The hits just keep on coming :-)

6/20

Gosh, as our days have gone, this day was a pretty lazy day! I think we only bushwalked 3 miles today, lol.

We visited the Olgas on this day. The Olgas are sacred to the Anangu, just as Uluru is, however, there are more trails that can be explored around and in between the the rocks. I must say that, while Uluru is stunning and dripping with mystique, the Olgas were my favorite.

We started off slow, with a 1 mile round trip hike along the Walpa Gorge. It was FANTASTIC....the wind was whipping around us, the morning air was crisp, and the views were stunning! Oh! and because of the horrid ordeal with the flies when we were at Uluru, I had purchased a net, yes a net, that goes over your hate, covers your face and tucks in nice and tight around the neck...think bee keeper. Flies BEGONE!

Maybe it was the chill of the morning air or maybe it was the wind, but my handy dandy fly hat net was not needed for the gorge walk. I was determined to wear it anyway, on ounce of prevention and all of that....it seriously dismayed Matthew to see me wearing it, as well as noticing all the odd looks I was getting from fellow gorge walkers. I confess, it looked weird...it really did. And since there was nary a fly to be had, well, it REALLY looked weird! I didn't wear it for the full walk, lol, I did take pity on my poor pre-teen sons fragile confidence and dignity. Plus, it really hindered picture taking - I couldn't see properly through the view, lol.

After walking the Walpa Gorge, we next went on the Valley of Winds trail, which, just between you and I, was not as windy as the Walpa Gorge. Seriously misnamed! Ah, BUT, guess what!? The flies were back with a vengeance! Hahaha - yes, they were, but they weren't a problem for me, no sir, I had my fly net proudly draped over my hat and face and I walked with confidence and no small amount of relief that those damn flying buggers were not attacking me as they had done the day previous! Take THAT! Yes, I will rock an unattractive, yet sensible piece of headgear, if it helps to maintain my sanity and usual cheery nature, by God, I will!

The Valley of Winds walk was quite beautiful. It wasn't necessarily an easy walk, as most was uphill on loose rock or flat out over the rocks, but that is what made it fun; the crunch of our steps, the hopping from rock to rock. It was great. The path leads between two huge rocks. I can't aptly describe how big they are, suffice to say, when you're in between them the sun is blocked out entirely. We didn't do the full 7.4km walk as we needed to get back to the apartment for lunch and were then heading out at 4:30pm for a sunset camel ride to Uluru, but what we did do was lovely and just enough to tire out our legs and get our feet to aching, lol. I tell you what, if after this trip my legs aren't in fighting shape, it's not for lack of trying...good night nurse, walking, climbing, hiking...STAIRS! My poor shoes are being worn thin!

We met our camel tour bus just outside the main hotel here at the resort and joined with three other couples who would be going as well. The camel farm wasn't too far away and when we drove up there were 5 camels sitting on the ground all saddled up and ready to go. They were so freaking cute with their snobby looks and disdainful tilt of their heads! Three of the camels were tied together in one group while the other two were off a bit to the side, tied together. The two were smaller than the other three and I couldn't help hoping as we walked over to them that they wouldn't be our camels. Ha, so much for hoping. They were!

Each camel sits two riders, so the plan was for Mark and I to each ride with one of the boys. Plans, plans, plans...funny how even the best laid plans can go so wrong, lol!

So, we have our safety helmets on, our sheepskin saddle blankets thrown over our arms, we are ready to go! Lol, if only we knew how stubborn a camel could be :-) Mark and Matt were going to get settled on their camel first, with Matt being the first to sit on the saddle and Mark following quickly, as apparently, when a camel feels someone sit upon them, their instinct is to stand up. Okay, so Matt is sitting down, the camel handler is holding the camels neck, oh, the camels name is, Nikko, saying, "woosh, woosh", which is how the camel knows to remain seated. So, Mark gets on and gets settled. The handler steps back, tells Mark and Matt to lean back in their saddles and runs at them clapping his hands, saying, "Up, Nikko. Up!" Nikko doesn't move a muscle. Well, unless you consider his mouth to be a muscle. Boy howdy, that camel bellowed like you wouldn't believe, lol. The handler tried again and again, stomping his foot, rushing the camel, clapping his hands, saying over and over again, "UP! Nikko, UP!"

Can I just real quick, by this time the other camels have all accepted their travelers and are standing quietly, and patiently, I might add. And I am laughing so hard I am crying. It was probably not nice of me, but damn me if it wasn't the funniest thing to see the handler doing his level best to get Nikko to stand and all Nikko would do was bellow ~~ oh, good times!

Poor John was about to bounce out of his skin he was so excited to get on a camel, and his brothers darn camel wasn't cooperating, making it so he had to wait. Poor John, he suffered so.

Anyway. The poor handler. He looked quite at a loss. The only movement Nikko ever made was to open his mouth and bellow at the handler. I had no idea camels were so vocal. The handler asked Mark how much he weighed, lol, thinking that Nikko was balking due to the weight. Side note: They recommend that no one over 95 kilos (210 lbs) ride the camels. Mark is under their recommended max weight so it shouldn't have been an issue. I think that Nikko was being obstinate and wanted what he wanted . . . a lighter load. They decided to put both the boys on Nikko and John fair flew to the camel, he was so thrilled to finally be getting on one! Both Mark and Matt had to get off, as they were putting John in the front and moving Matt to the back. So here we go again....

The boys are in the saddles leaning back and the handler claps his hands and says, "Up, Nikko. UP!" Wouldn't you know it, that damn camel popped right up.

Now, when a camel rises it rises back legs first, hence the need to lean back. And it looks rather, um, well, it could be frightening or unsettling. And it was...

While John is "whoo-hooing" and shouting out how awesome it all is, poor Matt's face is going sheet white. His eyes are huge and terror is stricken all over his face. I don't know about you but, when I see one of my kids look like that, there isn't anything on this Earth that is going to keep me from making it all better as long as it is within my power to do so...and even if it's not. My kids won't be terrifed like that, not if I have anything to say about. And luckily, I do ~~~

Mark and I are on the ground watching the boys and I am having a fast and quiet dialogue with Mark about Matthew. I keep telling Mark that Matt is terrified and we need to get him off the camel. That Matt and I will stay behind while he and John continue on with the others. Mark is getting angrier and angrier as our conversation continues. He keeps insisting that Matt will be fine, that it is ridiculous to get him off the camel, and that as soon as we get going Matt will have a blast. He's also getting VERY irritated with me personally, saying that my attitude is only making things worse....please note, we are having a very quiet conversation, of which no one other than ourselves is privy to the content. Anyway, so this fruitless dialogue continues and while it continues, Matt has gone from stark terror to a trembling lip and tear-filled eyes. I tell you what, I was about to yank him off that camel, I sure as hell was! I asked Matt how he felt (with cheer in my voice!) and he told me he wanted to get off. I told him that was fine as Mark grunted in disgust behind me, and I told the cameleer who was leading the tour that we needed to get Matt off and Mark and John would proceed with the group. Mark was PISSED. While I grant that it was entirely possible that once under way Matt's fear would have abated and he would have had a rip roaring good time, I also know that it was equally entirely possible that he wouldn't get over the terror and I saw no point in putting him through that abject terror for a "maybe". There will be time enough in his life to have other chances like this.....

The cameleer did try to talk Matt into just giving it a go, but Matt was having none of that. He wanted off that camel and he wanted off NOW. As soon as they got Nikko to sit down Matt practically flew off the camel and came running to my side. I gave him a hug and kiss and assured him that it was no big deal that he didn't want to ride the camel. He tells me, "They're so much bigger than horses, Mom. And I don't like heights!" 'nough said, in my opinion.

Mark had the face of a storm cloud as he walked to his camel. Suffice to say, he was not happy. It's something I have noticed about Mark in our 12yrs together, he doesn't have much patience or sympathy for peoples' fears. I find it especially irritating when that lack of patience or sympathy is present when it pertains to our kids and their very real fears. Just saying.....

Okay, so John got moved to the back saddle of Nikko and Mark got settled on the back of Stirlo. Both camels popped right up when encouraged by the handler. John has the biggest smile on his face --- he keeps throwing his arms in to the air with his fingers in the "rock on" sign. It was so freaking cute! The cameleer walked Stirlo and Nikko to the back of the other three camels and tied them to the camel train. Off they went. In a lovely little 5 camel line, with John and Nikko bringing up the rear.

When they had disappeared around the bend, it was just Matt, myself, and the handler who had worked so hard to get Nikko to accept Mark and Matt as his riders, left standing there. He offered to let us help him feed the other camels in the yard and Matt and I jumped at the chance! Matt and I spent a lovely hour and a half with the camels, while pestering the handler with all sorts of questions...I am sure he was THRILLED when he had to go inside for other duties, lol!

I was standing on a set of stairs trying to get a picture of Uluru at sunset when I spotted the camel train returning. I walked over to where they were going to be entering the yard so that I could get pictures. I wasn't standing there but a hot second before John spotted me....As soon as he saw me, he throws his arms in the air with a double thumbs up and starts hollering, "This was the the best EVER! Matt, you totally missed out!" Lol, his excitement for all things never fails to warm my heart.

They had snacks and drinks set out for everybody upon return and it was nice to chat with the cameleer, who has been working with camels for 30yrs, ever since he was 17, as well as the other riders. And John, John was bubbling with excitement over the adventure he had just had. He even signed their book:

20/06/10 John Ferguson U.S.A. Best thing I've ever done

Gawd, he is so cute!

Matt seemed to think that since he didn't actually go on the ride that he didn't deserve beverage or snack. I assured him, as I enjoyed my glass of Merlot, that he was absolutely welcome to the drinks and snacks, after all, it was our money that paid for them...that did nothing to sway him, bless his little heart.

Our night ended with left-overs and early bedtime . . . I have finally succumbed to the cold that Mark has had and I feel like crappola so there isn't much left in me after all the hiking here, there and everywhere. I pretty much hit the wall as soon as the sun goes down, lol, I know, I am an exciting lady!