Our New Aloe

We purchased the small aloe plant reported on earlier. It put out one flowering shoot that provided us entertainment for a month. We found two pots of aloe plants with many shoots about to burst forward. We bought them in hopes they would put on a similar show.

A second blog will chronicle the monster aloe bush next door. They have a monster bush growing against our wall.

We purchased two plants and shortly after arriving the shoots began to flower. In this picture the bare stalk in the background is on the original plant. It will be gone two pictures from now.

The stalks have flowered out with the first lower buds going to seed.

Half the buds have gone to seed.

Many of the buds have gone to seed and dropped off with only a few remaining. Picture was taken near the first day of Spring.

Most of the flowers have gone to seed. A year from now we will enjoy the flowing again.

   

Uluru and Kata Tjuta by Helicopter

The lodge organizes helicopter rides all day. The most coveted hop is the sunset hop. We are off on our sunset hop.

After the gentle liftoff, we fly to Kata Tjuta.

Next we fly for the sunset view of Uluru.

With the sun set and light fading, we fly back to the lodge. Our tent is third from the left on the front row.

As we depart Ulura, why did we drive 1000 miles to get here and why do we have to drive another 1000 miles to get home?

Sunset Uluru

The lodge has arranged a viewing of the sun setting on Uluru. They have two vans departing and have set up a bar for sundowners.

With drink in hand we get to the viewing area well before sunset.

Dramatic changes begin to occur on Uluru.

A young woman with aspirations of being a professional photographer snaps this picture of us. Hard to get us lit and keep Uluru lit.

 

Chips and Salsa with Hahns

When we last had a rental car, we shopped at Chili Mojo and purchased a bag of blue corn chips. They will soon go stale. Carol says we must use them. CJ suggests we entice James and Jackie to come share the calories with us.

We also purchased good salsa. We placed an order with Fernando to make us his house salsa from Revolution Mexicana Adelaide. Carol had an avocado and prepared guacamole. 

And, it turned out CJ had the fixings for margaritas, including Fernando's special Mexican rim and flavoring salt that she so enjoys on the margaritas he makes at the restaurant.

It is an expensive short little appetizer course. Two rounds of margaritas consume a bottle of good Epsilon blanco tequila and a bottle of Grand Marnier, and liquor is much more expensive in Australia.

However, a good afternoon is had by all. There is no dinner at our house.

Outback Night Sky

One of the reasons to visit the outback is to view the stars. We happen to be here at a good time. We have a fingernail moon, Venus in near proximity and Mars not far from Venus.

If you look closely, you can see Mars at about 11 o'clock from Venus.

This is Venus and Mars. Take my word for it.

CJ spent a lot of time trying to get a picture of Mars. Success comes to those who are patient. For the first time in his life, he has seen Mars as a 'red' planet. 

And then there is the Milky Way. It is the first time we have every seen it; or at least known what we were looking at.

Romantic Private Dinner

 We dine at a private table at Dune Top. Kirstin is our excellent server.

We personally select three wines for the evening ignoring the chef's recommendations. The food is better this evening. The pictures are loaded backwards. This first one is desert.

Kirstin has the longest arms. She is tasked with taking a selfie.

Vincent Van Gogh Alive

We attend this with Bronwyn and her mother. Pictures do not do the experience justice. The experience is well done. It begins with a wall display of the technology of the exhibit and a mock up of Van Gogh's room. 

You walk through a hanging light display before entering huge dark rooms where the work's of Van Gogh are projected to classical music and vignettes related to his artistic periods.

Most people must stand throughout the exhibit. In one room Bronwyn finds a seat for her mom. In the other room, CJ finds a quiet seat and enjoys the pictures and music. From his seat, he can see multiple screens in both rooms as well as a screen on the floor.

We exit the exhibit into a field of sunflowers just like the parts of Provence where Van Gogh spent his final years. 

Bronwyn's mom is impressed when at 11am, when we sit down for a pastry, CJ has purchased a bottle of French champagne for the four of us. She thinks it is great drinking champagne in the morning.

Opal Mine

Cooper Pedy mines 85% of the world's opals. We tour one of the mines.

We are given UV flashlights. Opal shows up as blue under UV light. Note the opal dust.

The bore holes are used to judge viability. If viable, they dig bigger exploratory holes.

We cross paths with the guided tour. Their guide offers to take our picture. He asks us to get campy. The roof is collapsing!

Carol is prospecting.