Blog 6-7-2008
Rhys – spent a few more days in Alice. Met my mum’s first cousin Helen, and her daughter (Isabella) and son in law (Mick). Had lunch with Helen and went out to the desert park, great place lots if interesting birds and animals. See the photo of the whistling kite in action. So many Australian marsupials that are near extinction! Next day went to the Show and saw all the animals, was a good country show. The Chinese massage blokes ripped me off; they said something to me in Pidgin English, and next thing I was paying some exorbitant fee for some things they had stuck to my back.
In one day we drove from Alice to Matarranka 1080km in 10 hours, helps when you can sit on more than 100km/h. limit is 130km/h, we sat on mostly 115km/h to save a bit of fuel, all the grey nomads on 80km/h, get sick of passing them. Watched about 3 docos (thanks Cheryl) in the car with the kids while Kathy drove to 4 hours or so. Paid $1.99/l for fuel in Tennant Creek. Elliot on the highway is a quality place, Kathy was impressed, and we did not get robbed or stabbed so it was good.
Met some guys that rode motorbikes across the Simpson Desert, mmm, would be nice to do.
Stayed at the thermal spring in Mataranka, water only 34’C, was a chilly 28’c out of the water, weather here is a bit chilly (sorry Victoria). Had a local family playing a bit of music at night good touch. Planned for 1 night ended up staying 2 nice place but too many smokers around.
Tomorrow off to somewhere around Katherine via one of Australia’s most active airbases, hope to see some F/A-18’s in action. Want to stay around there for 4-5 nights if we can find some free accommodation site. From there off to Kakadu??
Car is getting between 13 – 15.2 ltrs/100km. Bit better than the Patrol without a camper trailer!
Kathy – From Finke River we went back to Alice Springs for what was going to be two nights but we ended up staying three. It’s great to have the flexibility to do that. We met Beryl’s cousin Helen went to Alice Springs on a tour 38 years ago and shortly after moved up there from Werribee and has been there ever since! It was great to meet her. We had lunch with her and then stopped in to see her fantastic mosaics. She puts me to shame, she is very talented. We then went on to the Alice Springs Desert Park which is a bit like Healesville Sanctuary but with equal emphasis on flora as fauna. It was very interesting. The birds of prey display was particularly spectacular.
The next day we went to the Alice Springs show which when we set off we found was within walking distance of our caravan park! Apart from the usual collection of side shows and rides (most of which came from Victoria!) it was a good country show with chooks, cows, prize scones and kid’s art work on display. The kids managed to procure an amazing collection of freebies which we now have to drag around Australia. Rhys got a cheap massage but without realizing it got as many extras as his Triton and he still won’t admit how much it cost him. The lasting momento is the hairless patches on his back from the “special” plasters on his back infused with Tiger Balm because his back was “so stiff”. See the photo for the results (sorryabout the rotation I'll change it later).
We did a marathon trip on Saturday from Alice Springs to Mataranka – 10 hours. I even did about 4 hours driving and passed numerous grey ghosts going 80 ks in a 140 k zone. Mataranka is near Elsey Homestead when Jeannie Gunn lived for 18 months and inspired her classic novel, We of the Never Never. The film of the book was filmed here and the replica homestead is here. There are beautiful warm springs here within walking distance of our camper.
Today we are off to Katherine for a few days and then on to Kakadu.
Rhys – spent a few more days in Alice. Met my mum’s first cousin Helen, and her daughter (Isabella) and son in law (Mick). Had lunch with Helen and went out to the desert park, great place lots if interesting birds and animals. See the photo of the whistling kite in action. So many Australian marsupials that are near extinction! Next day went to the Show and saw all the animals, was a good country show. The Chinese massage blokes ripped me off; they said something to me in Pidgin English, and next thing I was paying some exorbitant fee for some things they had stuck to my back.
In one day we drove from Alice to Matarranka 1080km in 10 hours, helps when you can sit on more than 100km/h. limit is 130km/h, we sat on mostly 115km/h to save a bit of fuel, all the grey nomads on 80km/h, get sick of passing them. Watched about 3 docos (thanks Cheryl) in the car with the kids while Kathy drove to 4 hours or so. Paid $1.99/l for fuel in Tennant Creek. Elliot on the highway is a quality place, Kathy was impressed, and we did not get robbed or stabbed so it was good.
Met some guys that rode motorbikes across the Simpson Desert, mmm, would be nice to do.
Stayed at the thermal spring in Mataranka, water only 34’C, was a chilly 28’c out of the water, weather here is a bit chilly (sorry Victoria). Had a local family playing a bit of music at night good touch. Planned for 1 night ended up staying 2 nice place but too many smokers around.
Tomorrow off to somewhere around Katherine via one of Australia’s most active airbases, hope to see some F/A-18’s in action. Want to stay around there for 4-5 nights if we can find some free accommodation site. From there off to Kakadu??
Car is getting between 13 – 15.2 ltrs/100km. Bit better than the Patrol without a camper trailer!
Kathy – From Finke River we went back to Alice Springs for what was going to be two nights but we ended up staying three. It’s great to have the flexibility to do that. We met Beryl’s cousin Helen went to Alice Springs on a tour 38 years ago and shortly after moved up there from Werribee and has been there ever since! It was great to meet her. We had lunch with her and then stopped in to see her fantastic mosaics. She puts me to shame, she is very talented. We then went on to the Alice Springs Desert Park which is a bit like Healesville Sanctuary but with equal emphasis on flora as fauna. It was very interesting. The birds of prey display was particularly spectacular.
The next day we went to the Alice Springs show which when we set off we found was within walking distance of our caravan park! Apart from the usual collection of side shows and rides (most of which came from Victoria!) it was a good country show with chooks, cows, prize scones and kid’s art work on display. The kids managed to procure an amazing collection of freebies which we now have to drag around Australia. Rhys got a cheap massage but without realizing it got as many extras as his Triton and he still won’t admit how much it cost him. The lasting momento is the hairless patches on his back from the “special” plasters on his back infused with Tiger Balm because his back was “so stiff”. See the photo for the results (sorryabout the rotation I'll change it later).
We did a marathon trip on Saturday from Alice Springs to Mataranka – 10 hours. I even did about 4 hours driving and passed numerous grey ghosts going 80 ks in a 140 k zone. Mataranka is near Elsey Homestead when Jeannie Gunn lived for 18 months and inspired her classic novel, We of the Never Never. The film of the book was filmed here and the replica homestead is here. There are beautiful warm springs here within walking distance of our camper.
Today we are off to Katherine for a few days and then on to Kakadu.
2 comments:
Hi everyone,
It's fantastic hearing about your adventure and it really feels like we are sharing the fun by reading about it! Love all the detail (well done kids on your excellent instalments!).Glad you're all having such an awesome time and we're looking forward to more wonderful stories. Happy, safe travels!!
Hey Pete Hutcho here. How's this for amazing - my brother & family just crossed the Simpson. They're staying with us and saw your pics and recognised you. Apparently you crossed paths in Dalhousie.
We feel very envious about your holiday and hope you're having a great time together.
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