Last night after checking in and drying out as much as we could we set out to explore the thriving metropolis that is Coober Pedy... To those who haven't been here, that of course meant heading underground. We walked through the worlds only underground 5 star hotel and bar and did an inspection of the museum there to, but although Anth found it interesting (as did I) it didn't really generate that much excitement for the boys so we ventured on to an opal mine / museum which also featured many specimens of the archeological finds from the area which proves that there used to be a sea complete with many dinosaur fossils including a near complete skeleton of one ancient sea creature that resembled a turtle crossed with a terra dactyl! The boys had the opportunity to learn a little more about opals and were given s map to an area that they could try their hand at noodling - the term used to describe opal prospecting through the mullick heaps that make up much of the Coober Pedy landscape. All were successful and we are now equipped with a number of fine little specimens as souvenirs. Nothing worth retiring on, but nonetheless some great little funds. Today was quite a long day on the road that started with 'lets pump water take 2' this time with no incidents and as the carpet in the van seems to have now dried out which is another big bonus.
After a couple of solid days travelling we gave the boys the option this morning of pushing on to Alice Springs instead of our original planned stop of Kulgera and this was agreed to as it also means we now have a day off travelling tomorrow and the opportunity to play tourist instead.
Itvwas wonderful to cross the NT border today today and then to see the sign at least to Uluru as even though we aren't going there thisvtime around we now know that it's really only a couple of days drive and we can certainly get there another time.
So how does one keep two normally active boys entertained for 700km?
A variety of car games including Alphabet Signs, Alphabet Countries, cars, fruit & veg, car cricket as well as the various 'counting' games - (waves from passing vehicles, road trains etc) and pre printed sheets for games of paddocks (although only a quarter of one page of these has been used thus far)
It was quite amusing tonight to see both the boys sitting at the table after dinner, shower and journals, doing other work of their own accord - James doing word searches then finding some for Wil and Wil even happily completing some maths worksheets!!
Off to play tourist tomorrow and hopefully check out the Royal Flying Doctors, Alice Springs School of the Air and perhaps also the truckers hall of fame.
Day four = no mishaps and for that I am one very happy camper!
-Helen