Hi Folks

Don't expect any more photos for a while, if ever, as it's just taken us over an hour to put them on!! Enjoyed our time in Alice , checked out the city, the flying doctor service (we should start one Graham!) another great sunset from Anzac hill. The first night, we went to an astronomy talk under the stars and looked at craters on the moon and jupiter through the telescope. We then used our knowledge of the stars to find our way to the van, which took us 1 1/2 hrs!! We passed some people three times drinking by their vans and even though they sent us in the right direction, we still ended up the wrong side of the park. We visited the same loos several times as we were laughing so much!

The next day, we managed to get up early, one hour after we'd been to sleep, as we thought text coming through was the alarm! We felt wide awake then but not at 5.30am when it really went off! We had a great 4WD trip to Palm valley, which took all day , with great lunch and walks. Got back to camp for the camp fire and songs at the camp site, we only had to take a chair and our vino. After a lazy am, we checked out of Alice and headed north.

We went to the telegraph station, where Alice springs originated. Then we drove to Mount Stuart, the mathematical heart of OZ and camped for the night, passing over Tropic of capricorn. We pulled up a chair , grabbed the vino and joined the others already watching sunset. Everyone is so friendly, telling us all their funny tales and where we should go next. We'll need 6 months to do everything! Got up early and drove 600km north, fighting our way through a plague of locusts that stuck all over the windscreen, stunned and wriggling their legs, only to recover and try to join us in the van!!

On the roadside (zero cost!) again, more friendly travellers. Next day, pulled into Mataranka springs to go to the loo and there was a large toad under the rim of Pam's! Fortunately, it didn't bite her bum! On to Kakadu national park, just missing a wallaby crossing the road and checked into Cooinda lodge. Cooked meal in camp kitchen, had a beer in the bar and watched some rugby till the storm shut everything down!

Sounds corny, but we are really beginning to feel at peace with the land and nature.

Up early and onto the yellow river water cruise. Saw sunrise over the wetlands and saw lots of amazing birds and crocs! Then on the road again , stopping to do lots of walking and look at aboriginal rock art sites and culture centres. Headed towards Ubirr rock for the sunset over Arnhem land and eastern alligator river. We settled down in a good campsite that we had spied earlier. Unfortunately, as we were stripped off for am wash, the friendly ranger arrived to tell us off for camping in his car park! very embarassing but could have been worse. If we had more clothes on, we would have asked for a picture of his pet baby wallaby that he was taking for a walk!

We then set off for Darwin, having a cruise on the way on the Adelaide river to see more crocs in natural habitat.

We like this aboriginal saying

If you respect the land

then you will feel the land

Your experience will be one that you cannot get anywhere else in the world

And so say all of us............