Just arrived in Darwin in wet season and it's...............hot and dry. That makes sense!
Had an interesting drive up here with Ben, the Kiwi guy. It was so unbelievably hot and the aircon in the car didn't work so I was asleep most of the time.
Camped in the middle of nowhere the first evening. Wandered the landscape scouring for firewood; not that we needed it due to the heat but it's just one of those 'added effects' needed whilst camping.
Had a few beers and chatted rubbish for a while. Oh, I haven't given up on the quality Coolabah, just had a break so don't worry - I'm not going to turn into a lager swilling lout.
Another car appeared with a man and his dog and Ben freaked out a bit saying you can't trust anyone after he left. So I freaked out and saying that he is 'anyone'. It was OK though! Decided to camp without a tent but, I was the one without a swag so the nasty little electric blue arsed ants had a right ball nibbling at my eyelids. Had to move onto the dirt road where it was safer.
Made it to Coober Pedy (Opal Capital of the world) the next day and was a bit surprised to see that there was actually a town above ground. I was on the understanding that everything was underground. Did a bit of fossicking for opals. Found a few minute pieces in the stones but nothing much.
Headed north passing the SA/NT border in the late afternoon and experiencing the whole time travel thing again, thus gaining 1 hour. NT doesn't do daylight saving. Camped at the turn off to Uluru-Kata Tjuta so unfortunately missed sunset there.
Made it there before midday next day after 250 Kms, and had to pay $25 to get into the National Park there. Uluru looked pretty good from a distance and was the big rock everyone talks about. Not the biggest rock in the world though, that would be Mount Augustus in Western Australia. Anyway, it was closed for climbing as it was over 36 degrees C but I wouldn't have done it anyway as it is sacred to the local Anangu people. Drove around it and headed to Kata Tjuta. These are 36 'domes' rising above the ground. Walked partially through 2 of them and they are pretty impressive. The higher ones are taller than Uluru but are made up of trillions upon billions etc etc of fused together rocks which is uncanny.
Went to Kings Canyon which was OK. Seen better in WA. Overall I felt the whole Uluru thing is majorly overated and and would not go back there again.
Got to Alice yesterday and then to Tennant Creek. Booked into hostel there but just as I was unpacking, 2 guys turned up saying they were to going to Darwin then so I got my money back and went with them in their relocation camper. Good job as it was over 35 degs last night so we put on aircon in van at powered site and watched Apprentice final. Made me sick watching that; I was horrified with the whole approach.
Anyway, got to Darwin this arvo and Doug, the owner of Harriets was waiting for me. Booked in for $80 a week and it's only Tony, and 2 strange Ozzie guys there. And it's bloody hot and humid. Doug says he thinks the wet has finished and that's the only reason I came here. Aaaaahhhhhh, I could have stayed in Adelaide where I met some really cool people there. It's busy here in Darwin too! All pubs are packed. May have to have some wine and go out and try and meet people as it's not going to happen in the hostel.
Place is closing now. Very green here though.
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