Road Trip : King's Canyon to Daly Waters

Since we stayed in King’s Canyon a bit longer than we had planned we couldn’t make it to the initial camping ground that we planned we stopped at Finke, about 130km south of Alice Springs. Only Lou made his tent and even he couldn’t get his pegs on the ground. Another problem that we had, there we’re mice all around us and they we’re even crawling into the cabin at one point. One of them even got himself inside a rubbish bin in the front but eventually we got few holes covered where they could come in and at least to my knowledge there wasn’t any inside camper during the night. But Lou’s tent was a different story, apparently he had them crawling everywhere, under and on top of his tent.. On the morning we started early cause we wanted to gain some distance that we weren’t able to do yday so we had our brekkie in Alice. We also did a bit of shopping there and had a small lunch but the whole place was boring as hell and I took only few photos. The city was full of aboriginals just loitering around, until this far we hadn’t really seen them that much.

Once we finally got back on the road we headed for our caravan park in Barrow Creek. That was a really bizarre small place, hotel/petrol station/pub/camping ground in-the-middle-of-nowhere but we really liked this place. All the walls inside we’re covered by different countries notes and people had left all kinds of stuff after them. The owner showed me few greetings from other Finns so obviously I had to leave my mark as well - I choose my old ice hockey shirt.. So, if you ever stop at Barrow Creek and see that black TPS-jersey, that’s mine.. That was also our first pub-night in our trip, and what a place, it made it even more memorable. The following night was the coldest so far but all of us survived, us guys in our tents and Lola in her thin sleeping bag. Heidi has a proper winter sleeping bag so she slept like a baby.

The next day was gonna be tough one again cause we wanted to make it to Daly Waters, just over 600km away. We stopped at various memorial places and other interesting places. We had lunch at a small caravan park on the way but otherwise the day was all about driving but I loved it, I’ve really enjoyed ‘The Track’, a lot more than I ever imagined. I’m really hoping that I could find a job driving road trains from Darwin to Adelaide or anything along ‘The Track’. Before Daly Waters we also stopped at Devil's Marbles, a cluster of rocks rounded by harsh outback weather. Girls we're even lucky enough to spot a dingo in the wild.

Finally we arrived to Daly Waters Pub. I knew about that place from Charley Boorman’s By Any Means -documentary and this was also one of the places I really wanted to stay overnight. And what a good decision that was again, we decided to go for the famous barra&beef dinner while watchin old Chilli’s show, what a good comedian he turned out to be. Since there was a chance that this is gonna be our last pub-night with Lola I decided to dress-up a bit and put my kilt on. And you can imagine that of course Chilli noticed that and made few good jokes about it. To me it was fun that people thought that I’m Scottish but I didn’t really mind. Guess I do have a bit of Scotland in my heart, and why not, since I lived there for 1,5years. To be honest, every now and then I do miss Scotland but yet again, I’m in a beautiful country now as well. After Chilli’s show girls headed back for camper and me&Lou went for game of pool. Reckon that was my 4th or 5th pool game ever and maybe I had a bit of beginners luck but I still beat him. Hah.

Road Trip : Uluru, Kata Tjuta & King's Canyon

On the morning we left Kulgera it was Heidi's turn to drive, up till this far I had done all of the drivin besides Lola drivin the other day last 130km and Heidi & Lou takin a first feel of the car on a day in Mt Gambier. It was always clear that I'm gonna do majority of the drivin and I also wanted to drive pretty much the whole first week to get the feel of the camper and also determine what would be our best speed thinkin of fuel economy. Now I just needed few days off from drivin. We stopped in all of the petrol stations on a way to Yulara to check the petrol prices, we had heard that it's more expensive on the way than actually in the resort in Yulara. Before the last station we saw a first views of a big rock and obviously we started cheering that's Uluru.. ..blah.. ..it was only Mount Conner, apparently lot of the tourists fall in for that same trap..

Heidi and Lou changed at the last petrol station so I could also check Lou's drivin on highways, I've always felt being responsible of the car and also that other guys drive safely etc. I'm pretty sure I spotted Kata Tjuta first at the distance but apparently Lola spotted Uluru a bit on the left about the same time as me so.. ..anyway, that was a good feeling, this was the pinnacle of the trip at least for me. First we drove to Ayers Rock Resort to check the prices of camping - 75dollars per night, we decided to spend the first night 30km east on a rest stop and for the next night come to camping. National Park entry was 25AUD per person, which I think was a bit much but anyway, you gotta pay for it and it was for 3days so maybe not that bad after all. First we drove to Cultural Center at the base of Uluru and did few small walks around the rock waiting for sunset which was actually a bit of disappointment cause the clouds came just 1,5hrs before it and spoiled the view.. ..oh well, then to rest area for a night. We met quite a few other backpackers at the rest area who we're going to Uluru & Kata Tjuta for next mornings sunrise.

The next morning we left when it was still dark cause we wanted to be at the National Park gates by 6am and that way get a good spot at the Kata Tjuta Dune Viewing Area from where we could see sunrise on both, Uluru & Kata Tjuta. Yet again, clouds we're spoiling our views a bit but I still think it was still a beautiful sight. I could just imagine what I would have been there about 60years ago when there we're no tourist and you could have all that just for yourself. After viewing sunrise we headed for the walk in Kata Tjuta, Valley of the Winds walk. I was really stunned by the beauty of Kata Tjuta, to be honest Uluru couldn't come even close to this. At first the weather was a bit chilly but then slowly it came better and better. Girls went fast ahead of me and Lou, we guys just stopped every now and then just takin lots of photos. It took me and Lou about 2hrs45mins to do the walk. After our walk we headed to Ayers Rock Resort for camping. First we had a small BBQ and then rest of the day we just chilled out. We went to take a small look at the sunset and later on we decided to go for a buffet dinner close-by restaurant, we got to taste crocodile, kangaroo, barramundi etc. etc. I guess all of us thought of going to check the sunrise from the camping lookout but eventually all of us we're just too tired.. The next morning we backed our stuff and headed back to Uluru for a small walk. i wasn't feeling that good so I just stayed at camper, reckon I got some kind of food-poisoning cause I was a bit the next day as well.

After the last goodbyes to Uluru we started head towards King's Canyon. We'd have only about 200km to drive since we we're gonna camp on a free spot about 120km from King's Canyon. When we came to camping spot Heidi drove a bit too far and got slightly stuck in the loose sand but I managed to get camper out of there without needing to do any extra work. We we're at Salt Creek fairly early so we had some time to kill, girls we're sunbathing and me & Lou we're throwing footy. Later on that night Lou set up camp fire as well but I was tired and still a bit sick and so I went to bed pretty early. I woke up at some point of night realizing that my airbed has lost air, bloody hell.. The next day we headed towards King's Canyon. If Kata Tjuta was beautiful place, then this.. ..can't put in to words how beautiful it was in there, I really loved the rugged country in there. We took at least 3hrs or even 4hrs to go around tha walk but it was all worth the time. Yet again, girls we're runnin ahead of us and me & Lou just took our time exploring all areas and taking shitloads of photos. If I could really recommend some place in Red Centre, it'll be King's Canyon, maybe we should have stayed there for 2nights after all.. ..but you never know.. And, top of all, Watarrka National Park is free.. Obviously we couldn't get that night as far as we we're planning initially but yet again, where's the rush. After camping, next destination : Alice Springs.

Salt Creek

sunrise at Salt Creek

mornin visitors at the water tank

Road Trip : Summer Hill to Kulgera

Since we had an extra day in Mt Gambier we headed for Princess Margaret Rose Caves but to be honest that was more or less a bit of an disappointment, reckon all of us we're waitin for a bit bigger cave. We also visited vineyard for some wine tasting climbed on top of Mount Gambier, unfortunately the tower at the top was closed.

The next day after Mt Gambier was a bit boring, mainly due to weather, it was raining pretty much for the whole day.. Thanks to Lou's good map-reading skills we took a bit different approach to Adelaide and we're able even to cross a small river with a ferry.

Next night was again another one for me in my tent. I didn't have anything to complain except in the morning when I was woken up by bloody magpies.. Oh well, again time for me to take some photos while other ones we're sleeping. The next day we headed towards Adelaide. Maybe cause it was Sunday the city felt so quiet and even a bit boring but yet again, we had a small walk and a lunch in the city and we we're on the road again. We found a camping spot in the bush. Baroota, about 60km from Port Augusta. Gotta say that place was interesting experience, so far we had been camping more or less in grass areas and now all we had was just bush all around but yet again, it was a nice place. And cheap, only 10dollars for all of us. The next morning, bush showers we're interesting as well, but surprisingly good.

That night was the best sleep for me so far and it was also the warmest. Yet again, I was the first one to wake up, had a nice morning shower and a wee chat with an aussie bloke. The next morning we headed for Port Augusta for the last stock-up before outback. Even the landscape between Adelaide and Port Augusta was starting to be a bit like in-the-middle-of-nowhere but the 'real' difference started after PA. I was thinkin of refuelling in PA but I thought, nah, surely there's some stations before Woomera. Guess, what, no stations.. ..for the last 65km's the fuel light was on and I was really gettin nervous. Lou and Heidi in the back didn't have any idea of what's happening but Lola knew a bit cause she was sittin in the front with me. I'd say for the last 30mins I didn't spoke anythin with her, I was just completely focused on out fuel cauge and it's movements. But, we made it, good girl our car. After refuelling and lunch I said that was enough nerve-crackin for me, Lola your turn to drive for our camping spot. She drove for about another 1,5hrs and we camped in a rest stop honestly in-the-middle-of-nowhere. The sunset was just absolutely amazing. We had decided that next day would be a big drivin day to gain some kilometres so I slept in the van on the lower bunk with girls. I woke Lou up about 6.15 when it was gettin enough sunlight to drive. Like planned, girls we're sleepin until Coober Pedy, for about 2,5hrs and we stopped for breakfast. Heidi had promised to do some eggs and bacon, what a nice breakfast after a nice sunrise drive.

We stayed in Coober Pedy for about 3hrs, refuelled and headed back on the road. To be honest, at least I thought that CP was boring as hell, not really much to see, wouldn't really recommend to anyone. After CP we still had another 400km's to drive for our next planned stop, Kulgera, just across the border. We stopped for a quick lunch at some roadhouse - just can't remember where.. At the last parts of drive I was gettin really bored but yet again, I wanted to test myself. Finally, about 6ish we arrived to Kulgera in Northern Territory and parked up for night. They didn't have any grass spots free so we all slept yet another night in the camper. The next day we would arrive to Uluru.

Road Trip : Melbourne to Summer Hill

Finally, THE Wednesday arrived.. After a short hold-up I finally got the camper and was on my way to pick up other members of the crew. At first I drove to my hostel to get my stuff, then I picked up Lola close-by and then for the city for Heidi & Lou. After awhile, everybody in the camper with their stuff and the road trip could began, this is what I had been waiting for almost three months.. Obviously, first few kilometres we're boring as hell in freeway but when we get to Geelong I started to feel better, soon, soon, The Great Ocean Road would begin. We did spent a bit too much time in Torquay tryin to find some stuff from surf-shop sales, don't look at me, I wasn't the one needin somethin.. Cause of the hold up in depot and time wasted in Torquay we couldn't make as far as I had hoped for, we didn't even get to Apollo Bay. Darkness was fallin upon us pretty fast and some of us we're gettin a bit worried can we find a camping spot for the night. We did drove past one place, by accidently, but finally we found a spot in Wye River. For some reason we didn't see anyone in the office nor did he see us until morning. We we're supposed to pay during arrival but luckily that bloke was easy as aussies usually, 'no worries, mate'. I love these guys, so relaxed.

I decided to sleep our first night in my tent, otherwise it was good but the waves we're keeping me awake, it had been awhile since I had been sleepin in the tent.. Reckon I woke about 1,5hrs before anybody else so I had a good time to take some photos and enjoy the beach which we couldn't see on the previous night. Thanks to Lola's inside information we found this small road up to a hill just past Wye River where we could spot some koalas. That was definetily the highlight of that day besides Twelve Apostles. The weather was really spoiling us, it was clear skies while we drove thru Great Ocean Road and visited Twelve Apostles. What a start for our road trip. Later on we stopped for fuel/lunch and then headed towards Summer Hill. We got there about 5ish, Victorian time, and I had sent Brett a msg about our arrival time forgettin that SA is 30mins behind VIC.. Anyway, we had a nice barbeque that night and we decided to stay there for another night as well so that we could stock up in Mt Gambier the next day and Heidi could see The Royal Wedding from telly.

All of us we're enjoying our extra day & night at Summer Hill. My crew got to shot clay targets as well which they seemed to enjoy. I also got a bit of help feeding the lambs, obviously I was gonna do that since we could stay there for extra night.