Mataranka

Heading North from the Marbles, we stopped off for supplies at Tennant Creek, then continued on up the Stuart Highway, Times tables drowning out the sound of the rain. We came across a heavy load (generator for the Alice Springs Power station) Wow, what a sight! 144 wheels on the trailer and 2 semis coupled together pulling it and one more coupled to the back to push it.

We made it into Daly Waters by about 4 pm, but no caravan sites left (filled up by 1.30pm) so we had to back track a few kms to the Hi-way Inn, where I scrambled out of the car while still moving to beat the other 4 vans just pulling up, to secure the last site... phew a bit naughty but hey Mataranka was another 160kms.

Off early and into Mataranka for a swim in the thermal pools, ahhhhh Lovely!!!!!

Cass

Devil's Marbles

Today we went to Devil's Marbles. We went on a long walk up, over and around them, we even went on the bush walk to the biggest roundest marble of all.

Later that evening we went star (satellite) gazing and went to a camp fire talk, I even saw my first UFO. (lol, see pic.)

MEOPHY xoxo

Wycliffe Well

Today we stayed at Wycliffe Well, it is the UFO capital of Australia! We went to the cafe for dinner, there they had lots of newspaper articles and pictures about the sightings of UFO's and alien encounters. There they had talking parrots, some rabbits, donkeys and even some emu's. All the buildings had murals and pictures painted on them. Me and Meophy were woken up in the middle of the night by a bright light and noise like a hum. lol

Zomury xoxox

Alice Springs

After leaving Erldunda we drove north to Alice Springs, stopping at Stuarts Well (home of Dinky the singing Dingo) on the way to give the girls a surprise camel ride! They loved it, and really enjoyed patting the big camels and the cute baby one. At Alice we looked around the Araluen Cultural centre with its Aviation Museum, gems, fossils, and animal Museum with some interesting meteorite crater history, and also took in the wonderful paintings of Albert Namatjira and other indigenous artists. Had a lovely day out driving and exploring the amazing Standley Chasm, Simpsons Gap, the old Telegraph Station and even took a drive out Hatt Rd to Pine Gap, well, within about 200 metres of the entrance which has all these ominous looking signs saying "turn around now!" and $7000.00 fines etc. We then drove into a nearby recreation reserve to get some pics and video of the locusts (big ones) and as we left, the Federal police (from Pine Gap) had followed us and wanted to see our licences (to make sure we weren't terrorists, or spies, or????? who knows?). Needless to say, we didn't get a guided tour of the Top Secret US defence facility. One thing you do notice in Alice is the groups of indigenous people sitting around with nothing to do and no purpose in life, very sad...

Tony

Uluru & Kata Tjuta

May

We had a great few days at Uluru. We painted both Uluru and Kata Tjuta (the Olga's). We walked through Kata Tjuta into the valley of the winds and back. Meophy spotted a herd of wild camels and Zomury found every grass hopper imaginable..

The climb for Uluru was amazing, hard and tiring! It had been closed every day we were there then it finally opened the last afternoon. If any of you are thinking of doing the climb get your trip in quick, as it will close soon (probably in next 2 - 5 years) and will never be open to climb again!

The local indigenous people would rather we didn't but everyone does...

Cass

Coober Pedy

May

We went noodling for Opals then when we came home and looked at them we decided to get some cut. My (Meophy) opal was a $20 one, like mums and dads but Zomury's was worth $100, so I am jealous.

There were lots underground houses and hotels which were cool.

We saw the dingo fence which goes for 5600km. We also went to the Breakaway hills at sunset and we saw a dingo.

We went out for Pizza for mothers day and she was real happy. It was the best pizza ever and mum liked to eat the rest of hers cold for breakfast... Gross!!!!

Meophy

Lake Eyre & William Creek

MAY

With Lake Eyre filling to it's fullest since 74 we decided it was a great once in a lifetime MUST-

A flight over the lake. AWESOME.........................Says CASS

We booked an hour flight and ended up with a bonus hour over the painted hills on Anna Creek station too.

The flight over the lake was breathtaking, lots of colours and changing faces of the lake. Salty drifts, mud flows, murky green bits and clear blue water as far as the eye could see. We flew over the southern third of the lake and it would have taken another 40 minutes to get to the top of the lake... MASSIVE......

William creek was a blast too. Not much but a pub and some space junk!!!!!!! Meophy and Zomury enjoyed sitting up at the bar with a beer (ginger).

Cass

Woomera - Lake Hart

May

After a long drive from Flinders Ranges we had a relaxing look around Woomera and saw some of the old aircraft and rockets on display. The following morning we drove to Lake Hart, which is a large salt lake on the way to Coober Pedy. The build up of salt and the amazing crystal formations made for some great photography. We then continued on to the South Australian opal capital!

Tone

Flinders Ranges

April

We stayed at a sheep station called Rawnsley Park. It was cool because we had a camp fire every night for a week. We had toasted mashmellows and choc bananas and jacket spuds on the camp fire.

We went on a 5 hour walk up to the top of Wilpena pound to the lookout and to Rawnsley bluff. Me and Meophy put rocks on the top of the pile at the highest spot.

Kangaroos, emus, locusts and wedgetail eagles were all around us.

Zomury