We made it!!
The first
part of this adventure, as planned at the moment, is a six week stay in Alice Springs
so we always intended an express run. And so here we are, already in Alice. Our
truckie mates don’t think it was so express but for a traveller who likes to
explore and take photos I’m sticking with my story that it was express!!
Having
left Glendambo intent on getting to Marla we stopped for a short lunch break of
noodles an hour or so above Coober Pedy, where we had refuelled and chatted to
Kyle. Bill’s legs were aching because of the seating position and my neck was a
little sore thanks to the suspension but otherwise we were feeling fine. I took
a very big breath as the pilot for the 5-metre wide D10 called us around – but I
did manage to keep my eyes open. And you know what – nothing went wrong. We were around in no time, nothing blew off,
nothing came towards us, all soo easy!
We arrived at Marla by about 2.30pm, looked at each other and decided that we could keep going, the NT was definitely calling. So, after a quick fuel stop, we jumped back in and off we went. We did a quiet ‘high five’ as we went passed the NT border.
Next stop Kulgera, which like most road houses on the Stuart Highway offers camping grounds, motel accommodation, fuel ($2.79 p/l – we didn’t top up) take aways and a pub. I’d decided before leaving home that I would give myself a few nights off cooking on the way up so off to the pub and happy hour we went. Kulgera pub is well known for its unusual decorations – the bar is filled with hanging bras of all shapes and sizes (although mostly large I’d say). The bar was crowded with travellers so we were pleased to find a quiet spot outside for a drink and steak sandwiches. It wasn’t long before we realised outside was crowded (OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration) with mice. Soon we were playing spot the creatures, they were small but
cunning. Every time Bill picked up the shovel they’d disappear! Anyway, the meal was fine, the shower was hot in the evening, but the pipes were empty in the morning so no shower which made for a quick get-away.
By midday we had
arrived at our ‘home away from home’ – Birdsville camp site at the National
Transport Hall of Fame and Ghan Museum.
Noelene and Dave were here to greet us, Dizy helped me unpack and get
the washing done and Vonda had the bubbles chilled for me when her and Graham
got back from the drags.
as it’s an International truck – ‘gotta say, I do like that name) but I was asleep just after 9.30pm NT time (10pm Victorian time) and slept like a log. I’m glad I woke early though as I got to see my first Alice Springs sunrise for 2022.
Today, after I’ve had a cup of tea in bed, finished this blog, had another cup of tea and a read of my Dervla McTiernan book I’ll see what the day brings. Some shopping to stock the cupboards and get the items we’ve got multiples of stored in the shed at Fish – cable for TV, fitting for hose, brush and shovel, detergent, etc etc I wouldn’t recommend clearing a house and trying to pack a caravan in 3 days – get the caravan/mobile home out a little earlier and give yourself a little more headspace – just a traveller’s tip 😊. We might wander up and find out what our volunteering jobs involve or we might just take the whole day off and sort that tomorrow. That’s what’s great about a ‘kinda’ plan, we will just see what happens as the day goes.
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