Up EARLY because of car troubles making a long morning drive neccessary. Had an egg and bacon sandwich from a dive called Stewart Wells. Fantastic! Something about camping makes unhealthy food soooooo good.

Our only real activity today was a visit to an old cattle station converted to an aboriginal homeland. If the people can prove ancestral ownership, the government gives the land back permanently.

However…it’s been kinda ruined by large mammals that never belonged there anyways. They’re making a go of it by giving cultural tours. It was neat. We heard about the land and the traditions, as much as was okay to tell. Lots of secrets but that’s their business. More super old cave paintings, always intriguing.

That’s the safari. I was pleased it went so well. I didn’t get sunburned or hurt myself, I slept a little every night, the dinners were superb. Our guide was a chef so we lucked out there. I also met the best folks from England. I feel we could really be friends for a long time. Just a great little family.

So far Australia has been great.

A nice last dinner with my new friends and a soft bed to look forward to.

Life’s good.

Today was maybe the best day yet.

Breakfast was apple pancakes and they were delicious.

Today’s main hike was in another national park. This canyon was carved out of 800 million year old rock, so no chance of fossils. But it did have a population of wallabys, baby and otherwise, and a really good waterhole with birds. Neat.

The park has a coffee shop with yummy cake.

Another couple of short walks included an ocher pit and a wildlife area.

Most of the group took off, and the remains went off to the middle of a cattle station for bush camping.

This is amazing. Nobody around for 50 miles, great dinner, sleeping out in the open.

Tomorrow, a bed and town.

Left our lovely remote campground after a great nights sleep. My tent buddy is a 13 year old named Megan. She’s the best. Neither of us snore.

The Kings Canyon hiking trails are super. The national park maintains them so well. It wasn’t too hot and I had enough water. Also, the guide brought cookies.

Lunch was wraps.

The next event was the most godawful drive over a gravel road I’ve ever had the misfortune to experience. This is an outback thing, apparently. I’m not a fan.

But it led to this other nice campground with the warmest tents yet. A nice dinner and bed.

Good night

What a day. Up early again and this time for a super disappointing breakfast but decent coffee.

Right away we went off for a lovely hike around the other big rock in the park. Wow. Daytime is magical here. Not too hot and perfect for me.

After hamburgers for lunch, another big drive and some small amount of sightseeing. We stopped to collect firewood. It was great watching some of the group get their hands dirty.

The group is expected to pitch in and help with the chores. Some of us are having a hard time with this. I wonder what they thought camping was.

Dinner was fantastic. The campsite we’re at is remote and all our own. We had a lovely time cleaning up even.

After that, a fire and a lesson on the constellations of the southern hemisphere.

Great day!