So it was bitterly , bitterly cold and wet in the days leading up to leaving. No fun for packing a camper at all. Well despite all that had to be done we got underway, and off to a lovely start when we dropped our Sea Monkeys off to Bailey for babysitting ! (Wonder how that is going LOL !) Anthea sent us on our way with some scrummy cupcakes for the road. Ta xx
Made it to Renmark rather late, up early and on to Carine & Lyndo's. Stopped at Bow Hill, South Australia where Brad had a growers meeting with some onion farmers. The girls & I amused ourselves checking out the nearby Murray River and the houseboats (inspiring us for an adventure of another kind in the future). Had a little photo shoot in some old stone house ruins from the pioneering times, typical of this region.
tried to enjoy the famous town of Hahndorf later in the day but it was just too wet.
Made it to Carine & Lyndon's, had great time catching up, and enjoying the gorgeous guest room Rin has created ! It's very worth the trip believe me :) Moonta, SA is totally cute, unspoilt little village by the ocean
Port Augusta was freezing, our first camp. Brad had a shocker of a bad back going on, so we stayed 2 days (intended itinerary going pear shaped already !! ) so he could get to a chiro or something).
Coober Pedy is amazing - the kids loved the opals. Hope to spend more time on the way home.
Alice Springs. A totally happening place in the middle of nowhere. Lots to do, lots going on. Highlights? Brad, Neah & I learnt the art of Aboriginal basket weaving from a local, the Indigenous art galleries, the Desert Park experience, the McDonnell Ranges and local spectacular scenery in general. Catching up with Clint & Heidi and their 2 little gals.
On to Tennant Creek - long stretch, long day ... punctuated only by the Devils Marbles. had a play here , amazing, amazing. Our camp was just North of Tennant Creek at a place called the 3 ways Roadhouse. Is a very basic camp ground, but had a few somewhat grassy sites, which I thought would be good ... but Brad liked the spot down the back the best ... (picture some arguing going on here now .. :) ... ) anyways - he wins, he's the boss! and we set up camp in the very dry, very red dusty dirt at the back near some dead shrubby looking stuff, a bit of real rubbish .. ugghh. Anyways, later that Night Neah burnt her hands kinda bad on the gas lantern .. oh dear .. but guess what all that dead uninteresting stuff was growing in the dirt by our site .. Aloe Vera ! Hoorahh ! So it was just as well we were there and not in 'my' spot on the grass way over yonder where we would never had known about the life saving cactus. !
next stop. Mataranka Thermal Springs at Mataranka Homestead. Wow. And oh soo nice. We stay here 2 nights. It's soo good after all the long driving days.
Not too far into Darwin. Not camping. In a an apartment for 6 days, overlooking the sea. It's so hot (Is it really Winter ?) we sleep with the air conditioner going. Tonight we are going to the famous Mindil Beach markets.
A few pics, takes a long time to upload :(
The kids writing in their diaries at Port Augusta. (Diary writing has become a bit hit and miss now ! )
Fellowship meeting at Kadina, Sunday morning.
3 little showoffs. Bow Hill, South Australia. Overlooking the Murray 'Riverlands'.
posers.
