AUSTRALIA
Day 12 of our Australia Coach Trip
The day started out with the realization that I didn't have my purse. Besides the 8 gig flash drive that was in it, the only other important item that couldn't be replaced at this point was my military ID. The US gov't REALLY doesn't like it when you lose one of those. We were both pretty desperate for about 10 minutes until I finally realized it was on the bed where I'd thrown the spread back and it got covered up. Woohoo!
The motel we stayed in was not what we'd become accustomed to on this trip. It was in a dying town, however, and the monthly visits from this tour might be their only income. We don't fault the company at all as everything has been top notch up to that point. None of our air conditioners worked and we all roasted. Tonight we're in another motel, but it's much nicer. The air doesn't adjust, but if we don't move around much, it's okay. lol
We left the desert behind today and headed into a much greener and more lush environment. The beauty is amazing after all the dryness that we've seen up to this point. So is the heat and humidity.
The place we had lunch at was hilarious! We have some pretty cool pictures from today and I'm anxious to get them posted here, but that takes a lot of time. They have a set of bowling pins and a couple of bowling balls out front that can be set up in the road and played by anyone. We had two 3-person teams, boys against the girls and the boys won by one pin. Gravel road and the balls went wherever they wanted to. It was a great time. The whole place was watching.
We drove a couple of hours after that to some natural heated springs that several went swimming in. I was going to dangle my feet, but the springs were way too far from where we had to leave the coach and the temperature was 34 (98 to us foreigners) so there was no way that was going to happen. We had shade to sit in and a bar with food and pop or whatever you wanted so it wasn't bad.
However, when it came time to get back on the coach, we noticed the driver with his tool box open and the engine compartment open, too. Sooooooo not good! Gail, our guide told us to go back and sit in the shade and they'd keep us informed. We did that. Some of the others got wine or booze, but Ray and I had had a couple of cold drinks, so we were reading or talking. I saw a wallaby by the changing rooms and took some pics of it without getting close. A mechanic came from town with some fuel and they tried to start the coach. The wallaby didn't like that, so he came to see what we were doing!!! I took some movies up close to him and then decided to try and pet him and he let me!!!!!!!! Totally didn't mind and seemed to just love it. Ray got a pic of that. :)
The coach got fixed and we got on, grateful to have had shade and chairs and cold drinks. If this company were to be in any other place that we decided to visit, we wouldn't hesitate to use them. They've been fantastic! It was dusk when we got on the road and the wallaby's kept running across in front of us. I was sitting right behind the driver today and seriously thought about moving when I yelped when the first one stumbled and almost didn't make it. They're like our deer and lots of bodies show up beside/on the road. I managed to keep my mouth shut, tho, and dinally we made it without hitting one. Whew! I get that yelping from my mother. Don't I, Mom. :D
For some reason, it's not nearly as tired tonight as it was last night. Maybe it was the Bailey's coffee I had with dessert. :)
We got to dinner 1/2 hour late, but the hotel held it for us and the food was wonderful.
Oh, the termite hills are getting larger. I'm really anxious to get those pix up, too! Gail said we're going to see some HUGE ones tomorrow.
Oh, and whoever anonomously asked me not to remove them from my mailing list: I won't. :D
More tomorrow. We're winding down and I kind of hate to see this part come to an end. :(
'Nite
The day started out with the realization that I didn't have my purse. Besides the 8 gig flash drive that was in it, the only other important item that couldn't be replaced at this point was my military ID. The US gov't REALLY doesn't like it when you lose one of those. We were both pretty desperate for about 10 minutes until I finally realized it was on the bed where I'd thrown the spread back and it got covered up. Woohoo!
The motel we stayed in was not what we'd become accustomed to on this trip. It was in a dying town, however, and the monthly visits from this tour might be their only income. We don't fault the company at all as everything has been top notch up to that point. None of our air conditioners worked and we all roasted. Tonight we're in another motel, but it's much nicer. The air doesn't adjust, but if we don't move around much, it's okay. lol
We left the desert behind today and headed into a much greener and more lush environment. The beauty is amazing after all the dryness that we've seen up to this point. So is the heat and humidity.
The place we had lunch at was hilarious! We have some pretty cool pictures from today and I'm anxious to get them posted here, but that takes a lot of time. They have a set of bowling pins and a couple of bowling balls out front that can be set up in the road and played by anyone. We had two 3-person teams, boys against the girls and the boys won by one pin. Gravel road and the balls went wherever they wanted to. It was a great time. The whole place was watching.
We drove a couple of hours after that to some natural heated springs that several went swimming in. I was going to dangle my feet, but the springs were way too far from where we had to leave the coach and the temperature was 34 (98 to us foreigners) so there was no way that was going to happen. We had shade to sit in and a bar with food and pop or whatever you wanted so it wasn't bad.
However, when it came time to get back on the coach, we noticed the driver with his tool box open and the engine compartment open, too. Sooooooo not good! Gail, our guide told us to go back and sit in the shade and they'd keep us informed. We did that. Some of the others got wine or booze, but Ray and I had had a couple of cold drinks, so we were reading or talking. I saw a wallaby by the changing rooms and took some pics of it without getting close. A mechanic came from town with some fuel and they tried to start the coach. The wallaby didn't like that, so he came to see what we were doing!!! I took some movies up close to him and then decided to try and pet him and he let me!!!!!!!! Totally didn't mind and seemed to just love it. Ray got a pic of that. :)
The coach got fixed and we got on, grateful to have had shade and chairs and cold drinks. If this company were to be in any other place that we decided to visit, we wouldn't hesitate to use them. They've been fantastic! It was dusk when we got on the road and the wallaby's kept running across in front of us. I was sitting right behind the driver today and seriously thought about moving when I yelped when the first one stumbled and almost didn't make it. They're like our deer and lots of bodies show up beside/on the road. I managed to keep my mouth shut, tho, and dinally we made it without hitting one. Whew! I get that yelping from my mother. Don't I, Mom. :D
For some reason, it's not nearly as tired tonight as it was last night. Maybe it was the Bailey's coffee I had with dessert. :)
We got to dinner 1/2 hour late, but the hotel held it for us and the food was wonderful.
Oh, the termite hills are getting larger. I'm really anxious to get those pix up, too! Gail said we're going to see some HUGE ones tomorrow.
Oh, and whoever anonomously asked me not to remove them from my mailing list: I won't. :D
More tomorrow. We're winding down and I kind of hate to see this part come to an end. :(
'Nite