Heading to warmer weather

Leaving Alice, we drove for as long as the children would allow – pulling in at an Aboriginal community 20 odd km off the highway to visit a local art gallery.  The boys were impressed with the weaponry and art for sale, but unfortunately it was all out of our price range, so we politely left after a good chat with the manager.

As the afternoon pressed on we revisited Devils Marbles for the night – pulling in to put up the camper in record time, (ok, so it was still hitched, and unbelievably level) as well as making flat bread on the camp fire for dinner.  After tea, we stood around to watch the fire crackers from fellow campers – 1^st of July tradition still going strong in the NT.  I think our neighbours had spent a small fortune at the cracker warehouse – as the show went on for some time, and was quite spectacular.  Nick watched through the window from the safety of his bed – worried that the crackers would land on us.  The final cracker was also beautiful, that is, until it diverted into the grass over the fence, and campers from everywhere rushed to help put out the numerous fires that it had started.  Ben joined them, armed with a bucket of water.  It made for an eventful night.

On the road again… we pushed on past Tennant Creek and turned EAST onto the Barkley Highway.  A very unexciting night camped at a rest area off the road, listening to the cattle stamping around in the back of the road train that seemed to be parked right next to us.
Day three on the road we passed through the border and made it to QLD! Yay!  13km over the border, we stopped at Camooweal on the river.  It was so pretty, and we had scored such a lovely piece of ground on the river, we decided to stay an extra few nights.  Lots of birds to watch from our camper, down time for the kids, and 2 days without driving were appreciated.  Plus it was free!
With time to swing in the trees, cook potatoes on the fire and even do some pottery, we were all feeling quite relaxed.  Oh and Nick’s sense of humour has returned, much to our delight. 

Waking up to Bens 42^nd birthday was kind of cool – he got his birthday pancake cake as requested, and a few little pressies from the kids that we had got at the last woollies shop.  Yep – birthdays bush style!  Ben was great, making a fuss over the chocolate nuts and licorice, and enjoying his cake.  Unfortunately, after the short celebrations were over, we had to pack up the camper and move on.