Day 44. Wednesday 31 July 2013.

The great plan has come to fruition. Would you believe that her ladyship decided that she would like to have a ride in a hot-air balloon? No? Neither did I, but she did.

So the step into the unknown was taken and we were awoken at 0440 this morning...yes, that's right 20 to 5 in the AM. I knew that it is very cold in The Alice at that time of day but 2 degrees, strewth....and we had to wait about 15 minutes for our transport to arrive. Anyway, enough whining.

Bus ride out to the launch (?) site and then stand around for a half-hour or so while the balloon is readied for take-off. The weather is perfect with very little wind. We leave solid ground at about 0645, with sunrise due here at about 0706. The ride is very gentle indeed. It is very quiet in the air until the pilot lets the gas burners go with a bloody great roar. I'm standing right next to them and for the first half-dozen times he gives the gas a blast I nearly take-off myself.

Ready for take-off

Outback Australia from a hot-air balloon.

Champers for brekky in the Outback

Anyway, we get to watch the sunrise from about 1200 feet, with the Outback desert and Macdonnel Ranges as a back-drop. Truly magnificent.  After about 30 minutes of this joy we get back to earth again, some-what east from where we started. So what does one do after one has enjoyed a wonderful hot-air balloon flight? Why one has a light breakfast with any amount of champagne thrown in...champagne brekky in the Outback. Marvellous.

We get back to the tourist park at about 0915 and have a quiet maintenance day...I organised for a local mechanic to come in and give the van a well-overdue service. Apparently the wheel-bearings should be checked and re-greased every 10,000 k's. We have done about 20,000 and wondering what the dirty liquid stuff abound the van's wheel-hubs was. Anyway, a couple of hours and a couple of dollars later all is now good to go.

At dinner time it was decided that we did not have enough champers this morning, so another bottle was opened and enjoyed in celebration....together with some Indian curries and rice. Great way to finish a great day. I am getting to like this place.