Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Thursday & Friday 14 & 15/8/2014 We ended up having three nights in Alice Springs, same camp ground but three different sites. We booked for one night as wasn't sure what would happen re Des's truck, yes we wanted a second night but sorry you will have to move sites as we have people booked in for those sites, luckily we didn't have to pack up completely just drove around the corner. Thursday night Mark was really miserable with what he thought was tonsillitis, decision was made to take him to the doctor first thing Friday morning, rang three medical centres all fully booked. So off to A & E, dropped him off around 9.00am. We packed up and back to the hospital to see how he was going, maybe going to admit him as it was as he suspected, tonsillitis. He was having drugs straight into IV line, so that was good.
We went and found a spot to have lunch and watch the local entertainment, a few aboriginal girls walking down the street shouting obscenities, this older lady said something to them and then marched straight over to the police station, nex min the cop comes out and talks to these girls gives them a strum up an then off they went.
Des went to check on the truck, it wouldn't be ready till 10.00am Saturday, so it was back to camp to book in for another night.
Got a call from Mark around 8.30pm, he was all drugged up and could go. He couldn't fault the care he received, they told him he should look at getting his tonsils out when he gets home. They stocked him up with antibiotics and told him no alcohol for a week, wasn't to happy about that but better than feeling like death.
We went to the bottle shop to get a carton of beer for the boys who repaired Des's truck, we were stopped by a cop at the entrance and asked what we were going to buy and where were we going to drink it, told him we were getting beer and going back to the camp. He told us that was fine. They are trying to control the aboriginals as their drinking habits are bad.
Saturday 16/8/2014 Got a call from the truck repairer at 9.30 am to say it was ready to go, yahoo we were on the road again.
Pulled out of Alice Springs at 10.17am, destination Daly Waters. Roads are great, just straight for miles, we were making good time up the road when the oil light came in the cruiser, stopped and checked had to put around 1.1/2L, then every 150k after that was the same. Anyway besides that problem we stopped at the Devils Marbles, and checked them out, as you would expect huge round rocks, but just in a small area, you wonder why.
Lots of road trains, the biggest one we saw was towing 4units of fuel, mind you the roads are perfect for them, just put the foot down and go.
There are lots of free camp sites just off the side of the road and as it got nearer to dusk the sites we passed were full of campers. The trucks have their own parking areas, so no problem with them rolling in. You can have your own campfire and there are usually toilets, perfect.
Was a bit scary driving in the dark, lots of Wallabies, a few dingoes, kangaroos, luckily none decided to jump out in front of us.
We got to Daly Waters after driving 902k, yeah. Got into the pub and caught the last 20 mins of the Bledisloe Cup rugby, looked like a tough slog, happy with the draw. The pub was something to be seen, built in 1930 and not much done to it since, the inside was covered in t shirts, flags from all different countries, bras, business cards, police badges, coins stuck to the poles, plus all this old stuff like rabbit traps, branding irons, pots, pans, teapots, an old telephone exchange where you pull the cords out and plug them into a line, there were old tins and photos just stuff everywhere. It was packed when we arrived, Murray asked the barmaid what was happening and she replied "oh this place is supposed to be f.... famous. Thats probably why there were lots of Europeans staying there. The caravan park was full and we parked in the overflow which was just a dirt paddock, $13.00 for the night.
If you are ever on the Stuart Highway it's a must to call into this iconic Pub.
- comments
Marie You guys sound like you are having an amazing time. Lots of photos and stories to tell when you get home. When is that - another month!!! Look forward to your blog Lyn - you are doing a great job. XX
Rex Sounds like an adventure to date, hope you made a movie we can all watch.. so what about the oil issue, howd you fix it... ? I agree with Marie, great job on the reporting, very interesting. How will one return to the great metropolis of Invercargill. ?
Mark Lyn, I have read a little of what your "blog" contains, will spend many hours reading the rest when I get home. Thank you for all what you have written and shared, more importantly, thank you for your support and your and Murry's friendship.