Day Seventy Two - September 16th, 2013 Alice Springs We drove out to the West MacDonnells after a quick game of cricket with the fun family we have met and their three young children. We stopped first at the Standley Chasm, our furthest point of the day. It is privately owned and run, with a gift shop and kiosk, and unfortunately we had to pay for entry, unlike the national park which owns the rest of the land, where it is free. We paid the $20 for the two of u...

Day Seventy One - September 15th, 2013 East Macdonnell Ranges, Alice Springs We headed out to the East Macdonnell Ranges to take a look at the dramatic mountains springing out of the otherwise flat desert ground. It is a very sacred site to the indigenous people as it is believed to be the ground of the three caterpillars. We drove the 80 or so kilometres out to Trephina Gorge and took a hike to the top of the rim and back down into the water-less gorge. It was...

Day Seventy - September 14th, 2013 Alice Springs We explored the town of Alice today and instantly fell in love with the quirky charm of the place. It's definitely my favourite place in the outback! We spied the 'oldest outfitters in the Centre' and popped in to have a look - neither of us can resist a saddlery. After months of searching, Elly finally found the perfect akubra hat; khaki green with a kangaroo leather band and opal from Cooba Pedy - a real find! ...

Day Sixty Nine - September 13th, 2013 (Friday the Thirteenth!) Daly Waters to Alice Springs via Devils Marbles Phew! Today was a big one. We thought we'd only get to Devils Marbles, but here we are in Alice. The roos were bounding past our tent around 4am, and we could hear them ripping up the grass around us late into the night, but we slept well. We were up and on the road by 7.30am, and with only a quick stop in Elliott to call Elliot's mum to wish her a hap...