25 July - Dramas!

25 July 2016 – 180 110

Dramas!

This morning I got up early to take some photos of the Devils Marbles in the dawn light – very pretty. https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-a-park-to-visit/karlu-karlu-devils-marbles-conservation-reserve After packing up we headed north with the plan to go to Daly Waters for the night.  Unfortunately, the car was making a dreadful whining sound that kept getting worse, even though it seemed to be running fine.  When we got to Tennant Creek, we decided to find a mechanic.  The first mechanic was “interesting” and told us to come back in an hour and a half.  Drew then found another mechanic who was available immediately in a very busy looking workshop.  Opinion – idler bearings (hopefully) or alternator (prefer not, more expensive and may not have parts in Tennant Creek).  So they replaced the idler bearings – and the noise was still there.  This mechanic then spent a considerable amount of time on the phone trying to track down an alternator (either Prado or Hilux as some can interchange) in Tennant Creek.  Eventually he found someone with one in stock and sent us directly to him.  We dropped off the car with the auto electrician and were told he would be two to three hours.  I had been sick for the last few days and steadily getting worse so we took the opportunity to see if the general practitioners in Tennant Creek could fit me in – they could, in eight days’ time!! However, the receptionist suggested I go around the corner to the Tennant Creek Hospital Emergency Department. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/australian-health-services/23019742/tennant-creek-hospital-emergency-department/services/tennant-creek-0860-schmidt This was much, much quieter than my previous experiences with Emergency, it seemed more like a no appointment medical centre – I am sure they have their crazy times though.  The doctor confirmed what I expected, bronchitis with asthma – so I was given the necessary prescriptions, which we filled and started immediately. Usually it takes a few days before they really make a difference.  When we finished at the hospital, the car was ready; so we set off north again. We stopped at Attack Creek for Hayden to look at a John McDouall Stuart memorial and see where one of the expeditions turned around. https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-a-park-to-visit/attack-creek-historical-reserve We stopped for the night at Dunmurra Wayside Inn for the night, all exhausted. http://www.barklytourism.com.au/dunmarra.html We did the most minimal set up we have ever done and then purchased dinner in the Wayside Inn – Chicken Parmigiana for Drew and I, and a hamburger for Hayden – the food was a good sized serve and good quality.  Then more asthma puffers for me and off to bed.  A very tiring and expensive day!

Mum

24 July - Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles

24 July 2016 – 179 635

Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles

This morning we packed up and headed into Alice Springs to refuel before heading north.  We stopped on the Stuart Highway at the John McDouall Stuart memorial as this is the explorer Hayden is researching for history.  We then drove onto Karlu Karlu – Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve. 
https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-a-park-to-visit/karlu-karlu-devils-marbles-conservation-reserve 
These are beautiful and majestic!  The owners of the land and N.T. Parks and Wildlife request that people do not climb on the boulders; a fair request that is unfortunately largely ignored. I spent some time wandering between the boulders and photographing them.  It is once again quite amazing how much the colour appears to change in different lights.  This is a lovely sight, but the way it is treated by people is extremely disappointing – there were people all over the boulders, rubbish all over the place and people who were quite comfortable declaring that they had no intention of paying the camping fees ($3.30 per adult, $1.60 per child or $7.70 per family per night – very affordable) – if this is the way places like this are treated they will end up closed with none of us being able to access them – Think people, please.

Mum