Day 17 Tuesday 25th

Packed up camp and headed out to Simpsons Gap in the West MacDonalds ranges Via the final resting area of John Flynn the founder of the RFDS to pay our respect. As much as we wanted to see more around Alice and the MacDonald ranges we decided we can't see it all so thought that was a bit of a compromise.

Simpsons Gap is a beautiful cutting through the ranges. Would be even more beautiful in the wet. Currently a few murky green puddles in a sandy dry river bed and a bigger prettier waterhole at the cutting, spotted with Black Rock wallabies. Can't work out who Simpson was!

Back into Alice for some supplies. Had to wait till 2pm for the bottle o to open and line up with the locals before heading north.

"On the road again! Just can't wait to get on the road again!" "I really ought to find out the words to the song!" JD sings! Oh god he's started whistling it!!!

Road trains galore! 53.5 metres long, 3 trailers and 64 wheels!

Crossed over the Tropic of Capricorn

"We'll stop up here at the top of the hill!' Funny that, its as flat as far as the eye can see.

Seems to be taking an awful long time to get to Devils Marbles. Fairly quiet in the back seats, but even JDs Joke about the dead camel, road kill being a "speed hump" fell on deaf ears!!

Grace had searched and booked tonight camping ground which was part of the Devils Marbles Hotel. Pool, pub and wifi!!

James gave me a bit of advice "If we end up going to the pub tonight, Don't order the Salmon or the Thai Fish Cakes. Thanks Hunny!

We checked in just as the sun set! A little Oasis in the desert! Photo opportunities of some clapped out old cars and the straight to the pub for a counterattack. (Too late to swim and wifi not working)
Real outback pub we literally ate at the bar. We were served by a couple of young travellers Olivia from USA, who had only been in the country for three weeks all of which she had spent at the Devils Marbles pub, she's broke. Rebecca from Canada also on a working visa on contracts in DM till October then looking for farm work. Anyone got any work for them? I have their contact details and JD said he'd see if he could help find them work.

Great outback experience!

Good nights sleep for all!