Trip of 2008 begins......

01 Jun 08 - Day 1.

Adelaide to Pimba

We managed to leave home in Craigmore SA, by 9:15am going directly to the BP at Hillbank to pump up the tyres on the car and van before proceeding to the Pt Wakefield Road. We then headed north to Pt Wakefield where we stopped for a morning coffee/brunch break and checked the van over to make sure everything was secured properly. The new compressor fridge we had installed in January worked like a treat and maintained the fridge temp at less than 3°c whilst we were travelling. This ensured we had cold drinks whenever we wanted one. We also have extra battery power on this trip having purchased a second 100 amp AGM and connecting it in parallel with the first battery thereby giving us 200 amps of 12v power. This with the C-Tek 3 stage charger and dual battery system in the car will ensure that the batteries are kept well charged.
We topped up with LPG in Pt Augusta and then continued our drive up the Stuart Highway to Pimba where we arrived about 4:30pm. We stayed overnight at Spud's Roadhouse with a dozen other RVers. The road traffic and train noise died down by midnight so we had a very quiet sleepover. We watched 'Casino Royale' on the laptop which saw us through till bedtime. Overnight temp. was 7.4°c.
Fuel prices:
Pt Augusta
ULP=$1.56.9
LPG=$0.74.9

Lake Hart Rest Area SA

Gerry having a rest.

02 Jun 08 - Day 2

Pimba to Cadney Park

I was woken about 7:00am by a Kenworth starting up. It had arrived last night and was disembarking a heavy crane for a job in Woomera. Made a cup of tea then went outside to see the sunrise over the desert. Very nice experience. Our neighbour an old fellow in a campervan was already cooking breakfast over an open fire next to his van. He was heading south today towards the 'Gutta'. A few of the interstaters were already packed up and heading off to who knows where. We were away by 8:30am crossing the gibber plain towards Glendambo. We stopped to take some piccies at Lake Hart Rest Area. We were originally going to stay here overnight but then decided that Spud's may be more interesting on a Sunday evening. It wasn't. There were a few vehicles towing bike trailers heading o Alice for the 2008 Finke Desert Race which will be on next weekend (Queen's Birthday Weekend). Refuelled at Glendambo and morning break before continuing on to Coober Pedy for lunch and more fuel. After lunch we couldn't make up our minds whether overnight at Potnoura R.A. or drive on to Cadney Park H.S. which has a caravan park. 240v, Tv and hot showers. Cadney Park won in the end and we arrived there about 4:15pm. After parking the van we set down for a tea and bickie. The guy next door in an old stye 24' caravan came over to say G'day. As soon as I saw him I recognised him as Jack Absalom AM the painter from Broken Hill and TV documentary fame. He must be in his 80's now. We talked for a time or rather he did as you can't get a word in sideways when he starts. Just like on TV. A very nice guy. He gave us a couple of brochures about his Art Gallery in Broken Hill. If we come back that way we will call in and have a gander at his paintings. He and his wife are on their way to the Victoria River district of W.A. where he plans to do some more paintings. So only two days on the road and we have met an Outback legend!!
Fuel prices:
Glendambo
ULP=$1.69.9
LPG=$0.86.5
Diesel=$1.89.9

Coober Pedy
ULP=$1.72.9
LPG=$0.89.9
Diesel=$1.93.9

Outside Coober Pedy SA.

03 Jun 08 - Day 3.

Cadney Park to Alice Springs

Our neighbours were up with the sun and by the time I got up they were on their way north. We took our time (because we're retired! and we can) and were away by 8;:15am after having some breakfast first. We were soon in Marla and filled up with LPG at $1.01 per litre. What a rip off. Onward to the SA/NT border and Kulgera for a lunch break. We saw an accident about 70kms south of the border involving a Tojo Cruiser that had rolled in a single vehicle collision with the road. Perfect straight stretch of road at that location as well. No idea how it happened. Police were there cleaning up and the RAA from Marla was scooping the vehicle up on to the tray trailer. Didn't see any ambulance so maybe no one was injured?
After lunch we drove on to Erldunda where we contacted Mell to let her know where we were and what time we would be in Alice. We arrived in Alice Springs about 4pm and booked into the McDonnel Range Big 4 CP for a week. We set up camp and arranged to meet up with Mell, Leanne and her kids for dinner at La Casalinga Pizza Bar at 7pm. After dinner we said our farewells for the night and headed back to the CP for a sleep. All in all it was a good days travel. Tomorrow and for the next 7 days we explore 'The Alice'.
Fuel prices:
Marla
ULP=$1.81
LPG=$1.01.5
Diesel=$2.01

Kulgara
ULP=$1.92
LPG=$0.95
Diesel=$2.03

Sunrise Cadney Park H.S. SA.

04 Jun 08 - Day 4.

Alice Springs

Cold night overnight. Got down to 4°c. Slept in till 7:30am. After breakfast we drove into Town to purchase some shade cloth to use as a groundsheet as the ground in front of the van is grassless. All the grass on the site is under the van. The ground sheet will keep the dirt out. Also topped up with LPG at the Caltex on Stuart Highway. We went to the Shell Express but the pump wasn't working, so we dipped out on the huge Coles discount of $2.40 for the fuel. Afters we went to the shopping mall and had a coffee. Whilst sitting there sipping my coffee I realised that my mobile wasn't in my pocket. Leaving Gerry at the coffee shop I drove back to all the places we had been after checking everywhere in the car. Or so I thought. Finally found the mobile lying on the back seat next to some shopping items. Talk about a senior moment! And I'm still a young fellow! Had some more looking around the shopping plazas to see what has changed since we left town 18 months ago. Not much, same town different time!!
We went back to the van for lunch and read the daily paper. After, we fixed the shade cloth with some eyelets and laid it out under the awning. Just like a bought one; hang on, it is!!! Gerry and I had a nanna nap in the afternoon and listened to some music. Later we put up the front shade on the awning because the sun was a bit strong. Much better now.
Tonight we are going out to the casino for dinner with Mell and Leanne. Mell's shout because it was my birthday last week and she offered.
Footnote: Had dinner at the new 'Juicy Rump' restaurant in the casino. Very busy for a Wednesday night I thought. Food was good but expensive. Glad Mell was buying!
Fuel prices:
ULP=$1.72.5
LPG=$0.87.9

Our home in Alice!

05 Jun08 - Day 5.

Alice Springs and the Finke Desert Race

A lay day for us today. We did some washing and minor shopping at Coles. Had a coffee and meat pie at the Wicked Neads Bakery. Is it just me or are food prices going through the roof. Didn't get much change from $20!! Stayed at the van park in the afternoon for lunch and R&R. Started reading Mathew Reilly's 'The six sacred stones'. Gerry is reading Colleen McCullough's 'Anthony and Cleopatra'. The things you do when on the road. The town is getting busier during the week because of the 'Finke Desert Race' on the weekend. The van parks are filling up. We have a number of large rigs parked near us. There are two fifth wheelers towed by a F250 and F350 parked on the roadway because they are too big for the sites. Half the van is a storage area and workshop for a dune buggy and the other half is living space. Must cost a fortune.
The "Tattersall's Finke Desert Race" is an off-road two day race through desert country from Alice Springs to the Finke Community. People from all over Australia and overseas converge on Alice to compete and enjoy watching motorbikes, cars and buggies battle for thousands of dollars prize money.

Big rigs in Town for the
Finke Desert Race.

Another view of the 5th wheeler
' Runamuk' Off-road Racing' Team.

06 Jun 08 - Day 6.

Another day in 'The Alice".

Cold overnight 6°c. According to the radio we are expecting rain this weekend, starting tonight. That figures, usually does rain on the Finke Weekend just so everybody gets covered in mud. So, whenever we expect rain what is the first thing we do, yep!, wash the car! That usually guarantees that it is going to rain. The CP was washing down the roof of the bunkhouse yesterday so that clean rainwater goes in the tanks on either end. We bought a ticket in the Powerball for last night so we had to go into town to check if we had won the $58m or not. No such luck. Did some more reading this afternoon. One thing about Matthew Reilly books, once you start them they are hard to put down. It cooled down in the afternoon as the clouds rolled in. Maybe it is going to rain after all!!

Tonight we will go to the Gillen Club for dinner and a drink. We are still members from when we lived here. Might win a chook draw to compensate for the no win on the Powerball. Life goes on in "The Alice".

Sturt Desert Peas
.

A Bush sunset
.

Old Town Jail near Courthouse
Alice Springs.

07 Jun 08 - Day 7.

The rain she comes to 'Alice'

Well, it started raining in the early hours of the morning and it hasn't stopped all day. The roads are wet and muddy and puddles are everywhere. The Finke contestants woke up to a miserable day for their 'prologue' race which determines their start position tomorrow. But I guess if you are a keen off-road racer the mud is what you come for. At least the dust is going to be kept down. It will be miserable for the visitors who will be camping out along the track to watch the race. As this is an annual event, the locals all go out to the track to camp overnight, come rain or shine.
We woke about 7:30am and stayed indoors because it was too wet outside. It was cold as well. The thermometer showed 9c this morning and it has hovered around 12c all day. Good thing I brought my jumper and rain jacket. We went to the local Harvey Norman Store this morning cause Gerry had spotted an mp3 player going for $15. Good bargain. She wants one so that she can listen to music and not lug around the disk player. Whatever! Afterwards we had a coffee at the local maccas cafe. Mell had to work this morning till 12md at Subway. We had lunch with her after work and then went shopping at k-mart. Women, all they want to do is shop till they drop!!
We plan to stay home tonight as it is too cold and wet to do anything else. It continues to rain. Gerry is going to cook us up a batch of Nasi Goreng. Yum!

08 Jun 08 - Day 8.

Pancake Sunday at MacDonnel Range CP.

It was still drizzling when we woke up this morning but the day cleared up pretty fast once the sun broke through the clouds. Every Sunday morning the CP has a Pancake Breakfast where all CP patrons are invited to partake in pancakes, tea ,cordial or coffee at one of the BBQ areas. It is all free so most people attend and by the time we arrived the line was already long. We were given name tags to put our names and place of origin on so that when you meet others they could call you by your name. The idea is that people meet and chat so that they may get to know each other and make new friends. Wonderful in principle but in practice most people are shy and or have difficulty communicating. Never the less, it was an interesting morning and we chatted to a couple from WA. We may or may never meet again. Who knows! Most of us were heading north so the chances of meeting up with other cvaravanners on the trek to Darwin and beyond are good. Only time will tell. The pancakes weren't bad either.

Later we met up with Mell at Leanne's home and had coffee. We then went to the Gillen club for Sunday roast before heading back to the CP for a rest. As I write this the sun has come out and the day is warming up. In a day or so you won't know that it has rained this weekend.

Sunday Pancake Breakfast gets underway.

Everybody loved their pancakes.

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