We bid farewell to Coober Pedy on 3rd November and embarked on the 692 k
ms to Alice Springs. The car was not very agreeable and the temperature gauge was soon climbing. Off went the air-con, down with the windows, and on went the heater in an attempt to combat our failing fan and draw some heat from the motor. Certainly was not the best way to travel the Stuart Highway on a 35 degree day, but it added to the adventure! At Marla (only 239 kms into the trip) we melted out of the car and stopped for a picnic lunch, our last rest in South Australia. A tour bus that we had met earlier at Coward Springs was beside us and Matt asked if they minded us tail-gating them. The power of slipstreaming is a beautiful thing but unfortunately only lasted till just over the border. My preconception of the Northern Territory landscape was flat, red and dry, and to my surprise only two of those were correct. There were actually more undulating than around Coober Pedy and the most northern parts of South Australia. Matt backed off the speed and we found that at only 80km/h the car's temperature was fine and the air-con was fired up again. We were still too
exhausted to continue to Alice, and took the opportunity to call it quits for the day at the Kulgera Pub - first and last stop in the Territory! In 15 minutes the van was set up on the dirt patch behind the pub, and we were all in the pool, cold beer in hand. This turned out to be the bargain basement stop so far, at only $15 for the 6 of us fr a powered site overnight ($11 no power). We were alone, and at the edges of the camping sites were small hotel rooms that were used by workmen. The kids couldn't resist the ancient playground and while we waited for the first injury from the 2 old wooden see-saws (it took at least 20Min's!) the kids laughed and cackled in the blazing sun and launched each other high only to thud down again on the groaning planks. We had a beautiful eating area in the shade and a near-new toilet block. What could be grander? The night was sweltering and I was just dozing and listening to the movement in the night. Working men returned from out in the dust after midnight and settled, and the pub staff meandered out with the dregs from the bar, their low drunken banter subsiding as they slunk further away from the camper to their accommodation. I felt so incredibly peaceful with the five other members of the family breathing in easy sleep around me and the quiet, small town of Kulgera tucked in for the night. To no surprise, the sun woke us early and we were soon on that ribbon of bitumen that would lead us to Alice Springs. We had 270 odd kms that easily dissolved in 3 hours. We were lucky enough to get the van in for a service that morning and then we drove around the corner
to the MacDonnell Ranges Caravan Park. Pools, jumping pillow and free en suite for a 4 night booking- we were sold. Many hours of swimming and relaxing whist the kids jumped and played were pretty hard to take, but we managed. The School of the Air was a great visit, as it broadcasts live classes via Internet to remote areas of Australia. Also saw the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Desert Park and the Reptile House. We celebrated with the family camped next to us Obama's victory in the States and watched his acceptance speech huddled around our lap-top. What a magnificent day in history!
Kiama attended a Didgeridoo workshop with Matt and acquired an early birthday present. He has been playing it heaps and was lucky enough to jump up on stage and show his new found skills at the Sounds of the Starlight musical show we saw. It was an awesome production, incorporating percussion and visual effects and imagery and it only runs once a week. It has been super hot and stormy during our stay with rain 3 days out of the 4 (doesn't last long and you're back in the pool), but yesterday it was more substantial and the usually dry Todd River was flowing for the first time this year. Apparently if you witness this 3 times you are considered a local. The police block off the road and the towns people come out to see and play in it. And now the west MacDonnell Ranges are calling and it is pack up day. Talk soon.
We bid farewell to Coober Pedy on 3rd November and embarked on the 692 kms to Alice Springs. The car was not very agreeable and the temperature gauge was soon climbing. Off went the air-con, down with the windows, and on went the heater in an attempt to combat our failing fan and draw some heat from the motor. Certainly was not the best way to travel the Stuart Highway on a 35 degree day, but it added to the adventure! At Marla (only 239 kms into the trip) we melted out of the car and stopped for a picnic lunch, our last rest in South Australia. A tour bus that we had met earlier at Coward Springs was beside us and Matt asked if they minded us tail-gating them. The power of slipstreaming is a beautiful thing but unfortunately only lasted till just over the border. My preconception of the Northern Territory landscape was flat, red and dry, and to my surprise only two of those were correct. There were actually more undulating than around Coober Pedy and the most northern parts of South Australia. Matt backed off the speed and we found that at only 80km/h the car's temperature was fine and the air-con was fired up again. We were still too 
exhausted to continue to Alice, and took the opportunity to call it quits for the day at the Kulgera Pub - first and last stop in the Territory! In 15 minutes the van was set up on the dirt patch behind the pub, and we were all in the pool, cold beer in hand. This turned out to be the bargain basement stop so far, at only $15 for the 6 of us fr a powered site overnight ($11 no power). We were alone, and at the edges of the camping sites were small hotel rooms that were used by workmen. The kids couldn't resist the ancient playground and while we waited for the first injury from the 2 old wooden see-saws (it took at least 20Min's!) the kids laughed and cackled in the blazing sun and launched each other high only to thud down again on the groaning planks. We had a beautiful eating area in the shade and a near-new toilet block. What could be grander? The night was sweltering and I was just dozing and listening to the movement in the night. Working men returned from out in the dust after midnight and settled, and the pub staff meandered out with the dregs from the bar, their low drunken banter subsiding as they slunk further away from the camper to their accommodation. I felt so incredibly peaceful with the five other members of the family breathing in easy sleep around me and the quiet, small town of Kulgera tucked in for the night. To no surprise, the sun woke us early and we were soon on that ribbon of bitumen that would lead us to Alice Springs. We had 270 odd kms that easily dissolved in 3 hours. We were lucky enough to get the van in for a service that morning and then we drove around the corner 
to the MacDonnell Ranges Caravan Park. Pools, jumping pillow and free en suite for a 4 night booking- we were sold. Many hours of swimming and relaxing whist the kids jumped and played were pretty hard to take, but we managed. The School of the Air was a great visit, as it broadcasts live classes via Internet to remote areas of Australia. Also saw the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Desert Park and the Reptile House. We celebrated with the family camped next to us Obama's victory in the States and watched his acceptance speech huddled around our lap-top. What a magnificent day in history!
Kiama attended a Didgeridoo workshop with Matt and acquired an early birthday present. He has been playing it heaps and was lucky enough to jump up on stage and show his new found skills at the Sounds of the Starlight musical show we saw. It was an awesome production, incorporating percussion and visual effects and imagery and it only runs once a week. It has been super hot and stormy during our stay with rain 3 days out of the 4 (doesn't last long and you're back in the pool), but yesterday it was more substantial and the usually dry Todd River was flowing for the first time this year. Apparently if you witness this 3 times you are considered a local. The police block off the road and the towns people come out to see and play in it. And now the west MacDonnell Ranges are calling and it is pack up day. Talk soon.
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