Life is a jigsaw puzzle

The last night on the padded board is done. I slept badly, everything hurt when I turned, Carsten, on the other hand, slept really well. But now it's over. 2 days in the hotel room, I'm looking forward to it.

We still have to pack all our things like glasses, egg cups, spices, jam and honey, coffee and of course our clothes into the suitcases, say goodbye to Mareen and Alex and then drive 5 hours back to Alice Springs. Give back our beloved battleship and chill in the hotel.

That's the plan for today.

Planned and executed that way. Not in the planned time frame, because we once again got caught up in conversation with Mareen and Alex, but we made it to the Apollo Station on time (by 4:00 p.m.).

The drive back was very windy and with a cupboard like our Sprinter, it was real hard work. We were often on the opposite lane, luckily there is not much traffic here in the Outback. The landscape that raced past us looked very different from this direction. I didn't remember it being so vegetationless.

And then the first highlight of the day came in Alice Springs. Denis, our taxi driver, who took us from the Apollo rental station to the hotel. Denis, I would estimate him to be 75-80 years old, talked non-stop like a waterfall to Carsten, who got to sit in the front. After Carsten revealed that we were Germans, Denis assumed that I didn't understand English-Australian, so he said Carsten should translate everything for me later. So he told us that he came from Sydney 30 years ago, had a vacation here, and stayed with his family. Him, his wife, and 5 children. Then came the wisdom of life: the spirit is in us and not in any god. Be happy and enjoy life. Take joy in your children and what you have, take life as it comes.

I think he used to be a preacher, at times he moved me to tears. (even though I only understood half of it)

He radiated a calm, love, and warmth. And he is writing a book that we absolutely must read. The title is "Life is a jigsaw puzzle", but it's not finished yet - hopefully he will experience the ending, Denis said he would hand it over to the universe in a few months.

The ride was only 5 minutes from Apollo to the hotel, but Denis talked so much that we sat in the taxi for at least 15 more minutes and listened to him. We were so taken with him that Carsten immediately booked him for the ride to the airport the next morning, even though he was 3 AUD more expensive than the hotel shuttle.

Eventually, he let us go.

Then came the second highlight of the day. Our hotel room had been canceled by the Australian travel agency. No one knows why, but we are currently on the sunny side of life and were lucky in misfortune because today he still had a room available. Actually, the hotel is fully booked, as there are currently "Master Games" in Alice Springs and the city is full.

The Master Games are a national sporting event for people over 40. and it is not a competition against others (it is, but that is secondary) but rather against oneself.

Now quickly buy water, get something to eat, check flights and check-in (all according to plan) and finally sleep in a real bed again.