Day 1 Adelaide to Coober Pedy

The loadmaster surveys the load

The day did not start that auspiciously! A 4.30AM alarm, the final pack and then my driver arriving 15 minutes earlier than anticipated in finding me sitting on the bog. A mix up communications in which Arrienne’s interpretation won the day and finding me In that embarrassing situation.
The morning was rather pleasant as we all assembled at ETSA park however my happy demeanour was deflated when a call from Eve suggested that there was no bus yet at pick-up point one-Paradise.
Meanwhile the troops arrived and the dimensions of the luggage began to reveal itself. There was lots!
Some 20 minutes later as call from Sonya, the Banksia Tours cook, to say they were on their way down the hill, from Houghton.
So there we were like a bridegroom without the bride.
Finally an hour late, with all lights blazing the bus arrived, and David the driver, contemplated the space available and what needed to be packed. It all fitted and we were off, with an early morning mist accompanying us for much of the first few hours.

The bus had plenty of room inside, a row of seats each at least so we spread out, with most catching up with some of the lost sleep.
Port Wakefield came and went after the obligatory loo stop and a coffee. Then Port Augusta for an early lunch in the park.

Dem rastas are everywhere

Then the long haul to Glendambo with another loo and ice cream stop. By this stage most had settled into a routine of Kindle reading, normal book reading or snoozing. Sporadic conversations at the back of the bus, catching up on the footy scores as we came in and out of Telstra mobile range, then more snoozing.
As dusk fell the lights of Coober Pedy came into view and we pulled into the Opal Cave, our accommodation for the night.
The Opal Cave is a back-packers hewn out of the hill in typical Coober Pedy fashion, with a large central passage and alcoves each side with two bunk beds each room. We all scored a lower bunk, and some even their own alcove.
Unpacked and set up for sleep, some headed for the local bottle shop and some for the showers. You just got to get your priorities right!
Meanwhile, our driver and the Banksia Tours crew are setting up for dinner, putting out seats and trestles, and stirring pots of bubbling stuff. Soup, pasta and dessert later and we are full.
A dancing demonstration by Vicki and Simon, Jim and Liz and its time for bed.
We have another early start in the morning.