Let the real journey begin

After the disappointment last year having to cancel all travel plans due to Covid, we are finally on our way to the Northern Territory!

12 May 2021

Two years in the planning we finally left a day late after 12pm, with an easy drive through the city. Our first stop was the pretty town of Beaufort for a quick coffee and walk up the street.

Back on the road perfect driving conditions, no wind and sunshine. As Peter put a couple of pies in his Travel Buddy cooker we had the next quick stop in Nhil, for tea. Many Many Trucks on the road today, it made the Monash look like a country road. Then the made dash for Bordertown, just in case any borders where to close. I found a camp spot on the Wikicamps App, at the Bordertown Golf club, far enough from the highway noise. Donation of $25 bucks to the club, power and club facilities included. We where lucky enough to be the only ones there for the night! Fabulous Find number one.

13th May 2021

Back on the road before 9am we fuelled up in Bordertown, and on our way to Hahndorf for lunch, Schnitzel and beer of course! Not so lucky with the weather today, very windy and raining quite heavily. Peter sat right behind a truck for an hour or so to protect us from the wind.

Back on the road to Adelaide, down the scary decent in the pouring rain, to the Big 4 caravan park at West Beach. Pretty impressive, particularly if you had little kids, a big fun park. We got set up, had a bit of a rest before Helen and Paul picked us up for dinner at Henley Beach Ramsgate Hotel. Which evidently holds many family memories, as Helen had her 21st there, and Dad went there and met up with his father many years ago. This was a fun evening catching up with Helen and Paul and a really delicious meal too!

14th May 2021

Late start to the day as we have had a big build up to travelling. We walked along the boardwalk from the Caravan park into Henley beach, then caught an Uber into the Adelaide central markets for some food porn.

Had a fabulous time walking the market, people watching and all the specialty shops.Peter spotted an Italian bbq so that’s what he had for lunch. There is a really good second hand camera shop so I bought a little travel camera.

Uber back again to the caravan park. Lucky again Paul picked us up and drove us to his home for a really nice family catch up dinner. We met the latest addition to the kelly family, Erin and Tom’s little boy Aiden who is a big personality and loves his nan and pops chooks very much.

Paul’s cousin happens to have an oyster farm, so oysters freshly chucked by Paul was on the menu! Thank you Helen and Paul for a really lovely evening again! Stinky smelling Uber driver home to the caravan park!

15th May 2021

Woken by a FaceTime call from Nick, as Leah is fully starting to chat, which was nice. We got up and got going on our way today to Port Augusta. Stopped along the way at a roadside pull over for lunch In the van. We arrived into Port Augusta early afternoon. Checked out the discovery caravan park which didn’t look inviting as it was backed onto the highway. So a drive around we found the Shoreline caravan park by the water far from the highway noise, still fully fenced in, here’s hoping for the best. We had a bit of a walk along the water edge, Peter amazed by the size of a cargo trains.

16th of May 2021

Port Augusta to Coober Pedy An early start to be on the long boring stretch of nothingness, lucky we have Spotify and Audible to listen to! As we missed the turn off at Pimba to Spuds roadhouse, buggar! So we stopped for fuel and lunch at Glendambo pub. Very sad afternoon as we got a call from Chris to let us know Tony had passed away.

From here I drove for an hour or so along the way to Coober Pedy.After a long day of driving we arrived a day early into Coober Pedy, to the Oasis caravan park lucky to get a site with water as it’s scarce out here!

Getting into the Grey Nomad rhythm early dinner, early to bed,blinds down by 8pm! Oh dear!

17th of May 2021.

Up and off touring early, Peter found the good bakery in town and bought a nice sour dough loaf for breakfast. First stop on Tour de Coober Pedy – Faye’s House, an underground, dug by Faye Nayler and her two other girl friends in the 1960s. She was a bit of a legend around town, great cook and sounds like a fun party girl. Cool bar set up underground.

Onto the Serbian underground church, very neatly done, not by hand as was Faye’s. Next stop Tom’s working opal mine, here’s where the fun starts, I bought my damaged opal ring here in the hope of finding a similar opal to the one my grandmother bought many decades ago here in Coober Pedy. Tom’s mine did not have one to fit my ring. So Greg sent us with an escort to find Peter the best local Greek Jeweller in towns home, as he was not home we then went to aparently the best opal supplier in Coober Pedy, John & Yoga’s of outback opal miner fame!

Success after 2 opals later, we took the ring back around to Peter the jeweller, left my ring and opal with him. Back out to Tom’s opal mine for a tour, boy could Greg our tour guy talk, think I now know a thing or two about opal mining.

Next stop a 32km drive from Coober Pedy out to Kanku – Breakaways Conservation Park, which is an Aboriginal owned and registered aboriginal heritage site. We arrived just in time for the spectacular sunset, and ready for a camera workout. Tonight many tourists where here to enjoy the serenity and sunset, with Canapes and bubbles to celebrate the scenery overload.

We drove back into town along the Dingo fence. The 70km round trip back to Coober Pedy takes you east along the hills to the dog fence. This 2m high wire barrier stretches for over 5,300km across three States, to protect the sheep country in the south from the native dog, the Dingo On our way back we got a call from Peter the Jeweller, he had finished fixing my ring! Very happy with the result, beautiful new opal and shiny ring! Late Happy hour at the very flash underground bar in town.

18th of May Catch up day, sleep in, cooked breakfast with my Aunts chooks fresh eggs. Washing, phone calls then a walk up Main Street Coober Pedy!

The above is owned by a Bikie and his wife, in the middle of the store is a very loved Harley Davidson. It has seen a few incidents as he has spikes coming out from the front and back. A guy you would seriously not want to be on the wrong side of! Fuelled the car up at the cheapest fuel we are going to see for sometime. Groceries and the beer fridge sorted. We went up to the Coober Pedy signs for the Instagram shot!

Happy hour up at the Big Winch 360 bar, really nice! Met some super nice guys doing the Shitbox rally in a $1000 dollar Ford Focus great cause for The big C , donated to the cause!

19th May 2021.

Peter had his Kevin moment (his dad) up at 5am to get on the road early, Coober Pedy to Curtain Springs! Along the way our Shitbox new friends where on the road passed us with a toot and a wave! Love the people you meet along the way! First pit stop was Marla roadhouse for lunch in the caravan, as 5star Pete took one look at what was on ofer in the roadhouse, not for him!

Back on the road and our next stop was of course the border of South Australia and Northern Territory wo who !!!!

Not far past the border was Kulgera where we planned to spend the night. Probably should of as others told us it was a lot of fun in the bar, the night they stayed. We walked through the bar and kept driving to Curtin springs a free camp an hour from Uluru, so yes this was a huge drive today!

Curtin Springs was getting quite busy by the time we arrived, so we squeezed in beside a lovely couple from Bega, Anne and Col easy to remember their names! Shared our happy hour with them.

20th of May 2021

Up and on a mission to get to Uluru right on 10am, as a guy told Peter the reason they stay at the free camp at Curtin Springs was there was a two hour lineup for the caravan park. Well that’s not quite true Mr, we where the only ones checking in to the Uluru campgrounds and we got a fabulous site 3, on our own surrounding bushes.

Driving along the highway into the national park we where both feeling so blessed, perfect day, absolutely blown away at the size of the big rock in front of us. Picture perfect day for us, can’t tell you how happy to be here after the planning and the year that was!

After a very quick set up, Fomo overload by me starts up big time!First walk to the caravan park viewing spot, then jump in the car and off to the Rock! We stopped along our way to Uluru at the car sunset viewing spot for a few snaps. Then to the Mala Carpark for walk number one the Mala walk, very peaceful not many others and feeling the spirits around us watching! We had a phone call here from Ethel so they had a FaceTime walk around with us, bringing back memories for both Ethel and Carole. And onto the Liru walk.

We walked through the cultural centre and after as our Fomo is building for a sunset spot, we got in early at the Carpark spot, kind of lucky we did as this place fills up very fast. So we experienced our first Uluru sunset with many others, the people watching was by far the best! The young set wearing Acubra hats, boots, boho dresses, selfies, instagram set ups by the travelling Riley’s complete with very cool 😎 Combie!

21st of May 2021

On the road to Kata TJuta – The Olgas by 10am, first stop was the viewing area and wow what a stunning day for us to see the Olgas! On the way into the Olgas we saw a very regal looking family of Camels 🐪 trotting in a line!

Off to do the Valley of the winds walk, ticking off another walk on my wish list and wow 😳 challenging but so worth it! Rocks. Rocks more f n rocks but pretty as the wildflowers where in full bloom so so pretty! Love life kinda day!!!!!! Met a nice couple Jen and Allan, who we’ve now travelled with along the Ernest Giles Road.

Side Note – How much do I love the person that invented FLY 🪰 nets!!! I was offered $50 bucks for mine today!!!! My new favourite fashion accessory!

Race back to the caravan after our massive walk. For tonight I had booked in February the Sunset canapés and Field of light show! Waited for the bus to arrive as instructed on our confirmation email at 17:40pm, but no bus turned up, due to they had changed the pick up time. Back to the reception at the caravan park, who called Sails in the desert to come and pick us up. Bit late by now, so the driver took us around to Sails to see if we could do the whole thing tomorrow night, ah no that would be because we are trailer park trash! So we where put in the following night to the

Field of light show only, so by now we where getting snickers hungry. We thought calm our selves down with a drink at the Sails bar, have a bar snack, chill! Ah bar snacks over and no chance of getting into the resort restaurant again due to the fact we are trailer trash! Would I stay at Sails in the desert, no stick it! Thank god for a cup of tea and chocolate back at the Trailer Park ahhhh!

22nd of May 2021

Up bright and early for today’s activities, first load the bikes on the car roof, for a bike ride around Ayers Rock today. Loved every second of it! Very special moment in time, perfect day for it sun shining and not to hot.

Next back to the Olgas as we didn’t do the Walpa walk the day before, so another drive out there to do it. Loving all the walks around.

Back in the resort area, stocked up at the Supermarket while Peter listened to the footy in the car. Dashed back to the Van to put a roast on, for dinner. Which we both enjoyed the vegetable fix! In our van with a view of the sunset and a lovely glass of Dalz Otto Red!

Tonight we got picked up at 8pm for the Field of light tour, which was pretty stunning! Here’s where Peter took some amazing photos! Didn’t do the Field of lights the way I’d booked, but we enjoyed and appreciated the vision from the artist all those years ago! Bus driver sang on the way home, seriously the worst singer I’ve ever had to listen to at full volume, was pretty funny

23rd of May 2021.

Left the Ayers Rock camp ground for Kings Creek Station. Our stops along the way today first was Curtin Springs for fuel and a cup of tea and cake. Checked out the shop and outdoor area we missed on the way.

Our next stop was to honour Tony at 12pm as his memorial was taking place at this time. Peter sat and had a Peroni for him

Arriving at Kings Creek station around 2pm we set up our caravan and had a walk around the station. We where asked over by the couple we had met at The Olga’s Jen and Allan with another couple fi and Pat for happy hour both nice couples and shared a few laughs. Nice night! Peter went and socialised with the neighbours, getting all the tips for the following day.

24th of May 2021

My plan today was to get up nice and early to do the Kings Canyon Rim walk, I had been dreaming of for months. Nervous I would not be fit enough for. Peter spoke to our neighbour’s the night before who advised him, not to do the walk early as the crowds the day they did it early, where crazy. So Peter won his wish to do the buggy 10am tour around the Station. I was dreaming of having two hour on my own to read a book, chill out, enjoy !!!!!! Ah no, not to be, Peter wanted me to join him, Being the good Wifee, off I went on the Ffffffffff inns Buggy ffffffffff nnnnnnn tour! Yay ! It was fun for a while, until we swapped spots with another couple in front of us, now Peter behind a 30yr old on a quad bike thing, burning around the red sandy dirt corners, thinking this was the Finke race, my eyes closed wishing it to be over, bang on its side we went. I think I blanked out for a minute. Thinking am I alive as I crawled out the side, very surreal moment. The others I think in more shock as they came around the corner. The other guy who barley spoke came running to see if we where ok! Always an adventure with Peter! Back to the office to fill out an incident report, wondering how my body was going to feel the next day. Note – yes it was fun particularly if your a guy, would I do it again yes!

A quick lunch and onto the next activity for the day, finally my wish, The kings Canyon Rim walk, and it was one of the best, amazing spectacular walks of my life and I did it!!!!!!! Super proud of myself- and the guy was right! Doing it later in the day, we had it almost to ourselves! Definitely a big Bucket list item done and dusted! Photos do not do it justice!

After the walk we went and checked out Kings Canyon resort and had a pizza to be able to have a drink at the bar, as the laws in the Northern Territory are very tough when in comes to alcohol! Back to the Kings Creek station we had dinner with our new travel mates, Jen and Allan. Telling them all about the walk we had done, as they where surprised we did it later in the day. We made plans with them to do the gravel road to Alice springs together the next morning.

Review of Kings Creek Station. Loved staying here friendly people, more station like than the resort down the road. Kings canyon resort does have lovely views of the Canyon,either way both great places. Starting to think Wiki camps only gets the negative people’s comments.

25th of May 2021 This morning we got up nice and early to leave The Kings Creek Station for Alice springs via the Ernest Giles Road,with our new friends Jen and Allan. A quick bite to eat and a coffee at the cafe at the station before leaving. Said our goodbyes to Ross and Jess the station managers and Sam the English camel raiser come chef. (Guys from Buggy Tour) While we where deflating our tyres another couple joined us, Andrew and Kerry, so three couples in tow down the red dirt track felt very safe together, as we used the cb radio for up coming bumps along the track. We stopped along the way at the Henbury Meteorite’s conservation reserve, for a bit of a look. Back on our way beside the highway to pump the Tyres back up, Peters new pump hose had split everywhere, very embarrassing as the others pumped their tyres up with cheap pumps. It was the most annoyed I’ve nearly ever seen him. By the time we got to the nearest Petrol station, Stuart’s well he gave the guys he bought it from a very angry phone call!

We had lunch at Stuart’s Well and said our goodbyes for the day, as I’m sure we will meet up on the

road somewhere along the way. (Kathy sutton told me to stop here for the best egg and bacon Rolls) Arrived into Alice Springs mid afternoon at the Big 4 west MacDonald ranges caravan park. Great park, impressed with the valet caravan parking service, a little man on a motor bike escorts you to your site and does all the instructions into the site, happy wife no fights here! Catch up with a bit of bookwork as the first decent internet for a while, early night.

26th of May 2021

Woke up to not a really nice day, cold and news of more Covid spreading in Victoria. So I saw a pamphlet the day before in reception for Covid vaccines in Alice Springs. I got online and booked us both in for this morning, so off we went to the lovely clinic. I must say the nurses where extremely lovely ladies, and loved their Finke racing in a few weeks.

As it’s turned cold and we feel like a bit of a chill, fixit, wash it day – car clean, take f n Arb hose back ect . Lunch in the van, catch up with this blog. Tonight we are catching up with Suzies daughter Emillie who is going to show us around her town! There will be stories to tell, I’m sure. We also went up to Anzac Hill, freezing, it looks very impressive and will hopefully go back before we leave.

As my parents met in Alice springs many years ago. Dad asked me to go and have a look at a block he paid 10 pounds – $20 bucks for sixty years ago, I did and I’m happy to say thank God you sold it and moved on!!!!!

I’m about to post this blog more to come!