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Published: November 28th 2008
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19/11/08 = Can we make it to Tennant Creek?
Woke up early in heat and had toast for breakfast - making full use of electricity paid for and toaster bought for van. Did a mini shop at supermarket, then set off for first place: Camooweal. I was driving and wasn't too bad since had charged MP3 players and could sing along to music to keep entertained. Next stop was Barkly homestead and changed drivers. Really long, boring drives now, with literally nothing in between. In northern terrotories now and passing through aboriginal land. Stopped at Barkly to top up fuel. Still long way to Tennant Creek and petrol less than half full. Low on money though and as soon as pulled in, got worried. Not really a town - just a petrol station and a motel. No ATM in sight. Asked lady in station and there was one - phew...but she followed good news byu telling me that it was out of order today = not phew! Cards don't seem to be working here, so couldn't pay on card, all we could do was scrabble together the bit of money we had left and hope it would be enough. Used
everything we had, including little coins, but still only had$35. Completely typical that was most expensive fuel seen here too - double to what it costs in major cities. Put exactly $35 and only took petrol just over half way. Tried to pay on cards, but didn't work, so needed a combination of luck and the good Lord's power to get us to Tennant Creek. Could do nothing else but try!
I drove this part of journey and was absolutely awful. 190kms of worried driving, keeping speed right down to 80kms per hour. Checked speedometer and petrol gage every 30seconds and felt more awake than have ever done on any other drive! Thankfully we made it with a bit of fuel to spare. Stopped at Three Ways, which did have an ATM and got more petrol. Very lucky here too though - just as I tried to withdraw money, ATM ran out and I got last bit they had!
Much more enjoyable drive to Tennant Creek then. Found a caravan park to stay in (everyone says is unsafe out here unless in a caravan park) and went to park's bar for happy hour. Really needed a beer after
A lot of Marbles
Kind of worth a flip flop....I guess. that driving! Got chatting to some Australian ladies about their work as social workers - really interesting and really nice ladies. Nice dog here too (although Deb didn't like him). Very friendly and full of licks and kisses - nice, missed that.
After bar, went to van and got chatting to guy next door from Israel. Really nice guy. Had bad luck though. His van had broken down and was stuck in site for over a week before mechanic could fix it. Not really that good a place to be stuck in - said he was really bored and lonely. Interesting chat about his work in army and how is compulsory for everyone (girls and boys) to serve in army there, even if they hate it. Wouldn't fancy that. We might have rubbish weather, but glad we don't have that rule. Went to bed and prayed that van a little cooler; wrapped body in cold compress again just in case!
20/11/08 = Alice Springs
Up early, gave William a kiss good bye (the dog....ha!I know what you were all thinking) and out to use internet to sort banking. Library internet was closed and so was cyber
Us and the marbles
Bit bigger than the kind I used to play with as a kid. cafe, despite both being passed opening times. Stalked outside library for a while, quite cross at lady inside, because she was blatantly watching us and not letting us in. After 15minutes gave us and back to cyber cafe which was open. Found out here that is a time difference of 30minutes in Alice Springs and all evil looks had been giving library lady were completely unfounded - oops.
Set off then and came across the famous Devils Marbles pretty soon into journey. Quite cool actually to say they are just lumps of red rocks. It's something about way they are arranged that makes them look odd. Is a story about it: something about the devil dropping something on the floor and it turning into rocks?...sorry can't be more specific. Did a little walk around and stupidly decided to climb one of little rocks just for a photo - this was the end of my third pair of flip flops! Flopped and broke straight off my foot as I tried to scrabble off the rock. Had to then trek back through the desert to the van using a combination of hopping, dragging and what Deborah calls the 'Stalk Walk' =
Crazy Kangaroo
Checking out if he could make it over the fence....didn't stick around to see if he could! lifting one leg up really high and bending knee. Deb had ingenious idea of using a bobble to strap flip flop to my foot - this greatly aided to stalk walk and added to the effect of me looking like some kind of desert animal gone wrong. Anyway, bye bye flips flops number 3!
Passed through Barrow Creek after that (added more expensive petrol) and swapped drivers, then on to Ti Tree for lunch in van. Next stop was Aileron for petrol and this was where we saw 'The Big Man'. Does exactly what it says on the tin...was a Big Man statue made of middle and dropped on top of a hill. Did the 'Big Man Walk' past some kangaroos; got a little scared of one though when it stood up and looked like it was going to try and scale the fence. Kangaroos are a lot bigger close up! On walk back, found out that they were also building The Big Woman and her daughter. Going to be a Big Family.
Final drive to Alice Springs then. Was really nice when got there. Such a big town compared to others we have stayed in. Got on
The Big Man
Bigger than he looks. a nice campsite, made a good pasta dinner in camp kitchen, rather than on gas stove, and then went to chill out in TV room. Was brilliant to just watch TV. Watched a famous Aussie comedian called Adam Hills; really funny. Bed then and nearly broke into chorus Sound of Music style when felt the coolness of the van. Even got cold in the night....brilliant!
21/11/08 = Stanley Chasm and Simpsons Gap
Woke up in the same campsite this morning, which feels wierd because it's the first time we have stayed on a site longer than one night. Chilled out for a while, tried pool but was out of order, so decided to do the proper tourist thing and look around Alice Springs. Stanley Chasm and Simpsons Gap were 2 of best things to do and only a 50km drive, so headed for them. Chasm was nice. Not quite firey red like it should have been in midday sun, but a definate bright orange. Walked through it and up rock area. Got more photos of us on rocks - seems to be a popular thing out here and haven't even been to Ayers rock yet. Tried Simpsons
The Big Woman in the making
She's bound to be better of course. Gap next, but couldn't walk through it fully because of flooding and didn't see any wallabies, which are supposed to be all over rocks.
Drove back and explored town a little. Stocked up on food from Woolworths and called in to bottle shop for some drinks. Got vodka passion fruit in a can because everybody seems to drink things in a can here - never seen anything like it before. Bars all sell vodkas, whiskys and all spirits with a mixer in a can, so decided to jump on that band wagon and try it! Looked in some of tourist shops then and found an internet shop to try and catch up on this! Loads of Aboriginal Art shops and gallaries here.
Went back to site then and was dark. Pool was open so went to get a little exercise. Water was freezing though, so didn't last long. Did as much as could face on internet that night and then came back to TV room again. Bourne Ultimatum was just starting and sat and watched that transfixed, don't even think I blinked - love that film. Went to bed and decided to sneak some electric from site and
plug our cord in. Not exactly the honest thing to do...but desperate times = desperate measures. Sorry Mum x
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