Arrived in Alice and went straight to Heritage Caravan Park were we had made a booking knowing that the Camel Cup was on and that if you did not book you might not get in any were, and what do you know they had stuffed up our booking and were not able to get us in on a powered site.

We decided as we were staying for a while we wanted power so we said we would try Heavitree which is the only other park that takes dogs in Alice Springs.

We were lucky they had 4 powered sites left, so we booked in $30 per night, it worked out  good as the couple we were going to catch up with Ian & Kathleen were also staying at Heavitree and we were booked into the Tavern at the end of the park with them and about 8 others for dinner.

 We set up and then went over and called in on Ian & Kathleen but they were not there so we headed over to the showgrounds to have a look at the Camel Cup Races entrance $17pp. food was expensive $7.00 for a hot dog, but I found the good old sausage sizzle going $2 for a sausage in bread with or without onion.

We walked around and looked at the camels the floats and the costumes and displays and caught up with the group that is doing the bike ride we had meet the night before fun group.

After seeing one race we had had enough and went back to thhe park where we finally caught up with Ian & Kathleen they had been at the hospital all morning with Ian's knee giving him hell, they told him to rest it for a few days and to take some pain killers.

Kathleen made us a cuppa and we sat and chated for a while then we went back to get showered and changed for going out.

Kathleen called passed at 5:30 to let us know they were headed up to the tavern, we will meet them there it's just a short walk to the end of the park.

The food was great cost $15pp and they put enough meat o n the plate for 2 people them help yourself to salads/vegies. Entertainment was very ggod band played all the old songs. Great night but did Doug and I find it cold as we had been in warmer weather before amazing the difference when you cross over the capricorn line.

Sunday - Van work again never stops, and then went for a drive to have a look at some of the areas that we know from visiting when Doug's sister Lavina lived up here.

Monday - Went out to the Ross River area and gorges Emily/Jessie and Corobore Rock, and Ross River Homestead took nearly all day to cover that area but was a nice day out.

Tuesday - Got Beau in to have a bath and his toe nails clipped  he will look like a new dog he is so dirty with the red dust. Did our shopping for more meat etc to take us down the road further, have to watch what vegies due to quarantine laws at borders.

Wednesday - Went to the Ghan & Truck museums quite interesting (see photo's off course) Doug even found one of his cousins in the Truckies Hall of Fame. Thursday - Spent the day cleaning up and packing away our summer cloths and pulling out our winter clothes with -3 over night we are going to need them. We leave tomorrow working our way down slowly to Marla where we will meet Steve & Gail on the 24/25th.