Sep 2006

Up early again this time for the Alice To Darwin trip. Lots more driving ahead. Went through a place called wycliffe well, which as the most UFO sightings in Australia. The pub/petrol station there is very strange. After the strange pub went to the devils marbles, lumps of round sandstone made by errosion of something bigger (australians do like there rocks). Then more driving. Drove to a cattle station called Banka Banka for the first night. Somebody found a brown snake in their tent, they didn't sleep very well that night. I checked my sleeping bag very carefully.
Next morning ont he road again. Drove to somekind of mound, walked up it, got scratched by a lot spinifex grass and came down it again. Stopped at the Daly Walters pub. A fairly strange pub in the middle of the outback. Went to see the tree that Hon McDouall Stuart carved his initial on on his succesfull journey from Adelaide to Darwin and back again (it took thre attempts). Then went to Matteranka hot springs and swam in some nice warm water. Stayed outside Katherine for the night.
Went canoing on Kathernine gorge in the mormning, which was fun dragging the canoe over klots of rocks to get into different sections of the gorge, lots more swimming. From kathering headed up past adelaide river, where we saw one of the stars of Crocodile Dundee (charlie the water buffalo, stuffed I might add). Arrived in the Darwin in the evening.

Left Alice Springs around miday for my 3.5 day uluru trip. The first day was mostly driving to Kings Canyon, where we spent the first night. Spent the first night entertaining ourselves by watching the stars and jumping out of bushes at people walking around in the dark. Slept in swags under the stars.

Next morning we left early to go to Kings Canyon. Went on a fairly long walk, the first bit was up a very steep hill (also known as heart attack hill). Walked across the top of the canyon looking down into the River. We walked down in the Garden of Eden, A little oasis in the dessert, lots of green plants, ferns, a river, and a little pool with two ducks called adam and eve. Managed to get down there before lots of school groups did. After the walk we were going to see the singing Dingo, A dingo which can apparently howl in tune with a piano. But Bryan forgot to take us there, nevermind. Headed off to Yalara (the resort near Uluru) in the afternoon, stopping to have lunch, bua n inland lake which had dried up so it was a big lake of salt. Arrived at Yalara in the afternoon and headed off to go and watch sunset over Uluru at the official sunset point. There was lots people there so it was a bit crowded but you did get to see how the colours of ulur change as the sunsets. Uluru in the rain is supposed to be special cos it looks grey instead of red. Another night under the stars in our swags.

Another early morning, watching the sunrise over uluru and the olgas. The olgas look like Homer Simpson from a distance if you get the angle right. Did the Valley of the Winds walk in the Olgas. There are some amazing views through the valleys there. After lunch went back to uluru to do the Mala walk, which was a guided walk explaining the significance of Uluro to the aborgines. Got to see Uluru close up for the first time, rather than being one lump of rock, errosion has eaten lots of holes and crevices into it. Around the base of the rock there are lots of places you are not allowed to take photographs for cultural reasons. Visited the visitors centre as well. Watch another sunset over uluru at the campsite. My camera started to show signs that it wasn't very well at the this point. Spent the evening singing round the camp fire, considering there was only 8 of us we made quite a lot of noise. The German guy, who was as white as a Ghost gum tree was a very good singer.

Got up early agaan to watch sunrise over uluru at the official sunrise point. Madness had well and truely set in by this point and we were pretending to be Koala bears up lamposts. Did the Basewalk around Uluru in the morning. Camera sickness was getting worse it started coughing up red dirt. Drove back to Alice Springs in the afternoon, which took 6 hours, yeah more driving.

Left Cairns early for a 3 day trip to Alice Springs. Drove out past the Atherton tabelands, but didn't stop there. Then stopped at a waterfall somewhere but can't remeber the name of it (i'm writing this a month after I did the trip). From there carried on tot he Oasis Roadhouse, which had the smallest bar in Australia. Then carried out driving. Went for a short walk in a place called Porcupine Gorge. Stayed overnight in a town calle Hughenden (which if you are interested is named after Hughenden in Bucks, and is also probably bigger than Hughenden at home). Didn't see that much of Hughenden as arrived at night and left early in the morning.
The next day left early in them morning and drove to winton, Winton is famous for a few things, the first being the premier of walzing maltida at the Northern Gregory hotel by Banjo Patterson. The hotel is still there but it is not the original one Banjo performed in. Winton is aslo the place where Qantas had there first board meeting. After Winton carried on driving, visited a sheep sataion, though not many sheep on it at the moment because of the drought. Walked down another short gorge called Python Gorge and looked at some aboriginal art work. Had a quick barbeque at the top and then continued driving. Drove through a small town called midleton. Normally it has a population of 6 people (there was only 1 when we were there, the rest had gone shopping in the nearest town four hours away), Middleton consists of 1 pub, 1 phone box, a footy statium, a shed (sorry Hilton Hotel) and a golf course. After stopping in Middelton carried ou driving. Went through a place calle Boulia, where we picked up some unhappy Australians that had just dropped out of the Brisban to Alice Srpings Postie Bike Challenge. This involes driving a small motobike across the country and across a lot of dirt roads which are very bumpy. Stayed a cattle station for the night. Again only one person there, a couple of dogs, a beer drinking kangeroo, some pigs and of course cows.
The next morning left early for the last leg of the journey. More roads of nothing. Drove across the Nothern Terrioty border and the clocks went back half an hour. Stopped at Tobemory Cattle station vriefly. Waved at lots of crazy people being bounced all over the road on motobikes. Drove, Drove, Drove and drove some more and saw no buldings, no people, just the outback and cows. Arrived in Alice Springs the evening. Civilisation at last!!!

Went out to the great barrier reef on a day trip, it was good and I found Nemo. Took lots of pictures with an underwater camera, haven't got them developed yet, so no idea if they are any good or not. Went for half an hour scuba dive as well.

Well I'll finally escaped the tomato farm, woooo

After Bowen I headed up to Townsville and went to Magnetic Island. Went horse riding (again, I can nearly remember how now). It was good was in an intermediate group so spent most of the time trotting and cantering. Rode bare back into the sea and went swimming with the horses. My horse decided to go for a roll so had to leap off very quickly. At least it was into water though.

After magnetic island went to mission beach for a night. Didn't see any of Mission beach as I flaked out when I got there.

I'm now in Cairns. Just been to Cape Tribulation for two days. Went for a walk this morning. Off to the Great Barrier Reef tommorow

Head down to Alice on Tuesday on a three day road trip.

Gotta to go now