song J Thanks Amy !
Met a few guys from our hostel we had met before so spent the evening with them.
Next morning we had a massive lie in until about 10 which was amazing !!! Then did washing and another visit to the supermarket for dinner (cheap soup!!) Had lunch with the girls again and then an early night for our tour the next day. Oh and the night before Lou had found a mobile out in the rain so was going to hand it in, but reception was closed, so we kept it until the morning….turned out it was our tour guides !!! So he bought us a glass of wine on one of our nights out !! J
So the next day we were picked up at 5:10am !! and drove a few hours to Kings Canyon, where, A Mairi, you would be proud !! We hiked…a lot ! And luckily it was quite cloudy as there was no shade at all L So for about 3 hours we walked and got to know the people on our tour, a couple of the ladies we knew already and there was a few French girls that wandered off and ruined it for us, so we didn't really bond with them. Really nice guy called Rob from Holland though, we've been hanging out with him mainly. On the next part of the journey we past a salt lake and saw Ayres Rock in the distance, was amazing at night. We arrived late at the campsite, so just had some quick burgers on the Barbie and settled for the night, Lou and I decided on the tent for the night, as we had electricity and a fan - a bit of a luxury !!
Next day was a 4am rise…for the sunrise, so we threw some clothes on and got on the bus, all half asleep ! you'll see from my pics I'm not looking so rosy ! But it was worth it! We were running a bit late though and missed the best bit really but saw it from the bus, well the best bit in my opinion. The rock was like a shadow, was absolutely incredible, really moving. Then we walked to the view point to see the sun come up J
THEN we had to walk around it !!! It took 2 hours and was only 8am in the morning or something but we were in agony, and grumpy !! Once you have seen it, its pretty much the same all the way round. It is incredible, but we were just so tired. Then back to the campsite for a bbq lunch J We headed back out at 3 to a culture centre where there they had more information and art. (and ice cream!) Its weird, as we booked a 14 day tour, but are on our 3rd guide now, so a lot of the stuff is repeated which is a shame, we had no idea it was split like this, and don't get me started on this tour guide !! He has got right under mine and Lous skin !! He is quite old and has NO enthusiasm for it at all…his voice is boring….so as you can imagine…he's just in the wrong job !! Compared to our other two, we are really disappointed L He nice enough, just slow and boring……
So anyway then off to sunset, with nibbles and bubbly which was really nice !
And tonight we even decided to sleep in the swag !! So for those of you who don't know, its basically an outdoor sleeping bag, with a little mattress in, and then you get in your sleeping bag !! Was a bit spooked at 1st (and didn't know there were stray dingos til the day after !!! ) but when I finally got compfy, falling asleep looking up at the stars was quite an experience !! J Amazing ! And we all had a good sleep too J
Next day was another 5am rise….(I don't know how we are doing it) and a loooong drive to cooper pedy (if you get a chance look this place up) its crazy…it's the Opal Capital of the world, but people live underground ! They have dug their houses out of rocks!! So our bunkhouse for the night was underground !! You'll see in the pics, bit like a hospital room with curtains, but the temperature was perfect, that's why they do it as its then perfect all year round and no need for aircon !! So then we went to a pizza place called Johns for dinner. He told us the day before this was his place, and the whole time we believed him - until he put us straight the next day - totally fooled me, so I'm even less happy with him now ! haha ! AHhh and THEN we went to this place called Jospehines Gallery and saw baby Roos !! Was amazing, we got to hold them !! Little Coober & Fred! The couple that run it take in orphans, its amazing, and look after then until they can be released. Sometimes if a mum gets knocked over, whoever finds it, if they check the pouch, the baby is sometime still alive, so they take them there ! Was such a nice experience. Then we went to an underground bar ! Had a couple of drinks and played pool, girls against boys - and me and Lou won ! Woo ! So then back to our bunker for the night…its weird, in the swag felt a bit like a tramp (kind of) and then now felt a bit like I was in the army, or an air raid shelter !! Anyway slept well, apart from having to have the sheet over my mouth because I saw a beetle !!
Next morning we had a lie in until 6:45am !! We did a little bus tour of the town and then headed to an Opal mine for a tour. There was a video showing us all about it, then a tour around an old mine. Was really cool ! Then of course a shop, where we had to treat ourselves to a little souvenir ! We both got lovely rings and Lou got some earrings too. Then more and more driving, we have worked out we would have traveled about 2000 miles by the time we reach Adelaide, maybe even more, need to work it out ! We stopped at another salt lake, but this one was amazing, its was like a beach but with salt…almost like snow, incredible, got some lovely photos. Had a free exfoliation too on our legs as our flip flops, threw it all up our legs !! Then arrived later at our hostel for the night, there was another group there and they were cooking which was great, had a nice curry. We all then just wanted to chill out so we sat in the lounge area and watched Crocodile Dundee !!
Next morning up about 6:30am, off on another hike around the Flinders Ranges, a massive mountain range.This was a really lovely walk through the woods, so it was nice and shaded, we were all exhausted again though !! Then a couple of stops on the way back to try and spot wallabies, then back to the hostel for….you guessed it…a barbie J (not as good as yours dad !! ;)
Next day we set off about 7am and another hike to the summit of Dutchmans Stern for views of the area we are staying and the ranges, its was amazing, a real good work out !! Although when we got to the top about hour and a half later, the heavens opened !! It poured down !! Was great though, loved it !
We have had a night in Adelaide and a nice relaxed day in the city, had lunch in a nice café and met up with some people from our last tour by the beach, was fab !! Loved it, went to a nice bar for a few drinks then for some food.
Tomo is our 3 day tour on the great ocean road, then arrive in Melbourne. Then 3 nights in Melbourne where hoping to meet up with Alana from school, and Andrew who I met in Thailand :O) Then…we fly to Sydney - to get in to our hostel for Christmas Eve !!!
Also have a few people to meet up with on my birthday which is fab !!
Hope you are all enjoying the Christmas festivities & done all your shopping x !! Speak soon
Lots of love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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