Bumpy Road, Bumpy Road, Hole in the Road
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Alice Springs,
Australia
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Today we spent 11 hours on a tour of the Outback. We took a 4WD bus/vehicle out to the Palm Valley over 150 kilometres from Alice Springs. It was quite the trip. The bus took us off road for more than 40 kilometres down two rivers (dry river beds actually), the Finke and Palm Rivers and then on to Palm Valley where we took a long walk up the Valley to the top of the canyon and then down again. The walk included some spectacular scenery and some cool wildlife (military dragon and rainbow skink!). The Palm Valley is named for the palms that grow there along semi-permanent water. The palms only grow 1 cm per year and some of the palms are over 10 metres high (you do the math!).
We also saw wild horses - brumbies along the river bed. That was pretty neat. They are fairly common in these areas as are camels.
The boys sat in the back of the bus for most of the trip - this off-roading at the back of the bus gives new meaning to a bumpy ride! They amused the other passengers no end with their squealing.
We met another Canadian on the trip, a student from Edmonton spending her summer vacation touring around here.
More tomorrow - we're all tuckered out. We'll add some photos too!
