Alice, Alice... who the f#@* is Alice (is anyone else old enough to remember that song??)

Today is Tuesday 27th July 2010 and what an exciting day!!!! I am being sarcastic. We had the van serviced (practicalities had to come into it sooner or later, but...damn it, didn’t I leave Melb to escape practicalities???).

For those of you who read the last blog, and who are salivating to hear how the camel ride in Kings Creek Station was... well... I do not have much to say. I was given the last seat on the last camel and I saw virtually nothing. I think that $85 could have been better spent. However, I DID do the rim walk at Kings Canyon and it was OOOOMMMGGG!!!!! It was hairy and scary walking up, and I cursed, swore and uttered blasphemy for much of the initial walk (‘walk’ is too gentle a word, ummm, a better word is ‘mountain climbed’ –ok ok, I am being dramatic, but for those who have done it, come on! It is pretty steep in that first section!!) Anyhoo, having made it up that first section, it was amazing to be at the top of the Canyon (is kind of like a mini Grand Canyon), and they even had a place called the ‘Garden of Eden’ up there, and it was aptly named – it was stunning.

We left Kings Creek and drove to Alice, not too bad a drive. We passed a tree covered with clothes (weird), we passed ½ a car being towed by two camels (weird again) and we got breathalysed by the police when there was 100 km’s of nothing either side of the highway (see how weird that drive was!). Kristy also hit a flock of wild budgies – cruel Kristy cruel!!!! Killer of Little of Birds!!

What can I say of Alice Springs??? I kinda like it, and I kinda don’t (not very committed am I?). I like the weather, although I was chatting to a guy the other day who said it is the coldest/wettest winter they have ever had, and that they have never seen Alice so green. This surprised me, as Kristy and I are walking around in shorts and singlets, thinking “Isn’t it lovely to be somewhere warm!” It will be 27 degrees on Friday, which K and I can’t wait for! Since her sunburn, I am ensuring that Kristy is covered with sunscreen, although I cannot manage the other things that happen to her, for e.g. today a flying ant (yes, it was a flying ant, I saw the body at the end of the debacle), landed on her head, got tangled in her hair and bit her on the head a few times. Imagine all this happening when the pizza we ordered had just been put in front of us and she is shaking and scraping her head, in town, over the pizza, yelling at me to “get it out!”.

I think Alice Springs will grow on me. Kristy is trying to find work here. She would rather work at Yulara (near the Rock), but she needs to get her H Endorsed licence, in order to drive a tourist bus. I also went to the recruiter, however I don’t think that they understand what I do, as they told me that they will look for ‘administration’ work for me. I think I need to find my own work, or maybe come back to Melb for a couple of months to top up my money. I know I can find contract work there.

Since we have been in Alice Springs, we have visited Emily Gap and Jessie Gap (lovely), and also Trephina Gorge. Trephina Gorge was totally beautiful. For those of you that have known me a long time – Trephina Gorge has the same energy as Commonground (one of my most fav places on Earth). Trephina Gorge just soaked into my heart and every step of the 2 hour walk was bliss (yes – even the steep bits!!!!) Oh that reminds me --- I must start using my pedometer --- whenever I think of a pedometer I think of you Robyn T!! Are you still using yours?? How many steps are you doing a day?

Last night we had dinner with Trent and Genevieve. They are now on their way to Darwin. We will miss them! We played cards with them on their last night in Alice – Go Fish, Memory and Old Maid (oh yes...we are quite the intellectuals!) We laughed so hard I was crying (although those tears could have been because of Trent’s burps – OMG they were foul!!!). Gen and Trent call me “Ms Linda” and they call Kristy, “Kristy Boner” (after that movie). We call them Gen and Trent... Although Gen has told us to call Trent ‘QueenTrent’. Trent referred to Gen as “A Cup” through the night, but I don’t think we will call Gen that. Hey guys... good luck on your trip to Darwin, and call when you get there !

We had a Vietnamese meal the other night (with Gen and Trent) and it was some of the best Vietnamese food I have ever had. Kristy had the chicken curry and she is still talking about it – and for Kristy to like something with the word ‘curry’ in it, well, that is amazing.

Today Kristy had to go to the Ladies Room while we were shopping. It cost her 50 cents to use the amenities. She returned and said she got her monies worth. I shudder to think what that means.

Alcohol is different up here. There are all sorts of restrictions, for e.g. any alcohol you buy requires ID. And... cask wine is not available to be purchased until after 6pm. Sigh. I had the choice to either cut down consumption, or buy bottles. Guess which one I chose?!

My friend Helen L is now here in Alice! Helen, who I used to work with at DHS! I love a small world – how is this - I was bringing up 2 boxes of lamps for a guy named Morris (friend of a Micks parents in Yack) and Morris is co-running the singing workshop that Helen is attending at Ross River! How strange that whole 6 degrees of separation is! Anyhoo, we are catching up with Helen for dinner while she is here – how great is that!!??

We are slightly screwed re future accommodation – apparently Alice Springs is holding the Masters Games in August (or Sept or sometime close) and everything is booked out! We have negotiated something vague with the caravan park that we are in, but I am slightly nervous. In Alice, they don’t seem to write anything down, they just give half nods, and phrases like “I’m sure we can work something out”. Well, we still have to move in a few days from the site we are on, so really... so much for the “working things out”.

Hey hey, and Mel and Elle are coming to visit on the 20th Aug for 6 days – YYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! K and I are so excited. Mel is excited. Elle will be excited when she gets here.

By Day 48 of the Fitness Challenge, the pushups are getting slightly tricky, but still we persevere. K tells me that my arms are looking stronger. I want to believe her, so I will. Kristy is definitely looking fitter and she is very brown. She likes to be browner than me.

I keep beating K at cards, and she soooo cracked it the other day, she threw herself out of the tent, into the van and sooked on the bed in there for ages. Sorry Kristy, the cards are just loving me at the moment.

I hope everyone is happy and having fun. We come back to Melbourne on Tues 3rd Aug, and are there until Friday 13th Aug. If you want to catch up, please email me. I will be back again in October. I think of my family and friends often – more often that you would know. I am having a wonderful time, but I miss my buddies. Please don’t hesitate to text or call.