We don't always have reception or radio coverage while traveling, so it was a surprise to us when we arrived in Alice Springs that all of the caravan parks were full for the next week due to the long weekend and the annual Desert Finke Race! A few of the parks had some spare 'overflow' spots, so we were given a gravel site up the very back corner of the park all on our own - felt like we were camped out in the bush which we were used to anyway!

However, the next morning, 2 motorhomes parked a foot away from our van, as well as a huge truck containing a racing buggy. And now we have another camper trailer on the other side of us as well as a tent pitched in front in the drain! Wow! The park management have been great organizing everyone and making sure we're all happy - one big happy family!! One couple next to us have been in Alice for a month while waiting for a part to fix their car. Very unfortunate for them.

We hadn't intended to stay for a week, but we were planning to drive the track down to Finke which is now closed until Tuesday due to the race. We were last in Alice about 3 years ago and had seen most of the gorges in this area, so we drove up to Anzac Hill for a great view of the town, walked around the 'Old Telegraph Station', visited Emily & Jessie Gap and the National Transport Museum.

I also caught up with a work colleague of mine, Anne for afternoon tea as she's lived here for about 2 years. It was lovely to see each other again. Weve also been cleaning out red dust from the van, car and clothes - I think this is an ongoing chore!

AND... of course, we had to see a part of the Finke Desert Race, seeing we're here anyway - although the caravan park is full of motorbikes, quads, buggies and 4wd's as well as a NZ team next to us! On the Saturday, we drove down to the starting line to see the vehicles qualifying for their starting place - what a crowd and peak hour traffic to drive there! We also went again today to watch the first-finishers.....the cars and buggies. The NZers came 16th which is very good, so they were pretty happy with that result for their first attempt.

Winter has also suddenly come upon us after about 2 years of summer! Night temperatures here have been down to 2 degrees and now our heater isn't working (probably due to lack of use, but most likely dust!)! So we had to dig out our winter woollies and prepare for continued cold weather until home!

We visited the Baptist Church here and again, nice to worship, have fellowship with other believers and hear a good message for our lives.