Devil's Marbles.

We left Alice Springs and headed North towards Aileron, and came across some giant statures which had been made locally, we went into the art centre which showed how they had been made, it really was very interesting.   Carried on to Ti-tree  Barrow Creek, past Wycliffe Well and on to The Devils Marbles.  The first thing we saw on entering the Devil’s Marbles information area was a Dingo!!!  I really don’t like them!!! We decided to camp at the Devils Marbles at a cost of $3.20 each for the night, how cheap and how fantastic.  We decided as it was very windy we would sleep in our swag tonight. We went for a walk around the Marbles and were very surprised, not at how large they are as our land has a lot of big things, but the large area they are spread over. We watched the sunset over and beyond the marbles a very majestic sight!!!! This is Definitely worth a visit.

Aileron Statues.

The Old Telegraph Station.

The Devils Marbles.

Steve with a tinnie at Sunset.

Sunset at the Devils Marbles.

Monday should be at work really, but no let’s, head North to Tennant Creek.   We were going to stay here a while as the write up was very good, however upon arrival the town is very nice, yet we were disappointed with the sightseeing.  We went up to the information centre at battery hill mining centre, hoping to get a mine tour, no such luck.  Tennant Creek was Australia’s last gold rush town which sprung up in 1932.  We did go to the Lake Mary Ann which is a manmade lake and built in 1981 and I’m sure would be lovely on a calm day, but was a bit windy for a swim today.   We headed 11klms out of town to the solitary old telegraph station, I love the Old telegraph stations, the stone they are made from, the veranda all the way round and when you read the stories/history about the people that used to live here, how they would mend the lines, grow all their own vegetables, butcher their own cattle, they had to have many talents, I know someone that would have done well, and it’s not me!!!!!

As we drive North the landscape changes every 50klm or so and every now & then you go up a small incline and can actually see the vastness of our land.  We have tried to take pictures of how vast the land is; unfortunately this is one thing the camera can’t catch!!!!  The scenery is specular and words cannot really explain it.  We passed Lake Wood to our left and although it was in the distant it was huge.

We were going to stay at Longreach Waterhole tonight which is 12klm west of Elliot  ( Elliot looked horrible).  Anyhow we never found the turning left (not many roads round here, only the highway). Carrying-on to Dunmarra, came across a lot of smoke blowing across the road and was unsure what to do, no signs to say it was a controlled burn, no other traffic, so continued on for about 15klms through smoke and flames, it was a bit scary for me. We made it to Dunmarra wayside Inn and have decided to stay for 2 nights as very pleasant.  We ate in the roadhouse which was fantastic, we had pie, chips & gravy, 2 beers and it cost $26.00. The pies were homemade-fantastic. We also have a pool to swim in here and yes we had a dip, 20 minutes after arriving. The Greyhound buses also change drivers here. We had visitor’s to our camp, with Steve feeding them bread and then they wouldn’t go away, we always say stupid tourist feeding the animals in camp and  Steve does it!!!! Sam’s Birthday today!!! Happy Birthday Sam.

Steve causing trouble in camp.

Of course since we left McLaren Vale we have not seen one drop of rain and very few clouds, even Alice didn’t seem cold at night.   Now the weather is perfect each day we wear less clothes.  (Which could be a worry)!!  As we drive North the amount of cattle we have seen has been amazing and particular the Brahman (not sure how you spell that) all the cattle look very healthy.  The road trains are massive through here and seem to be carrying all sorts, a lot of cattle, army tanks, vehicle’s & lots of recycling seems to be heading to SA.   The termite mounds are also interesting, starting of very small and getting larger as we go North.

Total klms since leaving McLaren Vale 2926. (If I haven’t missed some)

 Happy birthday to my friend Jane in the Uk who is 50 today!   Happy Birthday Jane-let me know what it feels like!!!! We left Dunmarra and stopped off at Larrimah (which means meeting place in Aboriginal language),  we are 185km south of Katherine, the town came into being in 1940 with the construction of the nearby Gorrie Airfield, a major airfield servicing the war effort and later becoming the site of a rail head.  The Larrimah pub has lots of old memorabilia and the pink panther? We took a 4wd track out to the WWII airfield and zoomed along it with Captain Steve doing his Captains spiel!! It was funny!!!

Old Run Way. 

A young Brahma.