Wednesday

Wednesday - Adelaide to Alice I was up first at 5.58 and read the clock wrong as I thought it said 6.58 and. My alarm was set for 7 .00 Just as well I checked and enjoyed another hour in bed. We went down for breakfast, tea and toast and then back to close the cases. We were in reception by 8.20 waiting for our taxi which didn't arrive till 8.45! Our flight was 10.00 and we were starting to panic as the traffic was heavy. We arrived at the airport at 9.00 and rushed in, checked our bags and they were telling us to go to the gate. We both hate being late and rushing so it was all a bit hectic but we made it. The flight was good and I watched Downton Abbey but had to get off the plane with three minutes still to watch! I will finish it on the way to Darwin. My headphone socket wasn't working but fortunately there were empty seats on the flight and Jon moved across the aisle and I moved into his seat which gave the rather large man I had been next to a bit more room and he wasn't squashing me! Coming into Alice Springs I was surprised as I thought it would be flat and bare but it was quite hilly and lots of trees! We collected our car and set off to Ayres Rock or Uluru as they like you to call it now. The drive took four and a quarter hours on a long, boring road and we didn't see any wildlife - where have all the Roos gone? We stopped for a sandwich at an outback gas station, quite an experience ! We also stopped at Curtin Springs where a real Yorkshire lass served our gas! Our first glimpse of Uluru was through the trees and it is really big. You think you are nearly there as you drive along by it although it is still a fair way off. Our hotel was a disappointment as we had no view but then looking at all the other hotels they are the same as the hotels are all built in dips so that you get uninterrupted views, more or less and there are located viewing platforms around the reort. We can share the facilities from every hotel and we have a shuttle running 24/7 We had a look from the viewing platform and took some photos before going to the bar. We had a beer in this big open bar which has a take away and a BBQ. You buy your meat then cook it and help yourself to the salad bar, a really great idea. Jon had a buffalo burger and I had a steak and we shared a kangaroo skewer all really good. It was a great atmosphere there with everyone chatting at the BBQ, drinking a beer and generally having fun and swapping stories, really social. You just sit at one of the big tables and join in. As it was open sided they have lots of big gas heaters so it is really warm. We were not dis appointed anymore! Dessert was a peach and apple crumble with custard, really good. We had a really good time and I helped some French tourists to choose their dinner as they did not understand the cuts of meat. One lady thanked me later and said she had really enjoyed her dinner and was glad of my help as some of the others in her group had not enjoyed their steak. Back to our room where we needed the heating on as it was very cold and it was only 8.00 never mind the sunrise is 7.28 in the morning so we have an early start.