From the beginning our goal was to reach Alice Springs and for Cameron to work for around 8 weeks, spend some time with my best mate since childhood Maree and her partner Giles, then continue our journey North. On the the third day I mentioned to Cam that he should visit town and check out the work situation. Rumor has it that if you can't get a job in Alice you don't want one. Within 2 hours of being away from camp he returned announcing he had a job and starts monday. Its now the Friday before. What we didn't know then is that began our 6 month stay in Alice Springs.

Given the time we were in Alice and the many and varied things we have seen and done. I have condensed it down to the following, In no particular order:

• Had our own travelling community at Macdonnell Ranges for 4 months: The Woods, The Beesons and the The Ellis Family. You made our time spent enjoyable and memorable.
• The kids did a term at Stiener School. They had the most wonderful experience at this amazing school. Their teachers Pam and Parioj were incredible. The kids thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Riley learnt some Thai and Pitinjarra language. Jordyn was in a school play, learnt to cross stitch and play recorder amongst many other things they learnt.

Places we visited:

• We visited Uluru, Watarrka (Kings Canyon), Trepphina Gorge, Stanley Chasm, Kata Tjuta (The Olga's), Owen Springs, Ross River Resort, Chambers Pillar, Honey Moon Gap, Simpsons Gap, Desert Park, Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve, Palm Valley, Telegraph Station, Glen Helen Station,, Ormiston Gorge, Ellery Creek, Emily Gap, Ruby Gap, Reptile Park, Alice Airport, Transport Museum, Corroboree Rock,

The events we attended:

• Masters games opening
• Masters games midweek concert
• Henley on Todd Regatta (Face Painting and Tempt Tatts)
• Alice Springs Night Markets (Face Painting)
• Alice Council Christmas Party (Face Painting)
• Melbourne Cup Day at Lasseters Casino
• Alice Springs Christmas Carols
• TDC Christmas Party
• Alice Eco Fair (Face Painting)
• Queen of the Desert Documentary Premiere
• Alice Springs Speedway (Tempt Tatts)
• Alice Springs Derby celebration of funding grant
• Halloween Lasseters Casino (Face Painting)
• New Years Eve Lasseters Casino (Face Painting and Temp Tatts)
• AFL Trager Park (Face Painting and Tempt Tatts)

We learnt that NT means not today, not tomorrow, not Tuesday or Thursday. We loved the laid back feel of this interesting town, the friendly and colorful characters, the rugged beauty of this amazing part of Australia. We truely loved "The Alice" and hope to one day return.

We have left it too late to go North now, the humidity would be too great. So we have decided to go West work in Perth or surrounding areas for 3 months then head up North. We have learnt by now not to have much of a plan and to just go with the flow....... and thats what we intend to do.