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Alice Springs to Perth to Lancelin
Having enjoyed a two hour lie in, awake at 06.30 instead of 04.30, it was a slow start packing the last few items and getting a taxi to the airport for our 09.50 flight to Perth. Although we had preallocated seats, on checking in we were offered the escape door seats which we jumped at for the extra leg room. What was even better was the view out of the aircraft they afforded. The scenery was awe inspiring, from the Flinders Range that runs through Alice, Amadeus Lake, seen the day before at ground level (or one end of it) and the vast areas of red desert. Unfortunately, we were on the wrong side of the plane to see Uluru, although the pilot did dip the plane to help us see - for us to no avail. The rest of the flight revealed the mass of this part of Australia and diverse geology of mountain ranges, desert, salt flats and vast open cast mines.
On arrival in Perth we quickly collected our bags and set off to the camper van hire depot. Having checked in over the internet earlier, to save time it was suggested, it still took over an hour of video instructions and vehicle inspection before hitting the open road on part four of the trip. Our first priority was the supermarket to stock up on essentials to survive the first few days. Once replete we were off on our way, first stop not sure but north. After various readings of maps and guide books, all done by the co driver while the driver just added useless comments, Ledge Point Holiday Park was identified in some Maui information and became the target. Not too far for the first afternoon which would give time to establish ourselves in the van.
On arrival we were sharply told "no room at the inn" didn't we know it was Labour Day weekend in WA, and we would be unlikely to get any pitch going north. Not to be dismayed, we drove onward because if there was no caravan park we were independent in our well equipped van, we just could not plug the electricity in and have the AC working. The next small settlement, Lancelin, had space and the owner had lots of good advice for our trip.
We sorted out all our things much to the amusement of a group of nearby campers' children (we think our pitch had been their play area) and settled in for our first night in the camper van.
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