Start of the Outback Tour

April 21
We had an early start and got picked up at 6.15am. The guide taking us - Horty - said we would learn the true ma\eaning of early and distance over the next 6 days (boy was he right!) There are 12 in our group - 2 Belgians, 3 Chinese (Hong Kong), 2 Koreans, 1 Swiss and 4 English (one of whih is also a physio!)
Our first stop was to Clare Valley a loo stop and also a chance to go shopping - mainly for new underwear!!
We headed a few more km down the road to Melrose, just by Mount Remarkable (named as it was meant to be remarkable). Here we were meant to have a wine tasting, but there were too many people in town for a yute convention so we just used it as another loo stop.
Quorn, and the start of the Flinders ranges was our lunch stop. We had a Barbie (of course!)
Back onto the bus and to an Aboriginal site called Yourambulla Caves. We walked up a big hill, stopping occasionally to spot the odd Kangaroo in the shade. At the top of the hill were old aboriginal drawings in a cave. Was hot up there, so at our next stop for re-fueling, we also stopped off for our fuel (alcohol!)
Horty made us dance to an Aussie song "home among the gum trees", wouldn't stop playing it until we were all doing the actions (of which you can see the video on picasa, soon)

The Long Road

Parachilna was our last stop of the day, and where we are staying. We arrived just in time for the sunset. This was also the beginning of the pesky flies. We had a drink in the bar there, then had a Barbie for dinner - we had Kangaroo steak, Camel sausaged and Emu burgers - Delicious! Our group had to do the washing up which was a bit rubbish but soon got it done as the pub was calling. Went to bed in the 6 dorm bunk beds.

April 22
Up at 6am, for breakfast at 6.30am. When James got on the bus I knew he hadn't checked his clothes for insects as there was a hairy catepillar coming out from his collar!
Our bus went down a 30km dirt track towards Blinman for a quick loo stop. We went to a lookout point and saw Wilpena Pound Mountains - where we were heading next. We climbed (yes it was a climb not a walk!!) up Mount Ohlssen Bagge (3.2 km) up and down. At the top we had a few minutes to admire the views (for me, Trace to nip to the ladies!) and get our legs back into order for the trip back down.
An hour and half later we reached the bottom for lunch with a well deserved BBQ burger and salad.
Back onthe bus for another couple of hours to Rawnsley Park (where we are staying) We helped with the food prep for dinner. We walked to the site shop and got an ice pop! James walked up a hill to take a look at the sunset but wasn't much good so came back down again.
Dinner was curry and rice. We played cards then sat around the campfire looking at the stars.

written by

James & Tracey on April 21, 2007 from Parachilna, Australia

from the travel blog: James & Tracey World Tour

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