We're on the road to nowhere.
First off was a hot air balloon trip over Alice as a treat for my birthday (yay!). We were picked up from our hostel at stupid o'clock (5 am) and driven to the middle of nowhere (literally). Then, after assisting Franz (our lovely Dutch pilot) inflate the balloon, we were airborne just before sunrise. It was a very surreal but awesome feeling. My mum and I are normally fearful of heights, but somehow we didn't feel that fear on the flight. There were about 10 of us in a flimsy little basket. The pilot even let me have a go at firing the gas - he said I was freaking him out by jumping every time he did it, oops! It was excellent spotting the kangaroos bouncing across the outback land - those things can certainly move with some speed! Probably the craziest part was the landing. The basket bounced off the ground about 6 times before coming to a halt perched on its edge... then finally tipping onto its side, covering us all in dust.
Jamie blowing up the balloon with his own wind.
In the basket before lift off.
Another balloon flying at sunrise.
Spot the kangaroos.
The setting moon.
Us in the air.
Mum with the friendly pilot Franz.
Once back on terra firma, we sat down to a champagne breakfast with unlimited top-ups, but only the 1 drink for J as he is after all merely a chauffeur. I was also given 2 extra bottles of bubbly for my birthday.
Later, we did a 5 hour drive from Alice to Kings Canyon.
To be continued......
1 comment:
Sounds fantastic! can't wait for pics. David should be able to get you at the library computer now, cos your blogspot will be on his history when he puts his id in.
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