July 14 - Alice Springs

Arrived here about 1.30pm after approx 5 hour drive from Kings Canyon. We had a good last day at the Canyon yesterday - we did two more walks and then met up with the Haig's and had happy hour, dinner and then met back at the Roadies show for some more outback country entertainment - yi haa! Richard and Sonya gave us heaps of tips on places to visit so we pretty much have the remainder of r NT adventure mapped out, hoping to reach Townsville on 1 August where we will meet up with Foxy who runs the ferry out to Magnetic Island so we'll head out there for a bit of island relaxation.

We have heard about a mice plague up this way - we saw a few in Kings Canyon but the road houses we stopped at today were something else. You could smell the mice as soon as you walked in so of course we got petrol and that was it - but eventually we got hungry and had to buy lunch (except Bridge - she was disgusted at mice running around the food areas). Hot chips were the safest bet - unhealthy but at least you saw them come straight from the boiling oil into the pack! This afternoon we did a big replenish of supplies and did laundry. Tomorrow we hope to go on camel rides, check out the mall for some aboriginal art and take it easy for the rest of it. The weather has been wet the last few days so looking forward to some sunny days ahead.

Our living arrangements - since the weather has been wet and cold we really have needed the table in use inside so therefore we have put Em and Bridge together on the back bed - its working well surprisingly! We have decided we love this camping thing and as the kids are only getting bigger we are going to upgrade the Eagle to a Swan when we get home as the beds are twice the size. So we are on the look out for a new Jayco - Cath and Michael - make us an offer!