Day 178 - 181 9th August - 12th August 2012

Day 178 Thursday 9^th August 2012

 Just a quick update on the happenings of late yesterday…….  Oscar went to the doctor and he lanced Oscar’s eye.  By the time he got back to the camp he had a blue eye to go with the already swollen eye, I offered to make the other one look the same but for some reason he was not falling for that.  We had already decided that we were going out for dinner and entertainment so we both had a shower and I drove to the casino as Oscar was battling with his eye. 

Well after dinner we went off to play the roulette wheel and by 10:00pm I was tired so I said to Oscar I am just going to put all my chips out and whatever happens, happens.  Well I had a win and this streak continued for a while.  After I had made up what I lost in Darwin as well as what I had come with last night, plus a little extra for good measure, I thought it was time to quit. 

We then went over to see how Caribbean Poker worked and were sitting there enjoying ourselves when I got a tap on the shoulder and was told in no uncertain terms by the bouncer it was time to leave.  Well needless to say I was embarrassed and devastated.  So we left the Casino at 2:00am.  Apparently more than a certain number of drinks and you are out of there sober or not.

Getting on the road this morning after a big night like that was not a simple task.  Bev phoned at 8:30am and we arranged to meet at Kulgera, “the first pub into NT from SA and the Last pub out of NT into SA.”

We finally left Alice at 11:00 after we had gone to the chemist to get the script filled for Oscar’s antibiotics.  We also almost got a fine as he had parked in the bus zone out of pure desperation.  I was in the car and the Ranger (that is what they call them in NT) came over to me and asked if I have a licence to “move this thing”.  Yes I said I have a licence but I’m not really good at it.  Well he was kind enough to say that he would give me 5 minutes to get Oscar to move it. 

Finally on the road and off to Kulgera…...  We did not have as much travelling to do as Bev and Brian they had to travel 413K’s whilst we only had to do 274K’s.

We finally got into Kulgera at 4:00pm, lots of hugs later and camp set up we all ventured off to the pub for happy hour.  Well Bev and I had a skin full chatted till late into the night and had a midnight shower then to bed.  We had all decided earlier on that we would stay tomorrow and just catch up, then hit the road on Saturday in our opposite directions.

An Eagle on the side of the road

Eagle in flight

Day 179 Friday 10^th August 2012



Did not rise too early this morning damn it was cold.  Not sure I am too happy about going back south.  I have been thoroughly enjoying the weather up north and didn’t realise the consequences of my decision to return home.  None the less we just spent the day chatting.  Honestly you must understand Kulgera has a roadhouse and that is about it.  So it wasn’t as if we could even take a walk somewhere interesting.  Late in the afternoon we had a bit of excitement as we were preparing the roast a whirl wind blew up and came right between our two vans.  It blew the chairs over and took off with Brian’s hat.  We cooked a roast for dinner and the boys went to the pub for happy hour.  Bev and I sat and chatted at the Bonfire we had going.  The boys returned later and Mick the bloke that works at Kulgera came and joined us later after delivering us a stack of wood earlier in the afternoon.  I must be totally honest this has been the best evening I have had in any of the camp sites that we have been in, over the last 6 months.  Mick is a good story teller and the fire and company of friends really did it for me.  We all finally crawled into bed at 10:30pm.

My Friend Bev

Bev's Hubby Brian and oscar catching up over a beer

Day 180 Saturday 11^th August 2012



Ok so today we had to get as early a start as possible.   We were a day later with our travels than earlier anticipated.  We finally got out at 9:00am and have spent the day just driving.  Stopped for fuel and refreshments a couple of times, did a small shop in Coober Pedy and are now settled in after a dinner of cold meats and salads about 128K’s south of Coober Pedy.  Tomorrow hopefully we will get as close to Renmark as possible and then Victoria here we come.  Home at last.

Houdini Still seeing the sights

Day 181 Sunday 12^th August 2012

Today has been very much the same as yesterday although, and I’m sure it is not my imagination the start was colder than yesterday.  My fingers felt like icicles when we were shutting up the little snail.

We did a lot of K’s today and are now settled in, in a roadside rest area just 2k”s out of Gulnare in South Australia.  We will definitely cross the border tomorrow and hopefully be home on Tuesday.  Like I said earlier there are not too many stops, let alone any photo’s, but every now and then we stop if we find something interesting or funny.

The funny thing is if we do manage to get home on Tuesday the 14^th we will have been away for exactly 6 months to the day.  What a hoot.

Apparently they don't like bad drivers in country South Australia

Gulnare Pub

Our Home for tonight

The local flora as captured by our maestro photographer Oscar.

The final letter to Houdini’s family is as follows:

66 ??????? Drive
Frankston
Vic
3199

 Hi Family,

 Well I have good news and I have bad news.  Firstly the bad news is that the journey has finally come to an end for both my mates O&V, but the good news is I will be home soon.  Wow I am dying to see you all again and I hope that my punishment will not be too harsh.

 I have had the best time ever and I will tell you all about it when I get back, and after you have had your chance to have a very long (no doubt) talk with me about taking off and leaving home like this.  Look out for me any day now.

Lots of Love

Houdini

Till later



O&V