THE ROCK

Grab an NT Lager, were back in the Northern Territory!

Tam thought it was about time I stepped into her UGG boots and write a blog so here goes.

After leaving Port Augusta (as quick as we could) we headed off to Coober Pedy. This would be the start of a long 3 days. We had 35km per hour head winds and could only get the car to 80km/hr. You could see the fuel gauge dropping as the car struggled against the wind.

We arrived at Woomera to have morning tea and check out the town. We had heard that it was worth stopping in as this is where they used to test rockets for the British Government. It was like we had stepped into one of those 1950's towns they have on movies where Nuclear tests were conducted.

Just when we thought we had left bizzaro town we entered another one, Coober Pedy. This is one of those places that you have to visit if you are up this way just to say you've been there. We got to do the normal things like having a mine tour and went through Fay's house, the kids got a kick out of it but I have to say it didn't do much for me. I think that it is a blight on the landscape. The piles of tailings from the mines just go on for kilometers and it is pretty obvious that they don't have the same environmental commitments to regenerate the landscape like they do in Kalgoorlie.

So on to Uluru. I have to say by the time we got to Uluru we were over it. It had been a long three days of driving 6-8hrs per day, one of our windows on the Caravan had been ripped off by a road train going past and wondered if we were doing the right thing but figured you can't do a trip around Australia and not see Uluru.

We did not know what to expect but about half way along the road we had a sneak preview of what was to come. We came across Mt Conner which they also call the false Ayers Rock. It was pretty impressive and I said to Tam, surely the Rock isn't as big as that, how wrong I was.

We arrived in time to check our van into the park and go out to the Rock for sunset. Wow, the photos don't do it justice. The size and grandeur of Uluru is something everyone should experience.

The sunset was great and we were so excited we drove around the rock on dusk just to see the whole thing. We went back to the park with all good intentions of waking up for sunrise but everyone was exhausted from the drive the previous day. So we had a bit of a sleep in and went out to walk around the Rock. We didn't get to do the whole thing but this again was a different experience again from the Sunset.

You can get right up close to the rock, the colours and texture of the rock where amazing. We also got to see some Aboriginal artwork in the caves around the rock. Then we did a trip to the Olgas which was just as beautiful. Still excited we came back the following day and experienced the sunrise before we had to leave, another amazing experience but one we don't have photos of because some idiot (me) forgot to charge the camera batteries!

We had been told and read a lot of negative stuff about Uluru. "Ulurules" they call it because there are certain places that have cultural significance to the Traditional owners that you can't take photos of and then there is the $25 per person entry fee (kids are free) which gives you 3 days in the park including the Olgas. I just don't get why people have a problem with it. We have paid $50 for plenty of dud attractions like Whale World (Albany) etc and this was certainly not one of them. The park is well maintained and clean and due to the huge amount of tourists that were there I believe they need some rules to control the idiots that want to carve their name in the rock or worst. For those of you wondering if you can still climb the rock, yes you can but they discourage you from doing it due to it cultural significance. I don't know why you would, we got enough out of our experience and the climb is just down right dangerous. Many people have died doing this climb and I can totally see why as it is a nearly vertical accent to the top with only a chain to hold onto.

So we had been talking about where to go next. The plan was to see Uluru, hightail it back to Adelaide and maybe see the Oodnadatta track and Lake Eyre on the way back. I had always had Kings Canyon on my list of things to see on the trip but it was a 3 hour detour and we just wanted to put the next 3 days behind us. But as it usually happens on our trip plans change at the drop of a hat, which is one of the exciting parts of not being locked into a time table. We got to the turn off to Kings Canyon and thought bugger it, lets do it. All checked in we went of to tackle some of the smaller walks in the afternoon.

The kids weren't into it and there was alot of whinging going on. The next day was the rim walk which is 6km of moderate to hard bush walking. It had been raining all night but we were determined to do it no matter how long it took. We got there and it started raining again and decided it was probably not a good idea to take the kids on the walk as it would be a bit too dangerous with the wet weather. I took Tam and the kids back to the van and decided to do the walk myself.

I am so glad I did. It was pretty tough at the start but wow, how much beautiful scenery can you jam in one place? I had read that this was one of the best walks in Australia and it certainly didn't disappoint. I'll let the pictures do the talking. It was nice to do the walk without anyone whinging but it didn't feel right to do it without Tam and the kids. I would have to say that this is one of the best walks I have done on the trip. I met a park ranger on the walk and he said that this was one of the best days to see the canyon as you got to see the water flowing in the park outside of the wet season, how lucky I am!  I eventually convinced Tam to do the walk the next morning on her own on our way out of the park and she was just as impressed as I was.

Once again we have been hampered by bad weather.  We had planned to do the Oodnadatta Track on the way back to SA but it just so happens we pick the week when they have had a flood and every town on the track has been evacuated!  So now we have missed due to the rain Kakadu, Litchfield, Mereenie Loop Road and the Oodnadatta Track.  I guess the positive is that we have an excuse to come back.

Thought I would also include some "Man" Stats for you:
So far we have....

Travelled 26,616km.
Spent $7,735 on fuel.
Our average L/100km used is 21.60.
The average price we have paid for fuel is $1.49/L
The dearest we have paid for fuel is $1.80/L at the Barkly Homestead NT.
The cheapest we have paid is $1.29/L at Roma.

So now we are off to explore the wonders of South Australia so stay tuned for Tam's next blog where no doubt we will be sampling the local grape juice.

A BIT OF REALITY

I thought I might change the pace this week. We see some pretty amazing places and experience some incredible things but we still have to do those mundane things like everyone else. Thought I might share some little special moments!!!

Yes Michael doing the walk of shame - someone has to empty that toilet

Just a taste of those country playgrounds,we've seen them all.
The kids do still from time to time mumble and grumble about doing school work, but we still manage to do at least an hour every day and they are great kids. I'm so proud of what they have achieved and I'm sure I have my shortcomings as their teacher. But what lovely little people they have grown into. It is really quite interesting what they are like away from school. We tend to do alot of schoolwork in the van, much better one on one time, but on those big days it's in the car.

And then there's the washing!!! It never stops, I think they have climbed every tree, rolled around on every surface and been on every play ground in range!!!

And Scarlett, well she is the sweetest thing, but when she gets tired there are those moments...."I'm hot", "I'm cold," "I'm hungry", "I'm thirsty", "You're touching me". Lots of those memories come flooding back from my childhood of all the drives we did as kids going to Sydney.

We all have our jobs packing up, Michael well, he's the bossman and he does all the outside stuff, (the roadie) Spencer makes sure everyone has up to date schoolwork in the car, drinks filled up and rubbish away. Phoebe, well on a good day will clean out the car but she has been helping me with the dishes. And Scarlett, she just looks after herself.Mmmmm

Michael has been cooking, he's so much better than me, while I do the kids, it has worked out perfectly. We still have to do the shopping, in these sometimes, dodgy places and get followed around the centre from the locals.Very odd!!!

There's no truckie lunches here!!Need to lose some of that Margaret River good living!
Living in such small quarters it seems I have to tidy or organise space every couple of weeks meticulously. And then there's the budget, ooohhhh, I tend to do it every day in the car, no holds barred, SCARY! But surprisingly we are doing very well!

But we still get time to have a bit of girlie time and have a day spa!

It's not all happy hours and nibblies, s...t and giggles. But with the end of the trip looming in on us we have been reflecting on our amazing journey. It's hard to believe that we were pretty scared at first what this trip was going to be like, leaving everything familiar and we are not huge risk taking people especially with 3 kids in tow. But what a ride, and how we have all grown as people,brothers and sisters, partners and a better mum and dad.  We feel changed somehow and have become much more tolerant, less judgemental and much more open minded in all areas. You learn so much from other people and we have certainly met some characters from all walks of life around this huge country.  I'm not going to go all warm and fuzzy on you but we have learnt so much about ourselves I wonder how we will be when normal life sets in again.

NULLARBOR HERE WE COME!

Well what to expect!!! Long boring drives, nothing to see and the same old soundtrack in the car. It wasn't actually that bad. It was pretty green and we did it in 3 days. Lots of big days, but plenty of free campsites to stay.

We stayed at one.......which had such a pretty sunrise. Michael thought this was the best one yet,and hopefully you can share our view.There are no fences or anything so you are literally standing on the edge of the country and what a feeling. We had severe winds when we were there, I thought the caravan was going to take off at one stage. It was so cold that poor Phoebe was the hot water bottle in between Michael and I, none of us could sleep from the teeth chattering!!!

I knitted my way through the Nullarbor and the kids did lots of schoolwork and lots of DSIing. It took alot out of Michael driving like that for days but we were rewarded by the most amazing sight when we got to Head of the Bight. Southern Right Whales!!! WOW!!!They come here every year from July to September to have their babies. The platform weaves it's way down the cliff and you are right amongst it. You can hear them, see them clearly within 50mtrs and what a day!!! There were 77 whales spotted and 47 babies just playing in the ocean, we were lucky enough to see 2 albino babies as well. It was one of those moments you never want to forget.

We love waking up in the morning never knowing what's ahead of you, and we have many a day like that, but we did see a cyclist on the Nullarbor, and Michael and I looked at each other and said " We have to stop and give this guy a cuppa". After our freezing night we had pity on this poor guy cycling, it would have been about 1c, winds blowing and the rain on our tails. So we stopped him and caught up for a cuppa at the next pit stop. Well if you need inspiration look no further. Chris is a Kiwi and woke up 2 weeks ago, with his wife asking him what he wanted to do for his 60th. Said, well, I'll sleep on it and woke up and decided to cycle across Australia! WHAT! Bought a ticket to Perth and bought a bike and away you go. This guy isn't a cyclist, a civil engineer come bee keeper from Auckland and a very nice guy. So needless to say Michael and I didn't complain about the cold for the rest of the day. We hope he gets to Buderim to see his daughter!

We were going to catch up with Michael's cousin Mat and his fiance Danie in Ceduna so after a long day on the road and a very relaxed Quarantine, we dropped the caravan off and had a wonderful home cooked meal and a great night out catching up.Danie's family own an oyster business and we organised a tour with Danie's dad Ash on Saturday morning and what an interesting morning. I never knew there was so much involved with growing oysters. Ash has southern oysters here, a real delicacy!!! And we couldn't come here and not try one!!! We got to meet Danie's beautiful family and they were such warm friendly people that were so accommodating. It was so nice to see family and see a familiar face.

Mat is a policeman here and we got the royal tour, what a great guy, and great with the kids! They all got mug shots and sat in a police car what a treat for some city kids. We got to see the holding cells and the padded cell, I think the kids get the picture!!! Mat here patrols the highway so alot of the Nullarbor and a massive area to cover. They check alot of the road trains coming through and because there's only one way in and out there's a good chance to catch a baddie!!!  We're sorry we don't have photos of Ceduna, it was not very nice weather while we were there, but a very cute little beach town that we will all remember.The kids just loved Danie and her cat Bella and her dog called Diesel. The kids could have stayed here for awhile, Danie is great with kids.

So on we keep trucking full steam ahead, and at the moment we are in Port Augusta, not a memorable place. You always have to be suspicious of a place that says in all the books, just a place to stock up!!Mmmmmmm. Good place to get the car serviced and get out. 

On the way we had lunch at a fantastic spot call Pildappa Rock.  We were a bit dissapointed that we didn't visit Wave Rock but were told about this place by Danie's parents and they though it was just as good.  What a surprise this was.

We have to mention a funny thing. Yes like the rest of the country we are, including the kids, getting right into all the election hooplaa and had a very funny incident this morning. Sitting at the breaky table watching the news (ahh power we love it) Scarlett's sitting there eating her coco pops and says"Is that Tony Rabbit?'Well we were in fits of laughter!!! The kids are constantly making assessment on Julia Gulia's hair. We are all getting in the spirit of this election!!!  So with our voting done will hopefully be out bush somewhere on that day.