i had two spare days in Alice Springs. It is a small city so didnt take long to walk around. I bought some aboriginal art and went to the cultural precint to look around the art gallery. This had local aboriginal artists work in and some were really good but really pricey! I went to the flying doctors centre to see how this all works and how essential it is for the surrounding area as there is no other way a doctor can arrive or the patient get taken to hospital due to the isolation. Went to the anzac hill memorial which had 360degree views of Alice Springs, the outback and the MacDonald ranges.

Wednesday evening i went on a sunset camel ride. Very anxious especially as it was just me on my camel and the other people were all in pairs on their camel. My camel wouldnt sit down long enough for me to get on, and when i finally got on he sat down again. Its a long way down and a very bumpy ride. Also the camle behing me didnt like his head being touched and it was very close to my leg and was scared that i would freak him out!! anyway we went along the Todd River (which never has any water in) and the sun was beginning to set behind the MacDonald ranges. I was a bit nervous as i didnt want to fall off (after a childhood experience falling off a horse and breaking my left arm- not good if your left handed) We got to the huge River gum tree which meant we were halfway and about to turn around. I started to relax as it was only another half an hour and nothing has happended yet. How wrong i was. ALong the road either side of the river where we were trekking some boys were going up and down on some motorcross bikes., My camel didnt like this and got a little spooked and started to shake his head. Luckily he calmed down and it was ok, then one (stupid) boy came down the bank into the river and my camel especially didnt like this and started throwing a wobbly. I tried to hold on as long as possible but with only a metal bar to hold on too it was near impossible and the inevitably happened and fell off. I was so lucky that it was sand underneath me as i landed flat on my upper back. Had to stand up straight away as not to get trodden on as well. The guide said i could get on his camel but i refused and walked along side him the rest of the way.

Upper back and neck very sore, back of left hip sore. HUGE bruises on both upper legs and left arm. It made it impossible to sleep that night and the next few nights.