Day 11 30/05/2013 Alice Springs
To cut a long story short we found a welder to fix the shock absorber back on! A really great guy who did the job in a couple of hours. Of course we had to pack up and leave the caravan park.....but that's ok, we are back now....in a different spot! We had a wander through town and a coffee to pass the time. Then we headed out to Desert Dwellers camping gear shop to buy a new dunny tent......one we could fold up! However they only had the same kind as we already have, and when we explained our predicament to the very helpful sales assistant, she offered to show us how to do it.....saying "oh you can't go by the instructions, they are useless!!!"
So, out to the car park with us she came and showed us a great method. We practised once or twice and now.... 'I think we've got it'!
We picked up the trailer and this coincided with us being able to watch The Ghan leave Alice, en-route to Adelaide. This train is a twice weekly service between Darwin and Adelaide. We have travelled on it in 2001 from Adelaide to Alice, before the line was extended to Darwin. The train was named for the Afghan traders who came to Australia around 150 years ago. In true Aussie style, their name was shortened to 'Ghan'. These traders and their camels helped open up the interior of Australia and the camel icon on the train is a tribute to them.
We had lunch in town and dinner too! In between we decided to purchase a satellite phone which we can use in remote areas if necessary. (Breakdowns and the like). We do carry a personal emergency beacon (EPIRB), but that is only for use in life-threatening situations.
Another day in Alice tomorrow .... This one was in our schedule as we have to have our vehicle serviced.