Feb 8

Today was a long day in the bus with a couple of stops at small towns on the way. We stopped for lunch of wraps in a park in a cute little German town and admired the dry scenery along the Murray River. Adelaide was a treat as we got to stay in a REAL hotel where Sue and I were the only ones in the room with no bunk beds and our own bathroom!! Woohoo!

After checking in and dropping off bags, we headed on a mission to find a sleeping bag liner for me. After 4 stores I found a silk liner ON SALE. It’s my lucky day 🙂 Our mission for free wifi was a failure as it didn’t work in either McDonald’s or Hungry Jacks so we opted for a cafe and paid the $3 for an hour so got lots of stuff done.

Back at the hotel for the group meeting, we opted out of the dinner together as neither of us was in the mood for a big meal after 8 pm. We just found a KFC snack back and went back to enjoy the luxury of our own room and a chance to spread out and organize our bags 🙂

I’m learning Aussie speak:

G’day mate. How you going? Crackin day! No worries instead of you’re welcome

Doona is a comforter. We’re in Stry-ya (Australia) Matilda is a swag (Waltzing Matilda is not the national anthem) Dunny is the toilet. The cooler (where food is kept) is an eskie. A swag is a canvas bag like thing with a pad on the bottom and two zippers on top. You put a liner in it, zip yourself in and, as they say “Bob’s yur uncle and Fanny’s yur Aunt”. Bathrooms say “Did ya wash ur hands mate?”

Feb 9

Sunday morning and we’re on the bus again by 7 am. Our first stop was in wine valley and the Seven Hills winery where first we had a picnic breakfast before the wine tasting. Seven Hills is owned by the Jesuits and all the proceeds go to charity. Their biggest income is from sacramental wine but they’ve got lots of others. My favourite was a 2009 Aloysius Reisling

After stopping for groceries and a repeat of the water lecture (ALWAYS carry sufficient water in the outback) we drove a bit then stopped for our usual lunch of wraps in Laura. The scenery changed from farm land and huge blue gum trees, to scrub and grassland, passed a twister and a fire looming in the distance. Further along the fire was behind us and the air was filled with a smokey haze.

Quorn is ghost town of what it used to be and where the Ghan train originated which took 107 years to build.

Arriving in Wilpena National park in Flinders Ranges we quickly changed and jumped into the pool. It was refreshingly cool in the 40 degree heat. Dinner was provided in the restaurant and I thoroughly enjoyed smoked salmon over salad.

A swag is basically a canvas sleeping bag with two side zippers and a pad on the bottom. I had purchased a silk sleep sheet which I laid inside the swag, crawled into it and zipped myself in. There’s no mosquitos and the flies go to bed at night. I was quite comfy in there with my inflatable pillow wrapped in a scarf and read for a while before falling asleep under the star lit sky. Since there’s a complete fire ban, no smores tonight 😦