Oh my freakin god!!! That was the worst, most coldest night sleep I've had in ages!! Marty and l started off by sleeping with our heads under the doona, then we snuggled to keep warm but l was still shivering. Then sometime in the early morning Meg climbed into bed with us as she was whimpering she was cold, then about an hour after that Boo got in with us. The while four of us were in bed all together and l think by that time, all the body warmth started to get us slightly warm. Although l couldn't roll over to get comfy, at least l was stopped shivering! The sun couldn't come up quick enough! Meg and Boo both decided to sleep in, but in the end we had to wake Boo as it was 8 o'clock and we had to get back on the road.
Along with a crap nights sleep l managed to wake up feeling death warmed up. I knew once l would finish work and get back on the road l would get Marty's bloody cold. So l didn't see much of the trip in between Devils Marbles and Daly Waters as l slept most of the way!! We arrived at Daly Waters Pub around 3 o'clock thinking we made good time, however the caravan park out the back of the pub was already chockers with all the bloody grey nomads! We got a site in the over flow area over three road from the pub for $14 per night. The Daly Waters Pub is another well publicized place to stop and look at along the trip up north. It has a lot of quirky decorations and memorabilia plastered everywhere. There's the traffic lights right in front of the pub being signed as the 'most remote traffic lights in Australia', also the awesome crimson flowering trees brightening the front, and inside all the bras, shoes, shirts and different currency money stapled up over the walls. I love the way these outback pubs have a laugh by putting do much character into them. The staff are do friendly, and Irish! We were greeted and welcomed straight away. Again, outback hospitality at its best. Across the road is a guy cracking a hand made cattle whip to try and sell to the public. There's a tin shack with an old helicopter on its roof advertising done nik naks for sale, mostly handmade jewellery and signs. The cattle whips are actually made by this seventy something year old local bloke who's said to have plenty of character! Pity we couldn't have met him. The girls were so thrilled to see a little play area for kids out the back of the pub, kept them entertained for most of the night!
We booked in for the famous "Beef and Barra on the Barbie". Our set time was 7 o'clock, now this was gonna be a late tea for us, l know, now we sound like grey nomads. We settled at a table out the back and had a few wines and beers while this woman entertained us with her sax and backing music. At first it was ok, but after two or so hours l had heard enough! To make it worse the place was packed Roth grey nomads who were clapping and tapping their feet along with the music. I felt like l was in a time warp gone forward to my future! Where were all the young folk?
The girls got given a Daly Waters activity book to color in and it even had a treasure hunt on it to do. It kept our minds off our hungry bellies as we waited for seven o'clock to come round. The girls had a ball running all over the pub looking for the clues and answers. When they finished they took it up to the bar to get stamped and were rewarded with a free ice-cream. The book had dome interesting facts such as that Daly Waters had Australia's first international airport and that the first ever 'thong tree' was made in Daly Waters. Very cool facts l thought and again, gonna say, this pub is fantastic!! Caters for everyone!
Thankfully seven o'clock came faster than l thought and the mouth watering Barra took my mind of it all. It was the best Barramundi l have ever had, it just fell apart and was so moist. These cooks looked like they'd done it a few times, l later found out they do 15,000 meals a season! No wonder it was cooked to perfection. Marty even said his steak was perfect at medium-well cooked! With our bellies full and thank god the sax woman had finished her set. Next came "Chilli" a comic western singer. As soon as he got in stage he had us all in stitches. Only in the NT outback can anyone say anything and not be offensive or yelled at for saying the wrong thing. Out here you can say and do anything! His show was fantastic!!! His singing wasn't too bad either, an all rounder. After watching a few sets, l was feeling a tad knackered with my cold so we all headed back to the van. Having had the cold night last night, l rugged the girls and myself up with layers and socks! Marty even worked out that the investor would run the electric blankets. I wish he had of thought of that last night, but better late than never l suppose. Thankfully tonight doesn't seem to be as cold as last night, but l still started the night curled up to Marty with my head under the doona. At least l could feel my toes l guess......

Bell Xxx