Alice Springs Day 1

Photos

This was originally a GSR itinerary day off here in Alice Springs. I had a plan though. Clay didn't like it. Since we first saw an optional camel ride on our GSR itinerary I have wanted to do it and Clay has said he won't. He wouldn't ride the elephant in Bali bareback either and I am so glad I did it. I didn't want to miss this. When we saw the $9 camel rides in a paddock, I didn't want to do that either. I knew there were hour long rides in Alice Springs so when we were here before I found out the name and found the website for Pyndan Camel Tracks and I told Clay I was going on our day off. He looked at the website and agreed to go. We booked it the first or second day we were in Sails in the Desert. It was definitely finalized after we had checked out because I went online waiting in the lobby so I could print our tickets when I found another email letting us know they couldn't take us at 2pm. We agreed to be moved to the sunset ride just before we lost Internet until last night when we returned to Alice Springs. That meant we still had all day free here. So, we tried to sleep in. This room must be a little differently configured that the Block 2 room we had earlier. The AC blows right on my bed and I can't sleep that cold. Tonight we'll switch or I'll sleep on my side of Clay's bed to get away from the vent flow. We went to breakfast around 8:30. We started a final load of laundry at $6 to wash & dry about then. It was finished about 9:30am. We scheduled a free transfer from Lasseters to town at 10am with a return at 2pm. That was just about too long. We were trying to leave things to do on Monday after checkout and before reboarding The Ghan. Also, it was a cloudless day about 90F. So although it was a dry heat with a nice breeze all day, it was hot in the sun. There was a lot of sun, but then we have to have something to complain about. We ate meat pies for lunch at Wicked Kneads. The pies were good but we didn't like the caramel slice. It tasted like it had coconut in the crust. We bought a lot of groceries so we wouldn't have to eat in the restaurant here again for dinner.
Clay got a sandwich for tonight, a ramen for tomorrow night, a couple of Coke Zeros and a couple of beers and some candy and Oreos. I got 2 ramens, and 2 yogurts. We do have the use of a small fridge. Lasseters also has a self service ice machine in the laundry room and an ice bucket in every closet.

We had a 4:30pm pickup scheduled with Pyndan Camel. They were late because an early pickup couple was a no show and the driver/guide waited for them. Then when she came to get us she found the road closed for a 1 mile charity run. We thought that since the run started at 3pm that it would be over before 4pm. No, they had a small carnival set up beside the casino and in front of the convention center. So, our late arrival held up the other 6 people but as it delayed us it also allowed us to really see the sunset. It was a good one, with camels. It was scary when the camel first stood up but then I was fine. I was in front of the hump of our dromedary and Clay was behind the hump. I don't know if his ride was rougher back there or it was a height thing but he was holding on tight the whole time. Also one of his stirrups was twisted for half the ride. He said the end of the ride was better and he could let go sometimes. It was a great afternoon for it. There was a cool breeze and the sun was not blazing on us anymore. Our camel was Saleh. Clay admitted later that it was more fun than he'd expected and was glad he went. Now though he is literally saddle-sore. He said he felt something hard on his butt as we rode and thought it was the saddle. When we were walking back to the room, he said no it was a hard candy in his back pocket. He says he thinks he is about over his 2nd cold of the trip, but he is still sucking a lot of candies for the coughing. No, it wasn't a candy, it was a balled up Kleenex. He actually drew blood from where he rode the camel on that lump of Kleenex. It's always something. I think this catches us up. Tomorrow we have another early morning and a long hard day. I don't know if I'll be able to pack for the Ghan and get notes typed up and posted tomorrow night. So, I may get behind again. Keep in mind that Monday we board The Ghan so no Internet again until Tuesday night. Our tour tomorrow is again with AAT Kings and is Palm Valley Safari by 4WD (A5).

If I don't post for a couple of days, don't worry. Either we're too busy or no Internet or both.

Photos