Finally Alice Springs - Night 131

Another early morning as we had to get to Kings Canyon and do the three hour hike before the temperature hit triple digits. We left the trailhead at 7:30 and it was already 84. Kings Canyon is an otherworldly collection of valleys and strange red rock formations all surrounding the one massive central canyon. Perfectly shear rock walls all surrounding a small valley filled with water

Scooter took a Fall

referred to as the Garden of Eden as it provided everything the local aboriginals every needed. A number of the trees here exist nowhere else in the world. Honestly it is almost more spectacular the Uluru, at least for a hiker such as myself. The hike could be done in less than two hours if you are fit, however, moving along with a group (most of whom smoke) takes a lot longer. When we returned to the parking lot at 10:30 the thermometer, which was in the shade, read
97 degrees.

Kings Canyon

Post Trip Pisser at Annie's

Finally

We set off for Alice Springs at noon and arrived in the small desert town around 5pm. By the time we had dropped everyone off at their hostels (we were last) it was past 6pm. A quick shower later and we all walked down to Annie’s Pub for the ritual post-trip meal and drinking bout. By midnight, our numbers had dwindled to seven, so Scooter suggested that we head to his place to help him drink up all his leftover alcohol as he was moving apartments this week.

Uncle Sam Wants You

Not a one of us had any problem with this. Eventually drinking games ensued and the whole lot of us got wickedly drunk. Rumor has it we got home at 4am, though I don’t really remember looking at a clock. We got a bit lost on the way and my superior navigation skills saved us from unintentionally catching the sunrise in some strange corner of Alice Springs. Also, I pulled a calf muscle jumping a fence…my first true Australian drunken wound. The total damage count, one

Crazy Swiss

bottle of Jack, one bottle of Port, four bottles of Champagne (courtesy of Adventure Tours), a few broken glasses, two motor scooter rides, one plastic helmet and seven nasty hangovers.

What I Learned Today: Always choose door #3. (See night 128)

No Idea What is Happening Here

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written by

exumenius on February 18, 2008 from Alice Springs, Australia

from the travel blog: Kiwis and Kangaroos

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