WEEK 3

DAY  1 - 08/04/12  SUNDAY - Easter Sunday

Alice Springs -  G'Day Mate caravan park 

Kerriann post: - Sleep in & Bacon & eggs for Easter Sunday girls open eggs & presents. Having a lay day Michael buzz around fix a few things on the car & van. Kerriann & Cheryl stocked up on groceries and cooked up spag bog & savoury mince to freeze as back up dinners. Girls got their Wii out for the first time for a play.  Dropped the girls off to the movies to watch 'The Lorax' movie while we checked out the Alice Springs Casino few drinks and a bet together but no good. Ended up at the movies with the girls. Michael & girls watched Hunger Games again & Greg, Del,Cheryl & Kerriann went to see 'The Exotict Marigold Hotel'.

Mick post: - Kerriann again is mum of the year - up at 2am and guiding the Easter bunny to the caravan and spoils had in the morning by the girls!  A beat feed of B&Eggs cooked by Uncle Greg and I spent the day on the car, van and gear.  Fitted the flash new 9 powered thingy internet aerial fitted to the bull bar.  Greg drove us into SuperCheap and picked up a few bits and pieces.  Enjoyed not driving and just fidgeting around the van park.  We did a blue heelers at the Casino sitting around a pokie and blew our $5 each into a one arm bandit.  All agreed thank God we hate bloody loosing money!  Was very funny when we won $4.00 and we all screamed and yelled whoopee and a Casino cashier came over to see what it was all about and laughed when she saw our fortune.  

Worst part is we actually lost track of time and realised it was late and the movie that Jess and KC were at was finished….we roared around to the cinema to find the girls sitting patiently inside with a 'where have you been' look on their face!   I changed a fuse in the Nissan and bloody reset the trip A, trip B speedo on me….bugger!  

  

TOTAL KM -   Have to work it out - bloody odo reset itself?

         Sturt's Desert Pea, amazing little flowers they are!  This was on the footpath in Alice Springs at a tyre shop......

DAY 2 - 09/04/12 MONDAY   Easter Monday 

G'day Mate Caravan Park 

Kerriann post:  Early start hopped in Greg & Del's car for a tour of the MacDonnell Ranges. First stop Simpson's Gap then onto Ormiston George & Glen Helen George. Ducked into the Ochre Pits and last into Standley Chasm but did not walk this one as it cost too much. Back to camp for a late check out (2.00pm) and on the road heading to a free camp  Taylor Creek 40km N out side Barrow Creek.

Nothing flash about the pic but Albert Namatjira (spelling) painted these two Ghost Gums with the background and in this vicinity regularly! 

         West Mac Ranges. A cold swim with Bindy, she's the only one mad enough to go with Dad!

   Aboriginal Ochre mine

      West Mac Ranges - Ormistone Gorge I think?  Beautiful spot!

      

TOTAL KM - 310

DAY 3 -  10/04/12  TUESDAY

Free camp Taylor Creek  40km N out side of Barrow Creek

Kerriann Post:  -  Windy cold & Cheryl's pumpkin scones in the oven girls had a little sleep in heading to Devils Marbles for Breaky / morning tea (scones). 180 Kms have internet with our new antenna. Onto Tennant Creek  to meet up with Gavin & Geraldine Timmins & kids. Staying at the Outback Caravan Pk $57.00 Great to catch up with Gav & Ged lovely bbq with a few drinks.  Kacie woke up about 2.30am vomiting. Big jump from the top bunk and out the door poor bugger just not quick enough ended up all over the door and just in side the van.  Back to bed about 3.30am with mum & dad. 

        Pumpkin Scones at the Devils Marbles on our way North to the barra grounds.

Devils Marbles...The Blue bus in the background we have caught up with all the way so far and no doubt will see again in the Kimberley or beyond!

    Mataranka Hot springs for a quick dip before heading on further North......

Mick Post: -  Finally caught up with Gav me old china from early days.  Ged his gorgeous wife and four daughters full of beans!  Their shop 'Little Rippers' at TC is like a mini Myers with most everything for sale.  Was really impressed as typical of Gav the shop is immaculate, the fences, interior, signage of modern brand names like O'Neil Surf brand clothing.  Gav had my bloody jaw aching again as usual from laughing and really missing the mateship we shared in early days before brides, kids and commitments.  Their story about making the move to TC is very inspiring and really had me thinking….especially when the boys rang from the St Bernards Hotel and speaker phone to Hargs, Guru, Beej, Tanky and Gwen at blue heelers for Tank's birthday!  Long story cut short if the boys and Gwen weren't at home to come back to we are hunting for another life from the blue uniform!  She'll be right!

TOTAL  KM -  188

DAY 4 - 11/04/12 WEDNESDAY

Outback Caravan  Park Tennant Creek

Just started raining, nice and cool. Daly Waters for lunch. Barra bites $15 very nice & Barra burger $13.50 alright 6/10  Michael just booked a site at Daly river for 5 nights of fishing a he is very very excited. 2 days to go but. Tonight we will stay at Mataranka hot pools just what we need.  

After seeing what Gav and Ged had achieved in TC it's hard not to look at some of the joints like Daly Water pub and the like for a veritable money pit of opportunity.  Very run down cheap businesses everywhere but all making profits due to the remoteness and only option for the ever increasing tourist trade!  I think though I will be like Lenny and Anthea and if ever trying something in the future it will be on water with barra in the equation!  The quirkiness of Daly Water PUb alone makes it a no brainer. KC and Del playing 10 pin in the main street in front of the pub and cars having to drive around us and give way to lunacy is rare these days.  Immediately recognise though that with the accom, pub, fuel and shop staff is impossible in these places and it is actually quite frustrating that every place we've been to you are served by a backpacker who has absolutely no idea!  Alas, they will no doubt be food and board and cheap work but can you imagine the cash that would be pilfered in the process!  I still reckon a simple plan like a caravan park that can flood if needed, just a block of amenities to keep clean and smile with a little bit of crap for sale for immediate location needs…….we are searching……..surely somewhere in remote WA there's another 'Ash's Holiday Units!' opportunity?

                                       10 Pin bowling main street Daly Waters.  

         Daly Waters Macca's

Mixing it with the locals.

TOTAL KM - 620

DAY 5  - 12/04/12  THURSDAY 

Mataranka 

Katherine here we come.  

Katherine here we come. Staying at the Riverview caravan park $ 51.30  Popped in to see Anita Wills at the coffee shop before she headed to Darwin to catch a plane to Mt Tamborine. Had a coffee with Greg & Del's nephew & a bbq  dinner at another nephews place. Del took all the kids down to a hot springs just behind the caravan park.  A very well used and lovely place for a swim. Is a bit surreal to be so close to the Katherine River (50 metres?) and not concerned about croc's!  Local kids beautiful, affectionate, polite and playful.  Katherine was very nice! Even rang in a  suspect armed robbery (that's another story in it's whole!) and three marked units turned up in good time!  Boys are all dressed smartly and a crying shame to hear that the NT boys are now about to go Blue uniform!  I wonder what re-joiners from other states got into the NT cop's and decided that Khaki wasn't the right uniform……starting to really hate the job in retrospect…….!?

TOTAL KM - 98

 Our dear friend Anita Wills currently nursing in Katherine.  She flew home to Mt Tamborine the day we arrived!  

DAY 6 -  13/04/12 FRIDAY 

Riverview Caravan Park - Katherine

Michael's very excited about today.  Greg & Cheryl had another swim in the hot pools & the girls had a sleep in.  Fuelling up and on our way to Daly River (Fishing Barra). Woolianna Tourist Park $360 for five nights and do what we say or else!  But lovely people and with set rules it's good to see that if you toe the line then all is good and idiot's or non conformers can bugger off somewhere else!  Nice green lush lawn the crickets in the amenities were bad ear piecing.  Set up camp & boat trailer Michael very excited.   (Crickets in the toilets were interesting as I was able to suggest to the girls that my head in the silent times sounds very much like the sound of the crickets but not quite as loud but almost!   

TOTAL KM - 270

DAY 7 -  14/04/12 SATURDAY

Daly River Woolianna Tourist Park

Michael & Kerriann went for a look. Greg & Michael went after lunch and put the yabby pot in and a quick flick. All up 1 keeper & lots of rats.  All had a nice swim in the pool. A few drinks, dinner & bed.

Magnificent specimen of Cherubin, too good this size for bait and besides, I needed a 10/0 hook and didn't have one!

The Daly……?  For one, it is a barra fishing only place and fresh water/run off fishing only……. The boats or at least most of them are all the big modern Bass tip boats you see on TV that can do 100 mph and all motor and cast platforms etc….. What was the most fascinating to me was after only one day it was quickly obvious that 90% of the fishers seem to have no actual real idea about where or how to find fish?  As much as it sounds condescending and 'don't talk to me about boats, I know boats!" we went for a run to the legendary "Mouth of Elizabeth mate…that's where they are catching them!"  and witnessed first hand the scores of boats, tinny's and 100k + Bass boats trolling or like sheep in a pen flicking mouths of the same run off and after returning home with a few keepers in the esky and catching a dozen or so rats hear that no-one caught fish!?   The most fascinating part was that the first gutter we came across that was an absolute no-brainer fish magnet and at which we caught dozens and barra and lost / jumped off / snagged some good fish 70cm to 80cm was 200 metres from the boat ramp from which the armada originated!  Kerrriann and I were checking out the mouth of a creek I have learnt was called 'No Fish Creek' when describing it to Lenny and we saw the ubiquitous Great Egret fishing in a gutter almost out of sight just up the creek up accessible by boat due to a large tree fallen across the river.  So tie up we do and have a stroll up the gutter and my first cast saw a beautiful 75cm barra smash the lure within seconds of landing at the mouth of the feeder creek!  We both returned to the spot about 3 times and hooked up, jumped off and had a ball watching the visual splendour of mostly small barra's about 40 to 55 cm smash our plastics in a gutter only about 4 metres wide!   Again the constant din of boats roaring to and fro in the main river and comment back at camp in the pool that no fish were caught as the tides aren't right yet and on Wednesday it will be better!????

Fish for dinner……? You bet ya, and despite their dark 'i come from the fresh mate' appearance the taste was sensational and certainly not a swamp dog.

Typical Daly Barra, a bit dark for my liking but taste just fine!

  

Jess on the pan with fresh crumbed barra!

This is an ordinary shot however what confused me is I was here all morning to day light and the croc in shot I saw and played with but the eye in the background I never saw another croc......?  

TOTAL KM - 0 

WEEK  - 4

DAY  1 - 15/04/12    SUNDAY 

Daly River - Woolianna Tourist Park

Fishing - A bit of a blur in hindsight as finally had a chance to pen some words….. We fished the Daly and with the assistance of Lenny's mud maps of the system it was impossible to troll for the number of boats doing the same and the current which with a snag up caused more grief than warranted when we had already figured out the easy alternatives.  I took Cheryl and Jessy Bell this morning with some lovely small Cherabin from the pots (cheating I know but too easy to catch barra for the uninitiated as such!) and after casting Cheryl's line (too close to snags to risk and tree up) said to her "now count to 3 and be ready to strike" and as quick as the words left my mouth her float vanished with a pop and a lovely 65 cm  barra was played to the boat and bled for dinner.  Not sure how many we caught but every session all fishers caught at least 1 barra.

The drain in No Fish Creek - every cast a hook up, strike and some good size fish caught and lost here.  Mainly trying to get to the net reaching down the bank.  75cm + fish.  My first cast was engulfed by a beauty I lost dragging up the bank and leader snapped due to weight of fish.....bugger!

TOTAL KM - 0  

Bindy and a sooty grunter that took a dead livey.

DAY 2 - 16/04/12  MONDAY

Daly River - Woolianna Tourist Park

We convinced Del Del ring the Bell to come on the water just for a quick check of the pot's and just had to pull up at the gutter on the way back and repeated the same process as Cheryl the day before……"Righto Del, you gotta catch a barra love so I'll cast this in and you hang on o.k.?  Cast line, count to 2 and boo!!!! Del is hooked up and both Greg and I laughing a roar as Del squealing with delight and both us encouraging her she landed her barra in no time….and still the boats roared past us in their numbers to far off reaches of the Daly to return and report very few fish caught today…still a bit early. 

Del's 2 second barra, small but fun!

A drain rat!  Heaps of these little terbra's but amongst them lurked some large fish.  Best from this drain in the boat was 80cm, jumped a heap off and lost many in snags submerged in the mouth.  

Trying to hide the hook ups was a hoot….One fish I had no matter how hard I held the rod low and lead it continued to jump and jump again.  A flash boat (one of there expensive set up's with men all wearing the flash fishing shirts with big barra's on them and bright colours) has caught us out and came straight over.  I then see the produce a short stroker each with cumbersome egg beaters and enjoyed the next 30 minutes teaching 4 Victorian's who've never barra fished before and came to the Daly to catch heaps of barras!   The Daly…….?  Certainly not an amateur fishers realm to say the least.

Fishing

TOTAL KM -  0

DAY 3 - 17/04/12  TUESDAY

Daly River - Woolianna Tourist Park

Since we arrived at the Daly we contrived to catch a croc and release it (jaw tied) into Del's van to pay her back for April Fools day and a bit of a laugh!  After the inevitable failures that come with trying to snag a croc with a  lure Kerriann spotted a beauty little croc up a drain that basically we were able to block off with the tinny and set up the trap.  First cast with a busted and broken old minnow lure and we were on!!!!!  Kacie played the croc while we got the jaw rope ready and after about 15 minutes and having got one rope on the top jaw and somehow it got off and the croc got through our blockade it was all but over but the line held and Kacie's mutters included "Oh Mum we should do this all the time!" and also "I bet Mr Church didn't do this" (Mr Church is Kacie's teacher at school who did an around Oz with his family also last year).  Anyway, while playing the croc to the boat we got the jaw rope on and of course it's then pandemonium as A - The croc realises it's got a real problem, and B - The twits on the other end realise the crocs not as small as first expected and C - another tinny trolling by see's the action and comes in with the camera and all the oooh's and aaaahhhhs…..  We explained in truthfulness that the croc had become hooked and we had to remove the lure from it's body before releasing it.  Finally all laughing a fit and camera's clicking our poor croc is in the boat and certainly too big to let loose in Aunty Del's van so we rip back to Woolianna and Kacie run's up and brings the crew down for a quick picture as we try to hide the fact that we have about a 7 foot croc in the tinny not at all happy about being there in the first place.   Happy snaps aside and removed all the mites from the crocs skin she was released shortly after in perfect form and figure. 

 Kacie kept gentle control of the croc the whole time by straddling it like Bindi Iwrin and hence here new nickname appears to be Bindy!

Just hold still mate we have to get those nasty hooks out of your side.......this photo courtesy of passing couple that were staying in same park and caught me catching the croc.....no knock on the door from police yet but was a bit worried word would get around and they would think I was hunting handbags....

The Paul Hogan hand trance didn't work so try something different.  Notice not smiling at the crocodile!

                                                                  Got ya ya little ripper!

Happy Snaps, removed the telecom rope straight after shot as too much rope on the crocs mouth.

Bindy nursed the croc all the way back to boat ramp where pliers to pull out the hooks and kept in calm with wet heshian bag over eyes/head and straddled it all the way and back again for release.

Jessie Bell in for a quick photo too!  Can't miss this opportunity!

TOTAL  KM -  0

DAY 4 - 18/04/12  WEDNESDAY

Daly River - Woolianna Tourist Park

On our way again packed up and punkin scones are made for morning tea at  Adelaide River were there were markets set up but locals or tourists it's hard to gauge?  We all brought a book from the lady selling novels who had the best array of popular novels seen at any market….Cheryl and Mick both brought a Wilbur Smith for $4.50.  The Ghan train went totting past. On the road again heading to Crab Claw Resort  $134. Set up camp and then cooled down in the pool. 

Our first home cooked loaf of bread.

TOTAL KM -  290

DAY 5 -  19/04/12 THURSDAY 

Crab Claw Resort

Greg & Michael set up the boat & set the crab pots. Mick caught a  huge queeny for breaky on a speculative troll & Cheryl made Nummis out of the left overs.  Michael took Cheryl & Jessica out for a fish Michael & Cheryl caught a keeper each. 6 sand crabs & 2 mud crabs. Cool down in the pool.  Cheryl was amazed again that within 1 minute of her cast finding water she was fighting another barra!  How easy is it?

TOTAL KM  -  0

DAY 6 -  20/04/12  FRIDAY  

Crab Claw Resort

Greg & Michael checked the pots 2x crabs bucket full of big mullet ready for the days fishing. Breaky gone and Kerriann, Kacie & Michael off to catch some fish but the boat landed on the bucket with the mullet in it and popped the lid and the mullet got away. Not a good start. Found some more mullet and off we went.  Michael & Kacie both caught a keeper each and lost about 6.  Checked pots 2 mud crabs. Cool down in the pool.

TOTAL  KM  -   0

Now that's a barra smile Jessy-Belle!  Our first two barra's at Crab Claw caught within minutes of casting in at a dirty water line on start of the run in at a shallow rock bar....GOLD!!!

Our camp at Crab Claw Island...magnificent spot and one I would go back to for potential here fishing wise is huge!

  Finally a feed of muddies.....you beauty!  The bloke on the right is Steve and his bride Vicky. Steve is the owner of Mooloolaba TackleWorld and our new friends.  Steve was working the day Kerriann made the dreadful mistake of leaving me for 2 hours at Steve's shop whith a special on...the look on her face when she drove in and saw me standing out front with $1400.00 worth of pots, pumps, hooks, lures, etc....and Steve and his offsider hiding inside....HILLARIOUS!!!Lovely bloke and people and my new tackle shop!  Nice to give you money to people you know and who are champions!

DAY 7 - 21/04/12 SATURDAY 

Crab Claw Resort

Barra & eggs for breaky, 3 mud crabs 1floater. Barra, chips & salad for lunch. No fish today too windy….pack up most of the gear and got ready for our next adventure tomorrow as we head to Koolpinyah Station near Howard Springs (Darwin) with Kristy and John Geddes (friends from Micks school years and Karumba).

Hi all from Adelaide River! We have just been at the Daly River from Friday 13th to today 18th and on our way to Crab Claw Island to feast on muddies.  Heaps to post and tons of pictures etc.... Sick of eating Barra and Kacie's new nick-name is Bindy......you'll see why soon but it involves 7 feet of teeth!  As soon as have the time and signal strength to post will update total days which we've kept going but only stopping here for fuel, some soft-drink and just watched the Ghan going South.  We have to get in contact with Kristy and John Geddes who are going to be our hosts in the Darwin precinct and also have land at Dundee Beach so heaps of fishing and catching up with old friends to continue.   John and Kristy manage Koolpinya Station near Darwin and should be a lot of fun to be had putting the girls to work on a cattle property!   Love to all and Post ASAP. Sorry for delays....Internet is scarce......

It's a small bloody world!!  New post to come with proper update but we are in Katherine and were visiting Greg and Del's rellies and Tiffany (the cousin brother sisters aunty) commented that she worked for North Australian Helicopters!  I mentioned that a dear friend of mine Russell Carrington from Karumba days works with NAH and she replied oh yeah he's my boss here in Katherine, he's the operations manager now!  Phone call and got to catch up with Russell and he shows me the photo's of the latest NAFA magazine shoot at his bosses property and low and behold it's the bloody Joneses from the show on telly keeping up with the Joneses!  HA!  Coolibah Station!  Russ is a fantastic bloke and those of us from the Karumba days all know him well!  Russ is well, looks fitter and the poor bugger I imagine is on the phone from 7am to 10pm running the NAH company!  We will catch up for a BBQ when we come back to Katherine after Daly/Darwin?

I am getting very excited!  Was stoked today when I spoke to Lenny Wood a Daly River veteran and he gave me a spot where all of us can fish from a land spot (won't mention any specifics but it sounds like a hot spot!!!!).....fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish................ Love to all! xx

Catholic Church at CP - Stunning!

Entrance to one of the homes. 80% of CP live in underground. Temp is constant 23 - 25 C regardless of winter of summer. Can see hill in back top of pic.

Sunrise at CP looking back over William Creek Road to the East

Same house as above.  Lovely homes and no doubt only way to live in CP is underground in the cool.  Apparently only the aboriginal people and Greeks and a few wogs refuse to live under ground.  That might explain Mr Greasy's attitude to me?

Downtown CP

Very good feed at Joe's Pizza etc.... CP's saviour!

Sun Rise at CP again....got some panoramic's but don't know how to put them together?

Hi all - Here is copy paste of Kerriann's running log with some edit from Me.  Some nice pics also.  Hope all are well and Happy Easter!  Would you believe Easter eggs were half price at the Ayr's Rock Resort IGA compared to what Kerriann brought in Coober Pedy....Bloody Coober Pedy got us again!

DAY 5 - 04/04/12 THURSDAY 

Riba's Underground Camping Park - Coober Pedy

Michael fixed Greg's tyre on his caravan this morning (enter Ed Mick:  Got to use my puncture repair kit for the first time! What a great thing that is! Pulled a nail that no doubt the bloody CP locals scattered around the servo to make business and put in one of them plug thingo's and typing now at Alice and  no pressure lost and costs on the trip all come down to 'a tank of fuel mate….a tank of fuel!') , fill up with water 20 cent for 30 litres picked up a few groceries and on our way to the border on SA & NT.  Crossed the border had  some lunch & a few pics and onto the turn off to Yulara saying goodbye to Greg & Del as they are head straight to Alice Spring where we will meet up again in about 3-4 days. We have stopped at Mt Conner which is a about 130 km from the rock (110 from Yulara) for the night free camp only ones here with a great view of Mt Conner.  

TOTAL KM -  610  (Biggest drive yet and went very quickly!)

DAY 6 - 05/04/12  FRIDAY  Good Friday 

Free camp at Mt Conner lookout 13 km from Yulara

Early start after a huge storm in the night!  Wind, lightning, and rain that sounded like hail!  BIG drops….the curtains straight and a quick lock down and put away in the middle of the night before the storm hit!   Morning run to Yulara Resort  set up and a bit to eat and out to "The Rock' enter 'Uluru - Kata Tjuta' National Park  $25 each adult and kids free.  No climbing today due to rain (to wet & slippery) so around the rock we go 10.6km.  Approx 2.5 hours later girls have had enough.  Had to walk through swamp/water on track due to heavy rain overnight.  All of us tippy toeing around as best as possible to keep feet dry and Kacie of course sloshing straight through it all with out a care in the world.  Back to the park for lunch and swim. Headed to the shopping centre (Girls thought it would be like Westfield centre) they were disappointed to see IGA,Post Office/ book, t'shirt & coffee shop. Heading out to the lookout for sunset to take a few pics of the rock.   Mick: Had the best spot at the lookout…climbed on top of the boat on the roof of the Nissan and absolute clear view of Uluru.  Fortunately the sun got a peak at horizon through the cloud and managed to get a couple of o.k. shots of colour on the rockl.  Back to camp and early night for early start tomorrow. 

TOTAL  KM -  132

DAY 7 - 06/04/12 SATURDAY    Easter Saturday

Yulara Resort 

Another early start to look at the Olgas  (Kata Tjuta meaning 'many heads' )small walk today 2.6km return Walpa (windy) Gorge Walk desert refuge for plants & animals. A rocky track with little streams quite warm (warmer than the park pool) Very very very windy (cool winds). Back to camp and packed up, too windy today to climb the rock so on our way to Kings Canyon. Oops missed the turn off to Kings Canyon decided to keep going to Alice Springs and head out from their to do Mcdonald Ranges tomorrow.  Miss Greg & Del to much staying at 'G'day Mate' caravan park in Alice tonight. Girls want to go and see Hunger Game at the movie.  (Mick in - Girls have just headed off to the movies to see Hunger Games.  Mick and Cheryl guarding camp and having a sip of wine and catching up the blog.  Lay day tomorrow has been decided for Easter Sunday. Day of rest and recovery and do some repairs. Brought a new UHF

Here are some of the most recent pic's from Ayers Rock and last few days:

See ya in a few months SA!

                                                            We need a bigger truck......!

Our first camp at Mount Connor lookout. Had the spot to ourselves and big rain / storm in the night.

Mt Connor camp from sandhill behind it.

         The road to Uluru from Mt Connor camp.

Great shot of a very rare Northern Territory double breasted Badger, he's hiding behind the third clump of bush on the right, your right not my right....

                                                 I just thought this was a nice photo.........?

The next morning at Connor's.  Not a very good shot but the Rainbow is about smack bang where Uluru should be 110 clicks away and gives you an idea of the rain we had overnight.  Oh and I nearly left that jiggler hose hanging on the fence behind!

                 King Rock, Armstrong Beach...........

The indomitable itchy grubs.....poor buggers were even trying to negotiate the roundabout at Ayers Rock resort!

Juvenile Zebra Finch

Adult Zebra finch....buggers wouldn't let me get any closer!

The girls on the Rock!  Our version of climbing the old girll!

North Eastern side of the rock as we did the base walk.  

                          Hitching a ride on the 10.6 k walk around Uluru.  No one stopped!?

The sunset behind us as we watched the setting sun on Uluru.

And of course the setting sun on Uluru from the tinny on the roof of the Nissan.

Please don't believe favouritism plays any role in my photography.....it's just that Kacie is the only lunatic mad enough to follow me to the roof of the tinny on the Nissan above a crowd of 200 people!

The Olga's - This was an early morning walk we did.  The creek water tasted beautiful and gin clear!  Very windy and cold!

Trying to work out which is the better photo from the others?  Only took about 50!

Probably the same as the last one a few back?  Hard to tell now?

Sitting in Yulara at Ayers Rock Resort with feet up and thought I'd better post my rant from the other night I penned while pouring my favourite cheap cask wine down my throat in the park at 11pm in a euphoric trance - Will post pics a bit later:  Enjoy and sorry if I offend any old CP locals but really your town needs a complete overhaul!

Coober Pedy!  Trying to draw a comparison to it without knowing another place like it….?  To be honest I had typed a few places here *** but all were unfair comparisons? Mind you it's only a few days before the annual Easter Opal Festival so one could imagine some vibrancy to the place but alas?  Put it this way…..night time is perhaps better than day? In CP's case…..(I call it that now I'm a local?) the flies won't drive you insane, the heat (not that it's that hot rather mild presently only got to 34) is gone, the ugly, dirty, ungraded, potholed and depressed state of the place is hidden by the billion starts and magnificent night sky.

We drove around town checking this and that as the proverbial tourist and I swear if I had arrived in a semi depressed state I would be found hanging from the nearest desert oak tree (Cue in 'Hang down your head Tom Dooley' ).  I'm hypothesising that the GFC ripple effect has caused no-one to buy the crappy $10 potch and opal jewellery that every opal store is overflowing with and covered in cobwebs, dust and belonging in a 20cent slide machine at the Local Show!  

They only turn the lights on when you enter the store (keep out the flies was the reason we were told and fair enough they drive you insane)!  The image is this….picture a mangy, dirty, fly blown*-hole (excuse the expletive but what else do you use?) street and a flaked and faded painted sign something like 'Jonesy's jewels and opals' with two old unshaven and unkempt 60+ men sitting at the front in the shade.  You approach as a tourist complete with camera, kids, clean clothes and a positive attitude!  They discretely sense your approach pretending to be customers themselves at a table out-front and bob up and walk inside first, flick the 20 watt light bulbs that barely illuminate the dusty dirty second hand jewel boxes and display cabinets that have the same crap the last shop had!  Then comes the sales pitch as though you are in the Mumbai markets…..Enter stage left Greasy Joe that just switched the lights:  "aaaaah my friend you are first customer today 40% off for you………you have children?"  Mick: "Yeah mate 2 daughters….thats them there! "  Greasy Joe:  " Ahhhhh  4 daughters!!! (Kerriann and Cheryl enter)…… you must see these, I only bring these out for special people……..40% off best in town!"   this one only 100 dollars for your little girl....more crap jewellery and I'm walking out the door smiling and nodding my exit not wanting to offend with comment….. Then the girls feel the same unease being individually coaxed to look at cheap crap and follow me to then have the mutterings that unmistakably were an insult that I would guess the equivalent of : "Toddle along then you irrepressible reprobates (google translate this to Australian bush slang and don't let Mum see).  I was impressed with one shop (no names) when I asked:  "Mate can you show me an opal that is Black on Red as they say that is o.k.? "  He of course immediately corrected me with "Red on Black mate……here….."  and presented a nice stone with that red sparkle on a dark background that was priced at $3,000.00.   He then went on to explain that the chances of finding one like that were quite rare.  That sold it for me!  Imagine digging through the chalk (it's like chalky clay and in itself very beautiful) for as long as it takes to hope to find your mother load and then sell that to pay for the monthly aero-guard account and start again? 

On the positive!  We chance decided to stay at a place about 10 k out of town on the Williams Creek Road called Riba's underground caravan and camping (i think) and it is fantastic!  Although the TV room has a 12 inch old box TV that if we turned on could possibly still be black and white and the internet cafe doesn't work….the staff, grounds and facilities were the best you could hope for…..best part is we're 10k out of town!

Tommorrow we go and fill up our water tanks at the only place you can (20 cents for 30 or so litres of beautiful water but the line up worries me?) and head North…..I went to the police station to pop in but there were SOC, Forensic's and 2 police cars down near the middle of town parked outside an address and the bully-man (my mission influence is returning) said to me who was parked out the front the equivalent of:  "nothing to see here, just move along!".  

Coober Pedy is…..different. More different than any place I have ever been to is Australia so far.  Currently it is extremely depressing, no one is smiling, AND!!!! we go to the flashiest joint in town..the Underground something or other Hotel whatever it's called and find the Underground bar……splendid in opal and all that…..I ask with a puzzled look at the distinct lack of taps in sight….."what do you have on tap here love?" and the reply….."sorry, we only have stubbies!"  Toddle Coober Pedy!  

Mick :  Hey all!  We are set up at Riba's Underground Caravan and Camping spot about 10 clicks out of Coober Pedy. Got here from Marree/William Creek (Oodnadatta Track) yesterday.  The roads were fantastic.  I will copy paste Kerriann's running day log's with some bits and pieces that I've put in so you will have to get used to posts that are a bit of everyone throwing their ten cents worth into the plot.

Got up at 5.50am and snuck out to the flat and filmed/photographed the Sunrise (Nik nok would be proud of me).  Will post them next blog if any good. Bloody flies - Everyone is wearing fly screen hats understandably and I will join the fashion as well as sick of flicking/flopping and cursing.  I realised to late while waiting for the video to film the sunrise and then hurling a string of cursive swearing at the flies out in the middle of a paddock which should come up nicely in the sound track!

Hey I just figured out how to put photo's here and there so this is another learning curb so please be patient with me?

 This is back at Menindee lakes but wanted to post it:  Greg corralling the yabbies! We had a feed, as much as it pains me to say they are pretty much the same as a red claw, blue claw or any bloody fresh water creek caught crustacean......!  I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised but ALAS!  They did however go very well in my signature prawn and chilli pasta dish!

We're still getting this internet business sorted and Coober Pedy is the best we've had since last posting. 

Kacie with XB copy of Mad Max car. Kerriann and I both hooned over the Mindi Mindi Plains in this about 7 years ago on the Variety Bash.  Back then it was not in much better condition either!

Sunset over Pamamaroo Lake evening before we headed off again.  Nice piccy so had to put it in.

DAY 7 - 31/03/12

Silverton 20km out side of Broken Hill 6.30

6.30am Still dark breaky and on to Broken Hill to be a tourist (Kacie & Jess went with Greg & Del & had a ball) 1st stop Pro Hart Gallery nice Saw a painting of Pro Hart & Kim & Family along a creek you could spot Debbie a mile away.

Can you spot Debbie in this painting?

On to the Silver city Mint & art centre (World's largest acrylic painting on canvas) $7.00 ea  100 metres long & 12 metres high nine tonnes of paint and 2 years (day & night) to paint. Top up the Groceries etc on our way for lunch at the border of NSW & SA. (Fruit Fly again)  Eating as much fruit & veg (made a Quiche…..)  Mick here….oh yeah, made a bloody Quiche alright…got the to SA border and the girls decide instead of wasting $2 worth of zucchini they'd fire up the bloody oven and have a cook off!  Sitting on the side of the road waiting for a flipping Quiche to cook in the middle of the day! end Mick ) Heading to Peterborough. Free camp on side of road 20 km out of Peterborough. Crumb Barra & Crumb Bugs doing it tuff. Greg got carried away with the Bugs it was hilarious….Kerriann's favourite tucker and she only got one…the accusations were flying everywhere 'who ate all the bugs, there were 15 of em' and Greg was quietly cooking away at the pan saying nothing!  HA HA HA!!!) Girls get to watch tv tonight.

TOTAL KM - 333

Waiting for Quiche to cook......SA border.

7 nights -  5 free camps & 2 paid nights not bad for the first week.

Sunset Mindi Mindi Plains - Silverton

The crew watching sunset!

Catholic Church at Silverton - Very pretty and brought by one of the locals who is restoring it.

WEEK 2

DAY  1 - 01/04/2012 Sunday   Kerriann's G/Dad's/Cheryl's Dad's Birthday would be 89 (April fools day)

20 km out of Peterborough to Orroroo.

Cool morning jaffles on the fire for breaky. Found out later aTotal fire ban in SA oops!  Del had the kids looking at first for a baby lamb tied to a tree near the camp and when Kacie wouldn't fall for it, she said it was a dead snake and finally the girls both had a look and were April fooled.   Pack up and on to Orroroo nice little town. On to Hawker fueled up with morning tea (cherry's rum and fruit cake and girls Anzac biscuits) and on to Flinders Range $9.00 one off National park fee & $11.00 a night per vehicle.  Looked at Dingly Del camp ground but headed on to Trezona Camp ground which was much nicer and set up camp. Lunch and off for a drive through Flinders rangers past Younggoona  camp site to Brachina Gorge. With all the rain still arid and desolate.  Not a lot of bird life which was surprising?  Check out track across to highway North and through creek and 4wd but better than going back to Hawker so decided to drive this way to go to Leigh Creek tomorrow. Back to camp big walk tomorrow morning early.

Jesssie's picture of an emu....we have seen about a thousand of these so far!

DAY 2 - 01/04/2012 MONDAY

Trezona Camp Ground -Flinders Rangers

Up early head back to Wilpena Pound Michael, Kerriann, Jess & Kacie walk Mt Ohlssen Bagge 6.4k return 950 meters altitude hardest walk.

On top of Mt Ohlssen Bagge

 & Greg, Del & Cheryl walked Wangara look out 7.2km return easy walk.  Top of Mt Ohlssen Bagge was nice but really just another bloody lookout of the same bloody range from a different bloody angle!  Return to camp packed a headed Brachina Gorge 

Brachina Gorge - Great drive through the gorge in the actual creek bed the whole time!

and took some film and photo's as the rigs went through the creeks and river bed.  Loving the Winjana. Kerriann and Kacie rode in the van with handheld to see what rattled etc… Removed oven trays from the oven and will now put a tea towel under the oven lid but otherwise all smooth sailing!  Onto Leigh Creek (coal mining town) but decide to head on to Marree. Come across some flood way crossing with a bit of running water and their would have been thousands of fresh water fish (like a Herring) trying to swim up the cause way. Poor buggers will perish no doubt when they hit the coal mine dam walls and the creeks dry up in a week or so! 

Fish trying to get over the causeway.

The ubiquitous circling of a few dozen black kites above! Staying behind the Marree pub. Great people very friendly and accommodating!  Allowed us to hook up to power & have showers. Cheryl, Del & Greg to fly over Lake Ayre tomorrow.  The publican thought it was funny when Mick went to the bar to get $2 change for shower with a $20 note. Had two rum-n-waters, shouted one and proclaimed that now he could have a shower with his $2 change!  

TOTAL KM -  221

DAY 3 - 02/04/2012 TUESDAY

Marree - Behind the pub

Cheryl, Del & Greg off for their 1.5 hr flight $285.00 each, sleep in for the rest of us. 

Flight was good a lot less water then expected 30% compared to 60% last year colours were spectacular no bird life. Fresh baked bread from the servo/shop and on our way along the Oodnadatta Track. A few pics on the side of the road - 2 planes standing up, a lovely flower windmill & a metal man standing with his baby on his shoulder. Pulled into Lake Ayre Sth lookout 12m below sea level, Jess picked up a few salt crystals on the ground. We were told the Coward spring are worth while looking at but did not stop & Dalhousie springs 37* hot ponds are excellent but we are not going that far. Salt pans, surprisingly green, red and lush very flat & hot. (No more emus) William Creek $2.20 litre turning off the Oodnadaata Track to hear to Coober Pedy.  Put 25 litres in just to be safe… 

Lake Ayre South

William Creek hotel - Fuel 2.20

William Creek public phone...didn't work?

Road was unreal, sitting on speed same as bitumen highway but no traffic.  Did not come across a single vehicle between William Creek and Coober Pedy.  Road had grass growing down centre between wheel marks. Looked as though only about 20 cars on the road since last heavy rain.  All creeks, dams, lakes etc… have water in them and the cows are all fat and happy.

Country side was incredible! Green and Gold throughout!

ARRIVE COOBER PEDY -

See you shortly!!!!