Better late than never.

Wow, it has been nearly three weeks since our trip ended and we were shuttled back into real life. I am going to try and re-create our trip from the memories that I have. The kids are all back at school now and life is getting busy again so this will be from my muddled brain.

Guess I should go back to Port Augusta where we spent our first night. We had a ball, laughed, ate, set things up and scratched our heads at how things were really suppose to work with the Motorhomes. I think we did a pretty good job though and had things sorted fairly quickly. The boys were great at playing chef for the first time and cooked up a storm at the BBQ while the girls helped to set up the tables and chairs and make up some salad after they had had a swim in the pool. That certainly put a smile on their faces. It was lovely sitting under the awning enjoying dinner in the evening and starting to feel as though our holiday had really started.
Once we had finished cleaning up and sitting around talking for a bit, it was decided that bed was the next best thing as we had a big day ahead the next day. Not a problem except when it came to making up the bed out of the table in Nita's MH, we were completely stumped. Could not figure it out at all, so around the park we went trying to find somebody who had a MH like hers. We were in luck and found a lovely gentleman who came and showed us exactly where everything was and gave us some other pointers also. So shower, pj's and bed. I was surprised how well I slept and how comfortable the beds actually were. We were a little worried as we were parked near the highway and I thought we might have been kept awake with the sound of the huge transport trucks going by but never heard a thing. It had been a big day.
Next morning seen us really becoming MH dwellers with a little umm I will say discussion on who was going to empty the toilet cassetes out. We all determined that this was a boys job and I won't say willingly but they did go and do it without too many grumbles. It was easy as we were staying at the Big4 CP and they have their own dump site. Excellent CP and would certainly recommend it. Spotlessly clean and good sized sites.
Next thing to do was fill up and hit the highway. Well this was a source of more laughter. Not from us but from the elderly gentleman in front of me. He filled his car up, went to pay for the fuel, all good, but then he got lost, I have no idea where he went or what he thought he was doing and then he appeared from nowhere and started to have a chat with all those waiting to fill up or filling up. Suddenly he came over to me and apologised and told me he had forgotten what he was doing there. He just sometimes forget. Hmmm a bit of a worry as he got in his car and drove off.
So off to the Stuart Highway we went. It was great. The scenery was fantastic, it continually changed and when I seen the first hint of red soil I was estatic. The only problem was Nita and I found  it was a little lonely as we could not oooo and arrr over things, well we did but the kids were not as interested as we were. They seen hills and dirt we seen the beauty of the landscape. Guess that comes with age and the appreciation of life. We were heading toward Coober Pedy.
The strong head wind seen us  lucky to hit 80km and certainly drained the fuel tanks. We stopped at Glendambo for fuel and had lunch there along with a lot of other travellers. It was a good break but the day was slipping away and so onward we went to Marla for more fuel and then into Coober Pedy.

Luke divining for opal in the underground tour.

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Playing footy sitting down because the kids were not allowed to run and kick the ball at Riba's.

We stayed at Riba's, about 5km out of Coober Pedy for the night. I had booked this spot thinking it would be something different for the kids to experience with an underground tour included in the price. I would not stay there again. The place was once again spotless and we could not complain about the amenities at all, the owners were lets say, not the most welcoming, and it was not long before the kids were told off for kicking the football around. They were not being noisy or distrupting others as there was only bare ground around but still they were told off, and then we went on the tour, I have to admit that it was the most boring tour that I have ever been on and so it was great when it was over and we all headed straight to bed. It had been a big day and we were all very tired and just a little bit irritable.  I think the full moon did not help things either.

It is a long road ahead.

Well I thought maybe I could make a little on the way and then thought
no Sharon you would have to fork out so best we get on the way again.