Days 18 and 19 - Ticket to Ride

Day 18 - Ticket to Ride

Another day up at 6 to get to the airport for our flight to Adelaide for our train trip to Alice Springs. It's exhausting just writing about it.

The Flight was uneventful, up and down, an hour, but a half hour difference in time. So we picked up a half hour on you all.

We took a taxi and arrived at the train station with 2 hours to spare. The train is The Ghan after the Afghan Cameleers who first went out to Alice Springs. Who would think a train would have more strict rules for luggage than a plane - 20 kilo and that be all for any single bag. When we checked in Maddi had to take 1 1/2 kilo out of her suitcase, which gave her another thing to carry onto the train. Pat had her purse, large bag and camera bag plus the roll-on suitcase for carry on, Maddi her backpack, the item she took out of her suitcase, her camera and her roll on suitcase. Ring and Gilman Sherpas Inc. They are VERY strict about the weight allowance of checked baggage. Something about not having the trainmen hurt themselves!!!!!

We were booked in a twin compartment with washing facilities (toilet down the hall) and access to the lounge and dining cars, meals being extra. Since we had so much time to kill we decided to check out an upgrade. We upgraded to the Gold level, which is a compartment with an upper and lower bed, but en suite facilities and meals included. You only live once, right!!!

The compartment was small but compact, the "en suite" was very cleverly designed. The sink and toilet ware pull downs, so they stow flat one on top of the other. What fun flushing!!!!! The shower was the whole room, with the drain in the floor, (all hotels have the drain in the center of the bathroom floor). The lounge was lovely and the dining room very pretty but
food - not up to snuff for these New Yorkers. Everyone else on the train seemed to love it, so much for taste.

The views were okay, waiting for the Outback which we are to be in in the morning.

Repaired to the compartment after dinner and that was it for us. Once again, the night owls were done in by 9:30! Pat in the lower bunk and Maddi upstairs. Moving around with the suitcases and the upper bunk ladder made getting ready for bed a comedy of errors.

Day 19 - Alice's Restaurant

Today we slept in - 7AM. We awoke to the Outback, a huge expanse of short green trees and red earth. Along the way a cow or two and some birds. It was a vey relaxing 24 hours. We read, photographed out the window and got in several games of gin. We have a travel game we started 10 years ago. Then off the train in Alice Springs and went to the "resort" into which we were booked, dragged our suitcases up a flight of steps (no help it seems) and checked in. Not what we would call a resort, but we can deal with our travel agent later. Best thing is it is 70 degrees and sunny, way better than the weather down south.

Unloaded in our room and went for a walk to the centre of town. Went into several souvenir shops since that's about all there is to do, bought a few things and came back to the room. Since we have to get up very early again tomorrow, it will once again be an early night.