Road Trip Adventure: Day 7

Water, Meat, and a REALLY big Koala

Today we went to a National Park near a city called Hall’s Gap. Besides all the nice winding road action we came across we also found a water fall.

At first we just went to a lookout area overlooking the entire valley with the waterfall, then, David and I got a look at the staircase of death down to the base of
the falls, and we knew it… we had to go!



So, we work our way down to the base of the falls to see the beauty and majesty that is… Water in motion.





Twas quite amazing. The hike back up… not so much. Paul had come down and joined us right as David and I were heading back up. At the bottom, there were very narrow stone steps covered with water. Made for quite a bit of fun with people going down while we try to go back up.

SIDE NOTE:
WHY!!! The blazes do people on a hike going downhill, wait for the guys going up?!?!?! I always use that time, waiting for the downward person to pass me, to catch my breath. Seriously… next time you are in this situation going down hill and some other hikers are coming up, JUST KEEP GOING! Let them have a breather, they are fighting gravity harder then you.

Ok… and we’re back.

So, after nearly passing out and dying, (SN Pappas… you’d a loved it) we kept on driving to Hall’s Gap. We made a quick pit stop at a scenic vista overlooking the mountain range.



I did of course jump the fence at the lookout, intending to go take another look from a different angle, and to take a great series of pictures. There was a ranger tower behind where we were, so I stayed low, and ran through the maze of rocks, anyone who has been to Lizard’s Mouth, you can picture what it looked like. So, I was running along, and all of a sudden, my shirt tightens around my collar, and I realize, I need to stop running, but, it was too late, then I felt the stick touch the bare skin on my back… yup, a rip in one of my favorite shirts. I figure, oh well, I’ve made it this far, I go out the ledge that I wanted to get my shot from, dangle near the side, take in all the scenery, only to find out, I left my camera in the van. Jan happened to take a shot of where I was. I didn’t quite realize there was nothing below where I was standing, don’t think it would have made a difference, but, for the record, I didn’t.



So we continued on the road to Hall’s Gap, once there, we found a Culture Center. What was in this Culture Center? Well, besides an Abo-based guilt trip (having trouble picturing it? Think of any Indian movie involving Wounded Knee), they had native foods! YES! Native foods, the moment I have been waiting for, to take down some Croc. I did find it funny that, on the wall, was a Lizard, you see Mama Liz, I’ll think of you in any kitchen I’m near or around.



And what was on the menu?



Here is what the Bush Food Platter looked like:



The Salad:
Didn’t try it, no desire

The Chutney:
Is basically, an Aussiefied version of Salsa



From top going clockwise

Croc:
I hate saying this with a bloody passion… why? Because it is by far the most over used phrase ever… It tastes… quite literally… exactly like tough chicken breast…
ARGGG there… I said it. Moving on…

Kangaroo:
Nothing new here. I’ve tried it before, and I like it, and I still liked it this time :) it is quite scrumdidlyumptious.

Emu:
Well, I had been wanting to try it for quite awhile. It came in the form of a sausage, which, was alright, but, I feel like maybe I lost out on some of the individual flavor of the Emu, I will definitely try it again given a chance. The amount of flavor I did get from it was good.

Duck:
Never tried duck before either. Quite yummy also, but, the way it was done, it tasted SO much like ham, it was unbelievable. So, to my Jew friends, assuming all duck tastes like the duck I had, there is your substitute.



Damper:
A roll/biscuit like thing made out of seed and flower from native bushes and such in the outback. The two items I had on it where cream, and a jam made of quandong, a local plant. Knowing how I like to expierament, it should come as no shock to those who know me well, that I would cut it in half length wise then divide the 3 options evenly to compare and contrast the flavor and texture of the bottom and top halfs with the 2 toppings and lack of. Quandong jam, pretty awesome. Cream straight up… a bit intense at first, but, better then dry. Dry… well, dry, I mean like… Death Valley, and no, I didn’t have my water bottle with me either.

On the way back to the place we were staying for the night, we came across, the biggest Koala I’d ever seen!



(I never said it was a real one, just the biggest)
Also seen in the movie “Charlie & Boots” starring Paul Hogan, if you can find it, I recommend it, it’s similar to what “Sideways” is for us on the Central Coast to the people here.

Twas a good final day of exploration on the road trip.