We last left you quaffing Shiraz in the wineries of the Hunter Valley. Since then we have had a whirlwind tour of Sydney to do the sights with Mum then it was off to the Alice Springs for our bush trip. On arrival at the airport we picked up Penny, Mum’s fellow travel companion who joined Mum, Ben, Kimmy (Ben’s sister who lives in Alice) and I for our 10 day adventure. Below is a selection of some highlights…..
Fri: We kicked off in style with a Champagne sunset. Just a few k’s out of the town centre and along an off road track, the sort most would not even attempt!! Undeterred Kimmy kicked “Big Red” her trusty steed, a Toyota land Cruiser into 4x4 mode to maneuver us to our sunrise spot. This was to be our first taste of what the Red Centre had to offer………and wow, vast, arid, stunning, natural beauty, a wilderness are just a handful of words which can be used to describe our uninterrupted view.
Sun: The highlight of our trip in Alice was to be our 5 nights out bush, camping. It was an early morning wake up call, no lycra, yeah!! Instead, get Big Red packed for our trip, we have all packed a car numerous times for trips so no more details really need to be given except I bet you have not done this after checking the dip stick?!? Put the dinner on so it will be ready after our 500k journey to Uluru, Ayers Rock. Back to dinner, one of Kimmy’s tricks is to cook a chook under the bonnet, I thought things like this only happened on Top Gear, move over Clarkson!!!
Mon: We were treated to another of Alice’s natural beauties the Olgas, Katja Tjuta. We got up close and personal by marveling over these beauties with a 4 hour walk. Aside from the Olga’s, something else caught our eye, a random camel with a terrible over bite wondered by and a man doing the same walk as us which involves scrambling over rocks on occasions and negotiating the up’s and downs wearing flip flops or thongs as referred to over here! Oh and he had his must have nestled under his arm like a Louis Vuitton clutch, his red I pad!! A trip out here is not complete without witnessing a sun set and chilly sun rise over The Rock.
Tues: We were back in Big Red on route to Kings Canyon where we had been promised a secret camp spot by Kimmy. It was so secret it kept us all guessing for a while including Kimmy. In her defense it was dark and she last visited the spot 4 years ago. A sign, a grid, a fence line, a track then a clearing in the bush for our swags is what we were looking out for. For those not offay with a swag, it’s something you sleep in. No tents you just jump in your sleeping bag and then in your swag. It has a waterproof outer which will keep you dry in a shower and comes with a mini mattress for comfort. Sleeping in our swags was a real highlight, laying in your warm cozy bed, with the snap crackle and pop of the fire to keep you toasty, gazing at the stars was just magic and the stuff dreams are made of. Oh and just for your comfort…..…yes we found our secret camp spot. This was home for the next 2 nights.
Weds: Happy birthday to you etc etc etc happy birthday to Ben etc etc etc. The 20th June was Ben’s 32nd and our 2 year anniversary. Who would have believed it, 2 years ago Ben asked me to do his wetsuit up at a race and the rest they say is history! His special day was celebrated with another stunning walk around Kings Canyon. Guess who we saw, the flip flop / thong man still in his preferred choice of footwear but guess what, this time another member of the party donned the same choice!!! I will let the pics do the talking. For those that know my mum, Jenny B as she is known did not disappoint, she did not quite make it out to the UK with her famous cupcakes, instead, she came armed with gifts, balloons, a banner and candles. The boy did not go without a cake, cue his sister who whipped a very naught but nice dark choc and date cake. Champers and nibbles then wine and a slow cooked lamb stew were on the menu. I think we will all agree a day and a b’day / anniversary to remember.
Thurs: Back on the road or should I say dirt track! Our destination was Glen Helen which meant we had to take on the red dirt and dust of the Mereenie Loop in order to reach the sandy banks of the Finke, where we would be setting up camp for our last night out bush. Collecting wood was a daily ritual for our fire, it seemed as the week progressed we were getting more and more game. It looked like Jenny and Penny were returning from their wood scavenging with a whole tree!
Our last supper was a feast to remember, Roo (kangaroo) was on the menu. Kimmy was in charge of the meat, I buried the sweet pots and corn in the coals, whilst Ben whipped up the onions, mushrooms and aubergine. Jenny and Penny like most nights kept our glasses topped up!!
Fri: The West Mac Donald range led us home back to Alice Spring, to ensure we could keep enjoying the wonders of the landscape to the bitter end, we detoured via Orminston Gorge and Ellery Creek big hole.
Sat: The Beany Festival had come to town!! Everywhere should have one of these they are so much fun. Over 5,000 Beanies from all corners of the country had descended on Alice for the annual event. It really is quite extraordinary what some creative people can do with wool and it’s also quite random what some people put on their heads to keep warm!!! Never shy for a bit of retail therapy I hit the stalls! 3 beanies came home with me, Ben found 2 to keep him cozy. We mixed with the locals (many with their new head adornment) for dinner at the local, Penny very kindly treated us to our 2nd last supper at Monte’s.
Sun: Our penultimate day, coffee’s, the markets, back to Monte’s for lunch, visit to the Royal Flying Dr’s museum, meeting some of Kimmy’s ladies, soaking up the sun and atmosphere of Alice was all part of the order of the day.
Mon: Back to the chaos in Sydney!! It is hard to sum up the beauty of the outback. It bears no resemblance to anywhere I have ever visited or may never visit again. Maybe the best way I can sum up this place is to say make sure a visit in on your “bucket list”!
Tues: Last day in Australia for Jenny and Penny, Wed cue the Kleenex for a goodbye.
I hope you have all noticed this entry of the blog has one major omission, the use of lycra has been absent. For those who thought it would not be possible, it is and it was. We had a month off, we have done nothing since the ironman.
Operation Kona as I have called it started on Monday 2nd July, I feel like a 20 a day chain smoker. My bottom muscles even ache as I sit on the comfort of our bed typing. Goodness knows what is going to ache tomorrow as we have hit 2 hard sessions already today. Run squad which kicked off at 6am, cue the alarm 5am and yes for those wondering it is still dark! Then a swim, Ben called the session a mixed bag, I would call it hard!!! Bring on the pain train, “toot toot”!!
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