T Complimentary affection makes Down Under memorable From page 33 I don't. think he’s pulling our legs, but you can never tell. Winding up the tourists is uni- versal... Territorial | entertainment: he’s told us the one about the coach captaix who convinced his passengers the ‘cairn at the summit was actually’ the Ayers Rock post-box. and had them stuff it with postcards; the American woman who wrote a formal com- plaint because there was'no Coke machine at the top as the guide promised with a straight face; the “one about the dozen tourists lying face-down'in hot red sand trying to catch a glimpse of the elusive “miniature buffalo’’ of the out- - back: scrub: (actually a. pair of ‘hawk: talons mounted. on a cork vlike’:-horns :and — left on the ‘dashboard, waiting for some fool *to.ask)., 0. ‘Whatever’ humorous mileage he ‘got out of us, we got-a lot more of the real thing out of him. “In three days; he drove. us-more “than 1,200. kilometres (746 miles), “to King’s Canyon, Uluru and The ~ Olgas, barbecued everything from “<¢roissanis.to the best steak. I’ve ‘ever -had (with onions and home .. fries), regaled us with local: histo- “Ty, gossip, .more- information - Q “about outback flora and fauna vthan’ any of.us could take in (even ~ leaping out. ofthe’ bus to catch “Horny. Devil lizards for. us to fon- -dle),.’ and-- probably too. many © take-offs:.. of / ‘SHppy, the bush -. kangaroo. __ 7 Understandably, as we roll back “to: Alice valong the Stuart High- way, he looks a bit whacked out. «There are times .when he does three of these two-day safaris a week with one day off, if there are _ no company chores to de, . oc “Sometimes 1 wish Us was back ~«, driving for the big companies,”’ he * Says, not quite ruefully, “When you own'a piece of a/small one, “you ‘work harder, whether you “make money or not. Lf only onc : person signs up for a tour, we still go." “Lambert and his three partners - » pooled. their extensive individual experience to forrn Holidays Northern Territory, but you ‘sense ‘the extra effort they. make is more, than just the nervousness of ‘cor- porate new hoys on the block, ‘ When we dropped into their of- ‘fice next to the Melanka Lodge Complex on Todd Street'to say an inadequate thanks for an un-- forgettable experience, the super- ficiatly’ laid-back sales manager, , Mike Fraser, turned into. a whirl- wind one-man tourist bureau. ; We ‘needed coach tickets to “ Adelaide with a stop’ at Coober “. Pedy and got confusing info by phone, so we were walking down a to the terminal. . ~ Drop those’ hea bags, put seater TV/vcr, awning, . what day. , pink with your feet up and have a coffee; he would issue tickets as soon as he called the terminal, solved the cheap fare mystery, discovered a forgotten Quantas Card in my wallet and wangled a further dis- count. He also put ‘us on to a tour of the opal mining town of Coober Pedy that proved to be fantastic. (Another time.) He didn’t carry our bags to the _ Station, but I figured suggesting it would be seriously pushing my luck: After all, the night before, Lambert had recommended ‘what turned out to be one of the nicest places we stayed in Australia (the Midland Motel, 4 Traeger Ave., Ph. 52-1588), and mentioning his name knocked another 10% off was already a bargain (About AUS$40). An_ excellent restaurant, very _ feasonable breakfast room service and complimentary affection from the owner’s Blue Heeler if you’re homesick for your dog. ~HMolidays' Northern Territory runs daily ‘‘Ayers Rock in a Day’ tours departing from your ac- commodation at 6 a.m. for — AUS$112 and two-day tours of : Kings Canyon, Ayers. Rock and © the Olgas for $165, departing Monday, Wednesday and Satur- If you can get a couple of friends together, they will also create customized: outback adven- tures to places you've never seen in a brochure or on National Geographic. TV specials, at. rates to be negotiated. That’s wiat we're doing, next time. Holidays Northern Territory can be contacted by'you or your travel agent at (089) 53 2897; fax (089) 53 2178. There are many ways to get to’ the Rock, from Harley-Davidson choppers hired. at curbside on Todd Mall, to double-decker tour buses with tinted windows staffed by bored guides in natty uniforms. You can even fly directly into the Yulara Airstrip and, according to Lambert, book a suite: in the lowrise Sheraton there that will allow you'to view the Rock from a picture window at the foot of your bed, for a mere $2,000. Forty-cight hours and a night in ‘a swag .won’t turn you into a ’ “territorial,” . but -you'll =know you've been there; it wasn’t just a ’ public broadcasting documentary. A. .week later, 1 was almost reluctantly still picking splinters of “mulga out of my hands from gathering firewood to boil the billy-cans for tea. My new hightop’ sneakers are iron-hydroxide dust, and I can’t bring myself to wash them. But my head -has swelled just enough that the Akubra will hold a rakish angle. When I pressed Lambert about SEASON SALE microwave, more Over 20 vehicles in stock Buy now while prices & interest rates are both low! why he dees what he does, he some : windscreen at the desert, blooming needed A EAC NR AL) CAPILANO Ol after a half-inch of .rain a week stared through the bug-smeared before, and looked at me like [ serious life-skilis Custom Made Venetians 40% or FREE BLIND CLEANER WITH EVERY PURCHASE Coupon expires Dec. 15/93 Call today for Free In-Home Estimates - 114A West 15th St N.Van. Custom made | Vertical Blinds Pleated Shades 350% oF 988 5601 | 1 sn sm nm come So com tn ton sein oem ea oll For the North Vancouver ( Christmas Bureau . For one week only, starting November 8, North Vancouver residents will have a bright red sack drepped off with their biue recycling bo The North Vancouver Christmas Bureau is asking you for donatioris of non-perishable food items and new toys and to place them in the red sack. You can put your red sack with your blue recycling box for pick-up the next week, November 15 - 19, or drop off your donations to the North Shore News Christmas Bureau Depots. North Shore Winter Club 1925 E. Keith Road The Blossom Shop Edgemont Village Remax West _ IGA-Lynn Valley Centre 308-1200 Lynn Valley Rd. : ; N.V. District Hall AShade Better 355 W. Oucens 1705 Marine Drive : Remax - Westview Beaver Lumber Shopping Centre 915 West Ist Grouse Mountain 6400 Nancy Greene Way (lower lot) administration trailer Buy Low Foods 730 W. 14th Cap Suspension Bridge 3135 Capilano Rd. Lonsdale Quay Market. fi Pi International Paper Industries Lid. 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