Travelling North from Devil's Marbles

We were caught up in this huge storm and had a total "whiteout". Couldn't see anything and we knew it was bad when the truckers behind us wouldn't overtake and they backed right away. We endured about 10 k's of it and then it eased of and we could see the road again.

Devil's Marbles

We thought we would be in Barrow Creek tonight but after stopping there we decided to go on. Wycliffe Well was next on our list - the UFO capital of Australia. It was a great park but then we read about Devils Marbles so tonight we are in the Devils Marbles conservation park. It is an astonishing and amazing seeing the boulders balancing on top of each other and not just a few there would be 100's. We are in an independent camp site tonight and there are about another 40 campers - how many people are on the road? We went on an informative (self guided) walk around the boulders and lots of people were up on top of the rocks - easy to do as they are granite and not to hard to climb. There are long drop toilets here very unusual but we do have our own toilets - thankfully!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heading North from Alice Springs

We stayed in Alice Springs for a week. We loved the countryside and outcrops were dramatic. The Sturt's Desert Peas were growing everywhere and they were very lovely. The first caravan park we stayed was handy to town and opposite the Araluen Cultural Centre. We saw Jimoen there on Saturday night. It was a complete sell out and he was funny.
We went touristy and visited Anzac Hill, the museum of Central Australia and the Todd River (in the dry). We don't think we would like to be in Alice in the "wet" the rivers at the moment are all sandy and dry - but there are enormous bridges across them for when the rains hit.
We spent a day sightseeing and went to Standley Chasm and Simpson's Gap in the West MacDonnell Ranges. The scenery was great but unfortunately there had been an enormous storm through there a month or two ago and the path had been washed away. We were walking through pebbles and rocks following the riverbed. It some parts it was easy other parts a bit more challenging.
The second caravan park was a bit further out of town but had the East MacDonnell ranges as its backdrop - very stunning.
On the way North we passed through The Tropic of Capricorn - it's officially the line where the desert meets the tropics.
Tonight we are in Ti Tree a small township around 190 kilometres North of Alice Springs. It is already warmer and we are enjoying it!!
Tomorrow we head to Barrow Creek.

Kulgera

Wednesday 12th of May we set off for Kulgera. It was very interesting but extremely busy on the road – it seems everyone is going north. We spotted 14 cars abandoned on the side of the road or in the paddocks. Not much road kill, animals or birds. About 16 caravans overtook us today on their quest North. We crossed the South Australian border into the Northern Territory today and it was very exciting. The border is marked by a great stopping off point and also a 24 hour camping place. On one set of boards is all about South Australia whilst on the other set of boards it is all about the Northern Territory. The Kulgera Pub is the first hotel you come to in the Northern Territory when travelling North and conversely it is also the last hotel in the Northern Territory when travelling South. The amenities are clean and the water is hot – but you cannot drink the water without boiling it first. The park is very big and it almost ½ full at 4.30pm. There is a large rock to the North of the park and aboriginal folklore says that if you take your woman out to the rock and get her to sit on the rock she will become pregnant.