We're on the road again!!

It was lovely to see our van sitting proudly with 2 wheels and to be able to put our things in and set up again. The whole process restored our faith in human nature as everyone was kind and helpful and the business's involved were very efficient. And of course our long suffering travelling companions never grumbled and listened to our endless monologues about wheels and bearings! Thanks Dennis and Tops xxx. The only weak link was Toll Express - a guaranteed priority overnight delivery (which cost $1100!) that took 6 days -  with no apology or explanation that we are aware of. That's a pretty poor business model! Dennis's wheel bearings were fine so why we ended up with two faulty lots we'll probably never know. 

We shared our last night in Alice Springs with Greg and Jenny McNeil which was nice - we dined at the local tavern again. Jenny and Greg are on their way to visit Cheslea at Kununurra.

Yesterdays trip was uneventful but we were very glad to get past the accident scene at Aileron. We called in there to thank the chaps who found the wheel. 

Aileron has a huge statue of an aboriginal man on the hill and mother and child on the flat.

              

        

 It's different to have unlimited speed limits on the road with 130kph when you have to slow down! However, we've not witnessed any stupid behaviour and actually the road has been rather quiet with not as many transports as we'd imagined. We did read that rail hauls a huge percentage of freight up here.  We know we are in NT as there are anthills everywhere- travellers seem to love to dress them with a Tshirt which looks funny. Most remarkable though is the absence of wild life. Since Mambray Creek, we've seen not a kangaroo or emu - not even as road kill! The only road kill we saw yesterday were a couple of cattle. Today we did see one goanna about to cross the road - if he wasn't careful he'd be roadkill!! The   country however,  looks very healthy and green - probably much better than around home where it still can't seem to rain! 

We found the road side stops great with covered picnic tables, clean toilets, rubbish bins and water. Darryl paid $195c/litre at Barrow Creek for fuel,  but Dennis (with much better fuel economy than us!) found a cheaper price at Wyecliffe Well where it was $109c/litre!  But it was a vey eye opening experience witnessing many locals purchasing supplies!

Devils Marbles are on the way and we pulled off for a look - they are unusual boulders! Of most interest however was the Python in the information shelter.

            

    

We didn't know what to expect at Tennant Creek and had toyed with the idea of staying two nights and looking around but a quick look was all we needed!  Actually I found the town really depressing - dirty with rubbish everywhere, drab and ugly with everything barred - not a place I'd like to be stuck for a week! 

We're now set up at Daly Waters which is really one of these iconic outback pubs plus a bit of a park set off the main highway about 160km south of Mataranka. It's quite warm (37) and a drink will be very welcome later in the pub. 

          Here we are at Daly Waters

   The pub.

    We aren't going sightseeing in this helicopter!!

Along the way today we could see we had left the central Australian scenery and we are now in more dense and lush tropical vegetation. I think we are at about the same latitude as Cairns now. 

We've had a quick look around and now think we'll pop into the pool. Hope everyone is well and think of us soon enjoying the hot springs at Mataranka! xxxxxx