Coober to Yulara and first day in the Red Centre!

OMG! What a long drive! It took us from 7am in the morning until 430pm in the afternoon to get to Yulara (resort town for Uluru/Kata Tjuta). On the way we stopped at small roadhouses like Marla and Erldunda. We had lunch at Erldunda and when putting petrol in the car (very expensive too) I could hear the sounds of a bird avairy. I walked over to the sound and there were about 40 zebra finches drinking from a water source in the ground...wild...free...wow!

We drove the 260 km across to Yulara, seeing Mount Conner (thanks Nikas for giving Bec the tip off...was going to try and trick her) and finally getting to the resort in the late afternoon. I met my brother Shaun out the front of the resort (he is 2IC here) and he took us to the campground. We settled in and had champagne in an ice bucket delivered to our van, courtesy of Shaun, Mandy and Hanna.

After setting up, we went around to Shaun and Mandy's and had tea. Mum and Dad are staying there for the three nights, while we're in the campground. We were pretty tired, so we had tea and went back to the campground for a sleep.

I woke up at 5am for a toilet visit and was a bit worried on the way back to the van when wild dingoes started howling in the dark....pack my dacks time! In the morning we got up, got organised and went into the resort for a shop. After that we drove into the National Park on our way to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas).

When we arrived there we got sorted and started to do the Valley of The Winds walk...it's around a 8km walk through the rock outcops. The walk was amazing....up up up...then down into valleys surrounded by red rock. Dad had fun climbing up to the first lookout thanks to a sausage roll! Lol... The walk went along creek beds lined with Ghost Gums and zebra finch were everywhere. We had to climb up walls of rock and up through valleys that had the most amazing views. Halfway through we stopped for lunch overlooking the valley below. The rest of the walk swept around the back of the rock domes...across dry rocky plains...to meet the start of the track. The photos I've taken do not do it justice....it was just amazing!

We returned to the campground, got ready for tea and went out to The Outback Pioneer Hotel...Bough house Restaurant...a $50 a head smorgasboard dinner....oysters, prawns, sushi, camel, kangaroo, salmon, atlantic salmon, crocodile, barramundi, other normal meats....and sweets like pecan pie, chocolate mouse, tropical delight, pavlova, chocolate mud cake...and so on... We ate a wee bit too much, but it was magnificent.

After that the girls went home to bed and Shaun and I stayed at the Outback Pioneer Hotel until close, having a few drinks with resort mates of Shaun's. By the time I got to bed, I was pretty tired....but what a great day. The Olga's are awesome...and what's funny, if you look at the silhouette of them, it looks like Homer Simpson....check it out....

COOBER PEDY OR BUST!

Today was full on!

We got up at 6 am, packed and left Port Augusta at 730am.

The trip was an interesting one....better than I expected. I didn't think the countryside would be so interesting...huge salt lakes, rolling hills, scrub, saltmarsh, rocky outcrops and more.

We stopped for a wee at a roadside stop overlooking the Flinders Ranges. I heard Bec gagging and thought she was going to vomit. Then Heather came out coughing and retching! I thought....what carry-ons....and marched over to use the Mens....well....I couldn't even lift the lid....I nearly vomitted on the spot! The stench was so foul....so I backed out of the toilet quick smart and took a walk instead to find a bush....not many around though!

We stopped at Lake Hart and were amazed by it's size and how beautiful it was. For those that don't know, it's a huge salt lake with beautiful cliffs surrouding it in the middle of no-where! Heather, Georgia, Frey and I walked down to the edge and picked up salt crystals off the sand. The water was covered in a thin film of salt, which we thought was pretty interesting. On the way back up to the carpark we saw a pair of mulga parrots...new species for me!

On the way to Glendambo we saw wild families of emus running alongside the car and even a huge wedge tailed eagle eating a kangaroo carcass! One was also flying overhead. We had lunch at Glendambo and Freyja locked the van keys in the caravan....lucky she hid from me because she would've got a kick in the pants! I was so annoyed. Apart from that it was fun eating lunch in the sun and I even got through a few hours of the day in a tshirt....very sunny weather...but still cold.

We got to Coober Pedy at 330pm and set up in our park. After a quick cuppa....we were in the car for a look at the town. Wow! What an interesting place! Deb and Greg....we saw a few of your friends and they asked after you! Lol....

All of us piled into the Kluger and traveled out to the Dog Fence (over 5000km long to keep out the dingoes). This was reached after driving along a stretch of the Oonadatta Track (largely 4WD). We took a turn up a track and went to Moon Plain...a site that looks like the surface of the moon and used in horror and space movies....like Pitch Black for example. From here we went to The Breakaways....beautiful sandstone rock outcrops in the middle of nowhere....in all different colours....and magnificent with the sun setting on them....which we had. Unfortunately Georgia wasn't feeling great (sick tummy bug like Frey had last week) and spent the time dry reaching instead of enjoying the view...although I guess you didn't really need to know that! Lol

We got back to the park and ordered pizza from the caravan park bar....I'm typing this on the restaurant Internet kiosk...so no pics again...but definitely some in a few days when I use my brother's computer at Yulara (Ayers Rock)

Catch you all later....

MBGF

PORT AUGUSTA

We decided to get up later and take our time as we were tired. Due to this we didn't leave Renmark until 930am.

The first part of the day was very interesting traveling through The Riverland. Towns like Waikerie and Morgan were really appealing and we especially liked the ferry trip (in our car with van attached) across the Murray River at Morgan. After this we traveled to Burra and had lunch at Peacock's Chimney. We had sandwiches out in the sun and boiled the kettle in the van. Boy this Expanda is so much better for this kind of travel... We really liked Burra and I remembered Gary and Glenda talking about stopping there before. My brother Shaun also told us about a building named "Pearce Building" which we saw standing proudly in the main street.

The afternoon was spent driving. The girls rewatched all of season 1 Kath and Kim today too. Before we got to Port Augusta, we crossed the southern end of The Flinders Ranges at Horricks Pass. This stretch of road was magnificent with views of the ranges and then of Spencer Gulf as you came out the other side.

We got to Port Augusta at 4pm and stayed hitched up, thanks to a drive through site. We looked around the park, the girls made new friends and we had 5 o'clock nibbles and drink outside....as it's not too cold

We're all well...but looking forward to the fun to start when we stop for a few days and get a chance to look around.

Photos loaded when i'm not at an Internet Kiosk....there's no flash drive hole Ryan!

Thanks to all that have joined and those that are reading....

Renmark

Hey everyone! We're officially away...

Left home at 6am, got Heather from Dunolly at 630am and we were off by 7!

Breakfast was at a bakery in Birchip. Nice pies... The two girls had a photo with a statue of a Mallee Bull and no points to guess which part F was most fascinated with!

Fruit was dropped off at a fruit fly bin drop off and the girls amused themselves trying to find the biggest tumbleweed... We toured Red Cliffs (my first home) and then Mildura (because apparently a legend named Matthew was born there). Lunch was at a very posh and tropical McDonalds in Mildura.

On the way to Renmark we met up with Mum and Dad for a cuppa. We drove through the fruit fly check (happy guys they are) and under the big Dunlop wheel into South Australia! Our park was right on the river and very beautiful! The river was up and was covered in duck weed. The girls made friends and played on the jumping pillow. We all enjoyed the aviaries containing gouldian finch, quail, regent parrots, alexandra princess parrots and bourke parrots.

We went into Renmark to look at two huge hot air balloons at the football oval. The kids were fascinated seeing them fire up.... After that we stocked up on groceries and went back to the van for tea. After curried sausages and apple cake (thanks Heather) we went for a night walk around the park. We saw 8 kangaroos and 2 possums.

It was early to bed and that was the end of our first stop!

Sorry about no photos but G and I are on one of those terrible Internet kiosks where $2 gets you 15 minutes and they keys have to be pushed through the table to work. ARRRRRRGGGGHHH!

The night before Christmas....actually....the trip!

After finishing school and the 9 week stint as Principal...it was good to get home and organise the van. It was on before dark and Georgia and I were able to do all of the car jobs.....air/oil/water etc.

We have been spoilt today with farewells at school....the most amazing morning tea that turned into lunch too! Thanks all concerned...much appreciated! The chocolate blocks will come in handy too.

The girls have lollies in the car to eat thanks to Lach and Soph, we have nutloaf thanks to Chris and Maree and Dean gave the girls a cool drink bottle each for the car and some chocolates to share as well as something nice for Bec and I to drink by the Murray tomorrow night. Thanks guys!

Tea was taken care of by Nikas and Millsy....well done guys....oh...and Zayden + Marlo

It's late (11.07pm), we're tired and almost ready to go to bed. We plan on an early start tomorrow (Sat 12 June) - probably around 5am! See how we go with that one! Lol. Then we're off to Dunolly to pick up Heather and off to Renmark via Mildura....

I'll try and load photos as soon as I can!

...and great to see so many followers.....including Evan! Good job...