...high-heeled boots are not necessary for a trip to the Outback.
We've spent the last 3 days travelling north from Adelaide with some friends in a couple of 4x4's, and the weather has finally broken. It's hard to feel bad about that, since parts of this area haven't seen rain for a year, whilst other parts haven't had a proper drenching in 3, but really - couldn't they have waited until our visit was over?
Even with the rain-clouds however we've had a wonderful time, surrounded by landscapes ranging from lush and green, to dry and scrubby, through to bright red lunar desert. We visited Wilpena Pound and took a walk accompanied by kangaroos through mountain pines. We've checked out Aboriginal rock engravings in Sacred Canyon. We've driven off-road through landscapes only previously seen (by us) in spaghetti westerns, and stopped at the side of the track to photograph emus. We also stayed over at the Prairie Hotel in Parachilna, famed for it's local fare (emu sausages, anyone?), which I can highly recommend. I just wish I hadn't had that 3rd piece of kangaroo filet...
But enough of the brochure-speak. You want the fun stuff, right? You will no doubt be delighted to hear that this part of our trip has only been slightly marred by Boy #2 who, having experienced 4x4 travel for the first time in his life, has decided that the only place to be when surrounded by glorious wilderness is, of course, in the car. Preferably in the driving seat. Every time we walked away from the landcruiser, he made a beeline for the best seat in the house, and had to be dragged kicking and screaming away from it.
Men. If he hadn't had to drive an average of 500 km a day for the last 4 days, I'm sure Husband would have behaved the same way if he thought he could get away with it...
Hi Potty,
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear you're having a good time.
I'd be the same in a Land-Cruiser, I have to say. I love them.
It'e very weird knowing you're the other side of the world, don't know why, it's just I was used to knowing you were only the other side of the country...when will you be home, I'm missing you!
ps. High heels are always necessary...my mother Shirl, ALWAYS wears them here, and as you know, farms are rather muddy, dirty places!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to get these missives from you out in the outback to let us know you are all alive and well. I don't know what I imagine is going to happen to you, but you are so far away!
ReplyDeleteTraveling in 4x4's is the way to go, I think, but what do I know about it. I have only ever traveled on paved roads.
I have never seen a kangaroo or tasted one, nor an emu. I can't now, I'm a vegetarian. I'll take your word for it that they taste good.
Have a good time...
Emu sausages and kangaroo filet?
ReplyDeleteHmmm...
Well - I've eaten alligator sausage and it was the best sausage I've ever eaten. So I would be up for trying anything. Well almost. I won't eat snake. No way. The bane of the earth! Have you seen any?
ReplyDeleteOh yes, boys and cars, inseperable.
ReplyDeleteAnd so here you are in my country doing stuff I haven't even done! Like anything much resembling outback, and nor have I even got round to eating kangaroo or emu. (I'll just pretend I have an aversion to eating the animals on our coat of arms!)
ReplyDeleteYou're throwing yourselves into experiencing the distance thing here aren't you!!!! (Oh, and stay away from my neck of the woods. We don't need any more rai! But perhaps you could do a circuit through western NSW - they still need the rain there!)
G'day Potsy,
ReplyDeleteI am soooo jealous of your gallivanting around the Outback. Not so much about the emu and kangaroo foodstuffs...they eat some pretty weird crunchy insects too, you know (the Aussies.) I'm sure they'd let you sample a couple with a can of Fosters...it would make a change from the usual apero. And when you've all had a tipple and it's not safe to drive -you have a ready and willing nominated driver in Boy no 2. Should sober you up quickly!
Take care all.
Mya x
Boys and Land Cruisers... Hmmm... It seems that, as far as teh boys were concerned, the highlight of our trip to the UAE at Easter was a trip into the desert in Land Cruisers, tearing up and down dunes and devastating teh local environment. And of course, the short cut on the way home wehn we stopped to help someone stuck in the sand.. and got stuck... followed by, I think, another 7 (or was it 8?) or so 4x4s.
ReplyDeleteBoys' stuff. They may be little now but it won't get any better. Just keep your high heels to remind you there's girls' stuff somewhere outside your 4 walls.
Sounds like you're having a great time. Sigh.
i enjoyed tales of your miniature jeremy clarkson. this could be his inspirational moment! You never know, he could be fired up with the need to conquer with wheels and return aged 21 to cross the outback in a ford fiesta or by motorised camel.
ReplyDeletei'm not saying that's likely, btw.
High heels always welcome Potty, my grandma had high heeled slippers... fluffy ones... excellent. MH
ReplyDeletePurple satin heels Millenium Mum?
ReplyDeleteThat's my mother you're talking about.
Shirl also has black satin ones now....(shudder!)
Quite the adventure! Sounds like the entire family is having fun. That's great!!!
ReplyDeleteJust popped over to check on how you are and find you've gone 'down under' - what a surprise. Wave to my family in Denmark in WA if you go over that way - and the very remote remnants of family in Melbourne.Will be back to see how trip goes on.
ReplyDeleteI hope the mice aren't breeding back home. I'm pleased to say I've been living in a mouse free zone for a month now. They had taken over the top floor apartment [the loft]!
Hi Frog, home soon (too soon, now I think about it), but we have a couple more stops to make first. And I have to admit that bringing the boots with me was a mistake. Still, I suppose I may get to wear them on the way home from Heathrow...
ReplyDeleteThanks Noortje. After having spent 3 days in a 4 x 4, I must say that having spent the last 5 in a mobile home has led to a rather more pedestrian pace.
RC, don't knock it 'till you've tried it!
Aims, no snakes. And I hope very much to keep it that way.
Hi GBS, inseperable indeed. See my next post...
Hi Tracey, well, we won't be here again that quickly so thought we should try and do as much as possible. I do wish the rain had stayed in Blighty though.
Thanks Mya, the only problem with having Boy #2 as nominated driver is that his feet don't yet reach the pedals. Still, since most of the hire cars here seem to be automatic, I guess that's a little less of a problem than it might be. Oh well - the days of his being behind the wheel will come all too soon, I'm sure...
GPM, I think a trip in a 4 x 4 across the deserts of Africa features somewhere in Husband's 'one day' list. But nowhere in mine, I can tell you that.
Hi Grit, was thinking of you today when Boy #1 corrected me when I referred to a Unicorn's horns. As he pointed out, they only one. Just like his father, that boy.
Hi MH, let's not get carried away... they are rather sensible brown leather boots (albeit with rather unsensible pointy toes). Must admit I haven't graduated to purple satin yet.
Hi SB, we certainly are. Life back in London is going to seem quite pedestrian.
Lady Thinker, hello, and well done on the mice. I may be over asking for tips on how to eradicate them if the problem continues when we get home. Maybe I'll just stay in Australia...