After two weeks on the road it's time to leave the Red Centre (which is actually pretty green) and head West. We leave Alice today (Mark's first 'dose on the road' went off without a hitch today!) and will be on the Tanami Track by this arvo to make our way across to Broome.

Since leaving The Rock and The Olgas we did another 3hr walk at Kings Canyon (Day 6) - again Tess managed 80% and Max skipped and ran. Our timing was great - we got back to the car just as it started to drizzle, which it then continued to do for our next 2-3 hr drive to our bush camp.

We continued on the Mereenie Loop Rd to Palm Valley where we had two fabulous nights (Day 7 and 8) - we did a one and a half hour walk through the Valley - our legs were a bit weary. We saw a dingo and some great lizards on the walk - "Lizard Boy" (Max) is pretty quick on his feet but couldn't manage to catch the lizards (despite multiple efforts). He chased the first one into the Spinifex but didn't bother doing that a second time !

Days 9 - 11 were spent relaxing at Alice Springs. We stayed at the Big 4 Caravan Park and the kids had a great time meeting new friends (of which Max was very sad to leave behind), jumping on the Jumping Pillow, cruising in the Go Carts, and swimming in the pools. Max has managed to get 'pillow burns' on his hips and both knees - from diving to escape being tagged in the kids game of tiggy. He seemed to be 'it' a lot, and it was only later that Max told us it was because Tess was such an easy target that everyone got her, and then Max let her get him, as she had no hope of getting anyone else - he's a top brother ! I took the kids to the Desert Park (outdoor desert type zoo) for a morning while Mark enjoyed the Transport Hall of Fame (trucks, trucks and more trucks).

Days 12 and 13 have been spent out at Ormiston Gorge where we had another walk and some great time swimming in the Gorge. The kids looked pretty funny attempting to snorkel in water that resembles the colour of dam water, with a small fishing net in hand. Max and Tess have both purchased a 'collection container' each and have started putting treasures in there from their travels - a necessary purchase following the dead beetles that joined us in the car from Kings Canyon. Whilst collecting at Ormiston Gorge, Max ran into the Ranger who very kindly gave him about 15 pages of Junior Ranger Notes. They'll come in very handy in the car over the next few days as they have plenty of info and activities etc on them.

Day 14 today and ready for another long day on the road. Our aim is to head across the Tanami and do the Bungle Bungles before arriving in Broome (hopefully by Mon 23rd).

The kids have been great. Max has found a new love for Mathematics (who would have thought !!) and is loving calculating the km's for our routes each day, and the time it will take. He does maths quizzes in the car and is enjoying his Excel activity/challenge books that I stocked up on at Aldi before I left. His Journal is going ok, but we have to nearly force him to do the handwriting activities so he can move onto the maths! Tess has enjoyed her pre-school activity books and the couple of sticker activity books that Mum sent with us (good job Mumma!).

Will be in touch again once we hit the West - Max is looking forward to getting the rods out......'finally we can start fishing' !

The travellin' Filmer gang