Indian Pacific-Day 3
Trip Start
Jul 17, 2011
1
18
35
Trip End
Aug 18, 2011
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
We got into Adelaide about 7:00am, and it was weird to see civilization again. With the small exception of Kalgoorlie, I hadn't seen anything town/city related since Perth-48 hours ago. I was most looking forward to a non-moving toilet.
It was a nice 11*C (53*F) when we got off the train, and I had to say goodbye to all the girls (we had exchanged contact info last night). I had three hours to kill, so Daniel and I took a taxi to the Central Market, known for being the largest market in South Australia. (I'm not sure that's a big accomplishment since Adelaide is the largest city in SA.) However, I needed to walk around and get some more food for the train, so it was a good side trip. We walked around, tried a few coffee shops, and I bought some fruit and olives for the train. I didn't find the market any more special than any other market I've been in, but it was nice to walk a longer distance than three train cars. However, I felt like I was swaying the entire time. We left the market for a bit to walk around town (he'd been there before), but then went back to the market for more coffee. (Daniel is a bit of a coffee specialist, so I let him order; I just wanted to wake up.) And as usual, we had a fascinating conversation revolving around numerous topics, mostly various forms of literature, travel, or both. All too soon, it was time for us to head our separate ways (him to the hostel and me to back to the train station), so he put me in a taxi and off I went.
Most of the passengers that came from Perth disembarked in Adelaide, but we gained a lot more and about 12 more train cars. I waited as long as I could before I boarded again, but eventually I had to get on, and we left the station just a little after 10:00am. Since Emily left, I knew I'd be getting someone new sitting next to me, and I was lucky enough again to get a nice guy, Martin, from Melbourne. I am even luckier because he just decided to upgrade to a berth, so I'll have an extra seat next to me when I'm sleeping; I won't have to worry about elbowing anyone tonight. (Martin gave me one of the best compliments ever! He thought I was Canadian because I had such an INDISTINCT accent! Yes! All that practice at containing the country twang has finally paid off.)
So, I'm back in the lounge now, in almost the same spot. Martin is in here and we're talking some, but he travels for business so it won't be constant chatter. So far, there haven't been a lot of interesting people to come into the lounge, but there have been some annoying ones that I'm trying to avoid. I think I'll be able to get some reading done on this leg of the journey-and a lot of window gazing. I didn't see any kangaroos or emus from the train between Perth and Adelaide, but I've heard I should see some today, so I'm hopeful.
10:20pm (Sydney time zone now)
This afternoon was wonderful and relaxing, just as a train ride should be. After we left Adelaide, the countryside was so green and fertile and we passed many farms. Soon it began to get hilly and the luscious fields of green turned into a blanket of red dotted with brown and green, but not a fertile looking green; it was more the color of a light sage. Here, it was dry. There were rivers cut through the land that were completely dry. We must have managed to kick up a bit of dust because for about 3-4 minutes, I couldn't see anything out of the windows-it was that thick. (This is a huge contrast to Western Australia, which is normally very dry but was very green and even flooded in some areas.) I was glad to see this contrast simply because I've been dreaming of dry red dirt and rivulets of dust for a year now.
I was going to read my book since I'm only 70% finished with it and I've been reading on it since I got to Australia (I know some of you won't believe that). However, every time I got hooked back into the story, I missed seeing wildlife roaming free. So I put the book down and was quickly rewarded by seeing a flock of emus running through the bush as the train rumbled past. There were also a lot of really large sheep (I mean LARGE) and goats everywhere. The best part, by far, were the kangaroos, especially a mother and joey, hopping along without a care in the world. (I was also quite happy that fellow passengers, Australians, were getting just as excited as me when we saw all the animals.)
We had an eclectic mix of "elevator" music today, but it was just a little bit too loud to be background. Instead, many of us were humming along although they did play a lot of Australian music from the 80s that I was unfamiliar with, so that was nice. However, when the Beach Boys came on with "California Girl," I was flummoxed because, really, we were in the middle of the Australian outback.
We were supposed to be at our first stop at 4:30 but were delayed in getting into Broken Hill because of track repairs (As I'm bumping along typing this, I can tell you that it doesn't feel like anything has been repaired.). Martin and I played a game of Scrabble and then he went back to his work. I'm so proud of myself because he offered me the use of his computer and his INTERNET (it's through his phone), but I turned it down!! It's nice to not be connected-for awhile. I'm sure that will be the first thing I do when I get to the hostel in Sydney-find wi-fi.
We eventually made it to Broken Hill and due to the delayed arrival, we were unable to go on the whistle stop tour. I was a little disappointed because it seems Broken Hill has an interesting history as a mining town, but I was able to walk about the town for a little bit and snap some really interesting pictures. It was dusk so the lighting was either great or terrible. But within a short time, the train whistle was blowing and I had to get back on.
It was definitely time for dinner when I reboarded (6:30pm), so I finished off my cheese, crackers, and olives. I still have some fruit and am trying to finish it before I reach Sydney because I don't want to have to throw perfectly good fruit away. (Austraila has quarantines on specific foods like fruits, nuts, and meat-not just at the international airports, but also between the individual states. I was told it was to keep things that had affected one part of Australia out of the others.) So, we'll see if I finish it. I plan to have fruit for breakfast and early lunch, but some of the girls that got off in Adelaide gave me their stuff as well, so I'm not sure how much I'll be able to consume. For dessert though, I ate some of the homemade chocolate that I bought at the railway station in Broken Hill. The train crew had recommended buying from this lady, and they were not wrong. Absolutely gorgeous in flavor!
After dinner-in the lounge, of course, Martin and I challenged Helen and Will (another couple I met) to a few games of Scrabble, and on the last game, I actually came in 2nd!!!! I was so excited because I'm usually so terrible it's embarrassing. Now, Martin has gone to bed, Helen is reading, Will is sleeping in a lounge chair with his book still open, and I'm finishing this blog.
I can't believe this is my last night on the train. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it certainly has exceeded my expectations. I only got bored once and I haven't gotten motion sick at all-without taking medicine. However, it's the friendships that I've made that have really made this trip an experience of a lifetime. I fully plan to cultivate these friendships and possibly see them in the future.
I never want to remain unchanged after an experience like this, and I shouldn't. The people I've met have challenged me to go beyond the ordinary, and the land I've seen has inspired me to believe beyond the ordinary.
Comments
Great documentary and fab pictures.