Arrived in Alice Springs about 4pm this afternoon. We have been told not to walk around after dark even in groups because ... they have ..... teenagers here!! Hmm.. used to being warned about lions, hyienas, dingos... we have teenagers in England.

Had a good camp fire last night after Ben cooked us our last leg supper. Sat around talking til 12.30am which is exceptionally late for this group. Slept in swags again next to the fire, although Ben slept in the kitchen cos of the spirits in the area!!! ( he couldn't elaborate but would explain in the morning ... hmm) It was nearly a full moon so the light was really good, as were the stars. I got into my swag and settled down then saw a spider running towards me. I could actually see it and it's shadow cast by the moonlight, it was that big. Ran straight under my pillow. I gave a bit of a shout and grabbed Dagma's torch off her. It was a Giant Huntsman Spider, was being the operative word. Dagma, wh was very tired passed her shoe just after she passed her torch and said 'deal with it then we can get some sleep', so i did... was just too tired unfortunately to do anything else. We were supposed to be up and out by 6.15 but didn't quite make it. We were on the road for 6.45 in order to get to Kings Canyon by 7am. Heart Attack Hill wasn't so bad and the entire 3 hour hike was really good. Highlight was probably the Garden of Eden watering hole. After the walk we drove for a while, stopped for lunch then headed off for the 2 and half hour drive to Alice Springs.... then .... we broke down!!! But all was not lost, in this part of Australia you are never very far from another Adventure Tours bus and there just happened to one in the service station that we limped into. So we were dispatched into their bus for the remainder of the tour. They only had one passenger and two trainee tour guides so there was plenty of room for us 5 in the 24 seater bus. On this bus we had to stop at a camel farm... not usually my cup of tea seeing pent up animals when you they should be roaming free but I have to say the $6, 5 minute ride was a good giggle.

So here we are for the next 2 days. The weather is now a lot better but not unbearably hot. Managing to top the tan up again at last. I will look into doing quad biking but Ben suggested we hire a car and visit some to the local area as there are quite a few nice bits of landscape to see ... will let you know.

xxxx