Alice Springs

 We were treated to a Didj demo at our caravan parks and the kids got to try their mouths a making a tune. I asked the question as to whether women are forbidden to play -as that is what I have heard.  He assured me that the main reason women don't play is they are concerned they will get pregnant.  No worry there for Bells.....!
                               

Looking down The Gap in down town Alice Springs

Hooning around the MacDonnel Ranges park.

By the way....it is ffffffffffFFFrreeezing here.  1 degree at some mornings.  Home is warmer then this central Australian location!!!!

Alice Springs

Always seem to be running running running....so again a quick entry.  Tols met a mate at Devils Marbles who we have been meeting up with everywhere!  Liam and his family are from Tasmania and a lovely family taboot.  Silvan (the toddler) is a sweety...smitten with Bells and Bells of course loves every minute of it.  We ran into them again at our caravan park in Alice Springs and here pictured we are at Anzac Hill looking at the Macdonnel Ranges in Alice Springs.  We have left them now as they continue on a different track to us. We hope to go and visit this lovely family in Tasmania one day soon :)

Devils Marbles...

Toli was in heaven here....he just loved roaming around these lovely rocks. Even time for knitting. Dingo's were friendly too! I'll add more later....two minutes till I have to go :)

On to Alice to pick up Nick....

One quick overnight stop again at Katherine and we checked out the Springvale Homestead....a lovely historical walk down memory lane of some incredibly tough lives of drovers and cattlemen.  The determination was an inspiration....we had to have an icecream after reading about their trials and tribulations.

130 years old is this lady...what a beautiful Boab.

Cutta Cutta Caves

 We left Katherine and high tailed it for Daly Waters. On the way though we stopped at Cutta Cutta caves.  Our efforts to get there by 9am were rewarded as it was just us and another couple for the tour. Brilliant.

  
Had to stop over for one of their fantastic Mango smoothies on the way past...best we have ever had!

Daly Waters...

Running out of internet time so will quickly touch on Daly Waters pub...if you skip over this place on your travels you're a nong!  It was just hilariously brilliant.  We all loved it!

Gotta go...we will be back with more soon xx

Katherine Hot Springs!

Crystal clear water...Bells photos

Over the water fall... 

She goes....

Toli got invited to "go other side over there for some spear fishin" with some local lads, Dennis and Starly.  He jumped at the chance. They also took us to a swimming hole with a bigger swing. As we scaled the fence and the 'No Swimming' sign I wondered whether it would be ok to swim in.  Once I reached the water hole Dennis warned me to be careful as he had just saved his mate from a water snake.....felt a bit nervous from that point on.

We are really loving the Katherine Hot Springs....prefer it to Mataranka actually - less people!

This experience is a giant learning curve.  Not just the day to day of managing travel and expenses but just living in a caravan park.  Its a little odd some days....living so close to people.  Everyone kind of travels the same route.  The ladies are very helpful...."Oh lovey, you must get to the laundry by 7:30am with your bag of gold coins or you'll be waiting all flamin day!"  Mum is miss popular with all the nomads....she is our key to the IN crowd.

Who says you have to do it tough though.....this morning I served freshly percolated coffee with toasted croissants, butter with a boysenberry jam...yummo!

Have resorted to some herbal Blackmores remedies to help me sleep though...the damn fridge is so noisy..not to mention the grey nomads that need to sleep with their aircon on....even if it is 22 degrees outside.  We have had to pull the doonas out!

Still miss Tom loads.....but getting into the swing of travelling.  Probably won't be updating for a while...Daly Waters tomorrow.

 Top Didj Cultural Experience - Katherine

We decided to do this experience as we had heard only good things.  We loved every minute of it.  It was run by two members of two different tribes, Dalabon and I'm embarrassed to say I forget the other name - Bells will know but she's swimming in the mineral springs at the moment.

 

Toli and I decided to stay with Manual from the Dalabon tribe and do a reed painting...

Mama and Bells tried their hands at Dot paintings with Adriana from the Warlpiri tribe....

Manaul.....lovely man.  Toli was lucky enough to welcome us all to the fire starting experience.

Just smoke though I'm afraid.

 

This was lots of fun....spear throwing with a Woomera....Toli got closest to the cardboard Kangaroo.

Little orphaned Agile Wallabies...stole all our hearts...Jack and Jill were their names :)

We of the Never Never Festival in Mataranka

Such beautiful children.....

A replica of the Aeneas and Jeannie Gunn's homestead

Just one of the Orbs hanging over Bitter Springs....harmless and not interested in us at all...but still a little scary to swim under.  Bitter Springs were actually too hot to swim in during the heat of the day!

A very happy mothers day weekend for me xxxx

We loved an early morning dip though.

Mataranka Springs....a lot cooler but a lot busier.  Not as natural.  Still lovely though!

Barramundi feeding at the Territory Manor....Wow, so very exciting.  Seriously, I want to go and do it again.  The shot of me shows nothing.  But the Barra took hold of my hand...my whole hand in his mouth!  Big buggers too.

The bar at Mataranka springs....well loved

By even the peacocks!

                                                       

Brolgas are found wandering all throughout Mataranka...such big beautiful birds.  We sat and watched them casually wander through the main park...no fear.  I love these birds.  Can't wait to see a Jabiru! 

Posing with the concrete Aeneas and Jeannie who inspired the "We of the Never Never" film.  We had just watched it in the local hall/church - it's the Sunday feature of the festival and we watched it with four other people!  Such a lovely little festival...Its a great day for the kids of the area.

Some of the wildlife at Mataranka.  The birds are like our seagulls...pick at food scraps at the cafe.

Lovely Mum post her laughing fit.  We had a mothers day dinner at the Territory Manor just up the road from our caravan park....it was beautiful.  We sat outside with a lovely view of the lush, green gardens and the water lillies on the billabong.

A special mention must be made of Misty - the sweet Kelpie that Toli formed a special bond with at our camp in Mataranka.  He ran and played with her for hours.....when we left there were real tears....I even teared up because he did :(  We are all dearly missing Tom.  Yesterday we bought a book at the gallery - partly because it was a lovely tale about an Aboriginal boy and partly because it was titled Tom Tom.