Sue and Tony’s Travels to Darwin

  We will miss …… Hot thermal pools, swimming in waterholes, floating down the river on our noodles, swimming in the park pools before going out, the sound of thongs on the dirt, meeting & talking to other travellers, people watching 😂, the adventure of arriving in a new place, walks & the beautiful views along the way, camp fires 🔥, cooking our camp meals, savoury & sweet dampers, sitting around the camp fire having a few wines & deciding what we would do the next day or what we would have for tea, wining & dining in Darwin, going to markets & tours around Darwin, eating in unique Roadhouses along the way & having time to do my code crackers 😂😜 We won’t miss …. Dirty feet, dirty thongs, humidity, “some” toilets 🚽, narrow paths on mountains 😱, campers packing up at the crack of dawn, freezing nights with no power, flies in & out of the van, food shopping (especially Katherine through COVID) trying to fit everything in the fridge after a food sh...

  Left Coober Pedy around 8.45 am.   Unfortunately quite a few roadworks out of Coober Pedy so was a slow trip for awhile!    We heard on the radio 2 roadhouses in SA had 2 truck drivers stop for fuel who later were found to have COVID 😱 our hearts skipped a beat thinking it may have been where we had stopped.   One was Ceduna & the other was Port Augusta (which was where we were heading)….    It was getting close to fuel & coffee time so decided we should be ok to stop - (had to remember to wear our masks everywhere now 🤨😷).   Headed on to Port Broughton for our last night.   We were quite excited - Nikki & Micah had booked a cabin & were meeting us there.   The girls didn’t know 😂. Arrived at lunchtime & set up ready for Nikki & Micah to arrive 😎  They were very surprised & excited to see us sitting outside our caravan as they thought we were still in the Northern Territory 😉  there cabin was...

  Left Coober Pedy around 8.45 am this morning.   Quite windy today (we are not use to this much wind 💨)   We were heading to Lake Hart to have our last fire 🔥 but Tony is wanting to watch the footy tonight so need TV service & with this wind I don’t think it would be able to have a fire..    We stopped at Glandambo Roadhouse for coffee & some yummy hot chips for lunch  (haven’t had any for awhile 😜) & the wind there was horrible 🤨 Headed on to Woomera which was only another 1 & a bit hours away.   I have been amusing myself in the car with code cracker puzzles 😂 Arrived around 2.30 & the vans continued to roll in.    We sat outside & had a coffee until the wind got the better of us, so ventured back to the van.   Nothing much here except a stopover but there is the Cudgee bar here for travellers with a small beer garden.  We will wander over & have a drink before tea.     Met our neighbour...

Vans started pulling out early from Agnes Creek so no need for an alarm 🤨 it was very cold in the van this morning so the heater went on while we had breakfast.    We were heading to Cadney today but changed our minds & decided to head for Coober Pedy.    We went through the border yesterday & still haven’t seen a quarantine check point 😱 As we entered Marla there was a Police check for Border Passes into SA - we were glad to get through but now have to get use to wearing a mask in public places, which I am finding hard to remember 😫😷    Stopped at Cadney for fuel & headed on to Coober Pedy.   Spent the afternoon phoning the girls & Mum & Dad & enjoying the sun ☀️😊 nice shower & over to order a pizza for tea from the Pizza Restaurant in the park.   Unfortunately they forgot my pizza so had to wait another 15 mins - they did upgrade my pizza though - plenty for lunch or tea tomorrow 😜🍕

  Left Alice around 10 am & headed towards Kulgera.   As we were hitching up the van to the car Tony gashed his head on the gas bottle as he was leaning over.   There was quite a bit of blood but didn’t think it needed stitches 😱.    We stopped at Kulgera to cut up our fruit, take the skins of our pumpkin & cucumbers & have some lunch.  We did have a lot of fruit for lunch today 😂😂  We decided not to stay at Kulgera & went on to a free camp, Agnes Creek, for the night.    Not much to set up so sat in the sun & enjoyed a coffee.   There were about 20 vans in the camp & enjoyed another fire 🔥 cooked our porterhouse steak & vegetables on the fire.   The camp all settled early so we went to bed & read for awhile 😉

Leaving our camp at Glen Helen Discovery Park   Our neighbours at Glen Helen were up early this morning so didn’t need our alarm for our early start.   One neighbour was heading to the same park as us, but had to go via a workshop & the other one was doing a 16km walk on her own.   She was very prepared with snake bite equipment, beacons etc.   It was quite windy & very cold this morning (not what we are used to 🥶) so Tony wanted to be on the road early before the wind got worse. We arrived in Alice around 10 & parked the car & van in a special park they have made for caravans & headed to Woolies for a food shop.  Not much to get as we can’t take a lot of fruit & vege over the border.  Also checked out OPSM - Tony managed to sit on his reading glasses 🤓 which has made them out of line 😫 unfortunately couldn’t get them fixed 🤨 Arrived at van park around 11 & setup, washed what clothes we needed for the trip home, washed hair, ...

  We woke to our first windy day today & only 20 deg - trying to prepare us for SA I think!   Had a lazy morning although after our whirlwind yesterday had a lot more dust in the van than usual 🤨 so ended up cleaning the van.   Had a call from Rochelle & had a chat to Thor as well - she is going well although has picked up a cold from Thor 😫 Tony did our Border Pass & we have permission to enter SA so fingers crossed nothing changes in the next few days 🤞 all going well we will leave Alice Springs on Wednesday morning & cross into SA Thursday 😉 if all goes to plan we will be home Wednesday week 😎 Although quite windy we drove to the Ochre Pits this afternoon to have a look.   Only a short walk on a paved path to see them.  The colours were quite spectacular! We then drove onto Serpentine Gorge to check the walks out.   Tony ended up doing this walk on his own while I chatted to a couple until he came back.   I was pretty tired tod...