Filling in the gaps

Hi!

Another long break from the blog demands a decent catch up. Here goes...

Dad visited. Here we are at Chambers pillar (about 180km south of Alice). I can't believe people say we look alike

Probably the best campsite yet we have stayed at. Dad got the 'Taj'. Min and I slummed it in the two man.

Dinner by LED light. Amazing lighting rig up by Macgyver (I fashioned the lights together from some rocks, pine needles and some Photuris lucicrescens - that's latin for fireflys)

Exploring the East MacDonnell ranges. Good to see that Dad learnt his lesson after falling off the roof (while cleaning the gutters) about 10 years ago. He's still got it!

Always amazing with animals... some call him "Wallaby Whisperer"

Except this one time (if you get a good haircut once, why change it?)

Feeding the black footed rock wallabies on her 30th birthday. We are two crazy cats

Driving down into the creek bed behind Ellery creek. A great afternoon

The people we went with brought their dog. He led the way

Relaxing at Ellery creek with some friends from the hospital

Brenna showing Steph the finer art of "syncro". Brenna made nationals (she's the one with the hamburger smile).

The Todd river flowing. It only flows about once a year and can happen very quickly. Huge deal and massive spectacle. Best night in Alice!

Just ask these guys... they got stranded and needed police rescue

Looking back at the Todd tavern from the bridge over the river.

The same view 2 days later.

Popping back to the south coast of Sydney for Jack and Jasmin's wedding. From Left to right: Dave, Troy Casser-Daley, James and Wes.

Jack and Jasmin, first dance

Min went to Claire and Rick's wedding the same weekend

The groom cuts loose

"Princess Bren Bren" (strutting at the back) and her gals. They put together a little syncro routine at the hospital pool... hilarious.

Lighting of the Alice Springs Christmas tree

James in 20 years (apologies Min... you said yes)

Going up Mt Gillen. Min trying out her new boots

Here skip...tch tch

Twilight sun beating off the rocks at the top of Mt Gillen

We made it to the top just in time

"No Min, we will easily make it down before dark" (thanks for packing the head torches Min)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Around Alice

Hi.

Apologies for the hiatus.
Just getting settled in in Alice Springs.

After three of weeks of work, we are getting the hang of things around here.  It is very different up here but we are learning a lot. Providing adequate health care is difficult partly because of limited resources and partly because of the indigenous culture and the poor state of aborginal people's health in general. The majority of them only have limited English and it is not until you get here that you realise what a huge problem alcohol creates.
Alice Springs hospital is the closest hospital for people that live over 800km away in Western Australia!

Our weekends have been wonderful. There is alot to do around here including Mt Gillen, the West McDonnell ranges and Palm Valley (which is an awesome 4wd track that I managed to keep us alive on).

The View over Alice towards Mt Gillen

Min "Bear Grylls" Bradfield scaling Mt Gillen. Later on, when we ran out of water. Min just drank her own wee, killed and gutted a camel, and spent the night using its carcas as a shelter.

 

Simpson Gap, just out of Alice Springs. 

Hermannsburg, an old mission town 150km from Alice.

Out to Palm Valley. 20km took over an hour

The amazing palm valley

My palm's valley...also amazing

Further away, we visited Kings Canyon... a beautiful spot about 350km South West of Alice Springs.

Sunset and King's Canyon campground

Life imitating art

First rain in Alice for 9 months

Just relaxing after work

We made it!

After 4597km, we have arrived at Alice!
It was a great 2 weeks and gave us a real taste of what to expect next year.
We are not sure what to do with the 'blog' while we are up in Alice. Some feedback would be appreciated. Do we let you know of our daily details such as: what we had for lunch, the temperature readings and how many times Min reported to me "It's pretty warm up here"? Or do we just leave it for 3 months and restart when we leave Alice?

We are in a very nice 3 bedroom apartment behind the hospital. 15/1 Skinner St, Alice Springs, NT 0870 for those who want to send perfume scented letters (let's be honest, that is aimed at you Dave).

The only negative so far is the air conditioner isn't freaking working.Top temp predicted this week is a balmy 40 degrees.

After such expertise shown at tire changing, you could be forgiven for thinking that I am basically the ultimate man who can fix anything given a coathanger and a match (I've been trying to get Min to call me Macgyver but she just flat out refuses), but my efforts have gone unrewarded. Min verbally reports "It's pretty warm up here"

Celebrating changing a tire off the Oodnadatta track (check out my ridiculous arm span)

Our predicted body shape after a year of 4wding and drinking XXXX

Uluru...

Dinner under the 'stars'. More like dinner under the clouds and smoke from nearby bushfires (the star gazer talk would have been good if we could have seen stars)

Our picturesque view of uluru at sunset the night of dinner under the 'stars'... Wow

Min in her PJ's ready for our 7km valley of the winds walk around Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) at 6.30am

The beautiful valley of the winds at Kata Tjuta

2 weeks away from Sydney has really changed us

As mentioned, the scenery was simply spectacular

Kata Tjuta

Not dead (despite the rumours started by John Park)

PS: We have changed the settings so anyone can write comments, love Macgyver and Min