July 9-13 Back to Alice

Back to Alice! Why?
Good question. It's cold and it's raining. Top temperature of only 11 degrees today (Wed).
However it was an opportunity to see our daughter Ruby again as well as my brother Graham who is in Alice for a week-long holiday. We surprised Graham at his hotel room on Tuesday afternoon - could have been awkward, but fortunately he seemed genuinely pleased to see us. We ate at Hanuman's (restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Hotel where Ruby works) that night and then spent a quiet day on Wednesday while it drizzled outside. We managed to go out for lunch at the Rock Bar, but otherwise hung around Ruby's house. Ruby & Graham go on a 2-day trip to Uluru and Kings Canyon on Thursday/Friday.

This was a last-minute change of plans to visit Alice. We travelled south from Darwin with the intention of turning east at Three Ways (just north of Tennant Creek) and then heading for Cairns. Along the way, we decided that it would be a relatively short detour of only 500kms to go further south to Alice for a couple of days. So here we are.

However, the cold weather is a shock to our systems. We're getting out of Alice again tomorrow (Thursday) and heading north for some warmer weather. No regrets though - it was great to see Ruby and Graham.

The trip from Darwin to Alice was without incident. We have discovered that radio repeater towers are an ideal free camping spot. These are level, gravelled areas that are usually placed well back from the main road with reasonable dirt track access. Some of the tracks have closed gates, but so far they have not been locked. So this is an additional advantage as it discourages other campers (but not us) from going down the track and annoying us. We will be looking for more of these towers on our travels to Cairns.

Our overnight camp site just south of Katherine

Our overnight camp site just north of Elliot

Our overnight campsite just north of Barrow Creek. The track is supposedly destined for a Radio Repeater tower, but after nearly 2 kms, we were happy just to set up camp on the side of the track.

Morning views from the caravan. And so quiet.

Brother Graham and daughter Ruby at Alice Springs

A more realistic picture as they brave the freezing cold weather

Judith, Robert, Graham and Ruby enjoying lunch at the Rock Bar

Another group photo, this time without flash

Still a happy couple after 90 days travelling

Some family and friends have asked how Princess is coping after the loss of Spike.
Well she's doing just fine and getting spoilt rotten.