Bit of a crisis this week. The driver wants to sack the navigator. About 390km of dirt roads again this week! Trouble is that whilst the relief driver was performing her duties the trainee navigator identified Mt Connor as Uluru; a mere 90km misjudgment (which in fact the brochures assure us is not uncommon!) Anyway think the status quo will have to be maintained unless the trainee can lift his game. And, in the navigator’s defence,  it has lead us to some spectacular sights. And probably half of the 390 was navigable at 80kph (oops, didn’t see that pothole) and only about 50km was  atrocious.

We hit Alice Springs about 1600 on Sunday to find that  accommodation is not easily found. Seems that every week there is something on in town: the ‘Beanie Festival’ last week (don’t laugh – the town was full); the Alice Springs Show this week; the Camel Races next week; forgotten what the week after.  Anyway there is a lesson in marketing to tourists in all that somewhere.

Left you as we were leaving Coober Pedy last time. The past week has been a ‘spectacle of nature’ for us. Everyone has heard, and seen images, of Uluru and the Olgas. But have you heard about the Breakaways (mere 30km dirt); Painted Hills/Desert (180km); followed by Kings Canyon then via the Mereenie
Loop Road (180km dirt) to the spectacular cliffs and gorges (aka chasms, gaps or canyons – we are unsure of any real difference) of the Western McDonnell Ranges. Man! This week’s miserly 5 only photos are more to give a taste of the variety rather than necessarily being the ‘best’ for the week.

We are intending to prop for 3 nights at least in Alice; with at least one day being ‘drive free’. We have clocked up about 4600km in the last 3 1/2 weeks and we both need a break. Also the van and some of the attachments (or should that be previous attachments) need a little attention. Believe me when you hit an unseen pothole (crater!) at 80kph or endure 26km of corrugated road then whatever can come adrift quite possibly will.

Weather reminds us that it is actually winter here! Day times maximums are fairly constantly around 18C but the wind (generally southerly apparently) is one of those lazy ones that go through rather than around you. Overcoats from around 1 minute after sundown to mid to late morning still de rigeur. Ice on windscreen 3 of last 7 mornings. No wind yesterday evening in Alice – parkas not until around 8pm – Sue in shorts this am – but don’t think it will last.

After the spectacle of the Western McDonnells, we will next be tackling the Eastern McD’s. Only 60km of dirt scheduled – but who knows?

Suppose we will make Broome sometime!