Alice Springs to Uluru: Day 2 (110kms)

The day dawned clear and bright. We know this because we were up at dawn packing up our tents and getting ready to go. We were on the road by 8am. The following photos gives you an idea of the depth and variety of the scenery that we experienced...









with the occasional road train to break up the routine.



Brendan was lucky enough to see a kangaroo at the end of the day. What I mean to say is, he was lucky enough to see an alive kangaroo at the end of the day.



We made it to Erldunda Roadhouse by about 4pm and - after scoffing down ice creams, pies and chips - enjoyed a long hot shower. The Alice Springs Cycling Club were also there, having just finished the first of three days to Kings Canyon. We were so happy to see them! Not just because of their great company and excellent cycling stories, but also because their support crew kept giving us free food. A bag of muffins anyone?

By nightfall we were pretty tired and fell asleep quickly. The next day, we vowed, we would get up even earlier...

Alice Springs to Uluru: Day 1 (95kms)

After deliberately not committing to this ride for many months beforehand, I found myself at 'the gap' in Alice Springs with my bright new touring bike and shiny new panniers. A very excited Brendan was next to me snapping away photos and Zoe joined us to wack a few 'I love variety club' stickers on our pannier bags.



Brendan had to race back home to pick up the forgotton kerosene and by 9am we were on our way. Savouring the feeling of not having to go to work on a Friday we rode our first 10kms into the ride. Only 440km to go!



Highlights were the '5km to the next rest stop' signs...



and the occasional dead car



We arrived at about three thirty at Stuarts Well roadhouse (home of dinky the singing dingo) for a Gatorade, a shower and a camping spot. Next day, we vowed, we would get up earlier.

Invitation

Invitations are out and proud! Now for the RSVPs to come rolling in...

Happy new Year?

24 January, 2008

Making a Vodka Melon.
Step 1:
Take a young, impressionable melon. The more naive the better.
Step 2:
Buy a bottle of vodka.
Step 3:
Get a slim bladed knife, or using the lid from the vodka bottle, pierce the melon making a hole big enough for the bottle to slide into.

Step 4:

Introduce the new couple.
Fill her up slowly and let it soak in. Then chill and consume. Fun.

Have a happy Australia Day.

Curtin Springs Station Review

Just a bitch about a place I stayed at this weekend:

The staff are not the friendliest people on the planet.
Very rude and dismissive of you and if you are as unlucky as we were to have any disagreements with them, they won't try to come halfway on anything. They seem to think they are always right and the customer is wrong. Isn't that some sort of no-no in business.

Try getting an apology out of some of the staff and you'll get a cold stone face and a polite 'f@#k off.'

The budget rooms are run down old shipping containers with an interior that seems to have escaped from a dumpster outside a renovation of the Brady bunch set.

The disagreement we had was totally understandable but the handling of it by the staff, who jumped to conclusions then swore to me in front of my family, was not excusable. Then when the matter was solved it was not left alone with staff trying to get the final word even as I checked out the next morning (I had canceled my further stays). Any worthwhile apologies from management will be non-existent. The boss did say sorry to my mother. That was nice of him.

Just get fuel here and move on although I think the fuel is loaded with ethanol or something because it burns quicker and cost more than at Erldunda.

Move through quickly. The best part about my stay there was driving away from it the next day.

But if you must go and find out for yourself don't expect the staff to check your booking details or have any cross communication when someone new takes over the front desk. Concentrate and check your own records to stop them making mistakes.
They will make the mistakes and it will be your fault for not doing their job.

Ahh. That's better. I feel cathartic.