After leaving Ross River Resort, we returned to Alice Springs to see out my last couple of weeks working at Central Desert, before we get out of Alice and head south for the summer.

We stopped at the showgrounds, and met up with the Cairns family better known as “Holiday Road".  True pros to this travelling life, they have been on the road in their bus for over 10 years, currently have their 11 kids on board, 2 dogs and 4 birds!  We had met up with them briefly a couple of times around Alice in the past year, but being neighbours with them for what was supposed to be a couple of days, found us really getting to know each other and our days together developed into weeks! 

We had such a great time with this fun loving, adventurous family, when it was time to leave and they were heading north and we were heading south, we all decided to do a little road trip together first with a visit to Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles).

The last time we attempted Karlu Karlu, back in May 2015, we broke down about 100kms north of Alice and wound up having to replace the motor in our bus.  This trip now would be our first real endeavour with the new motor.  It's summer, and it's really really hot!

So off we go, 2 buses, each with trailer, total of 4 adults, 12 kids, 4 dogs and 3 birds :) The older girls travelled up with us making it a loud and happy trip, Lola just loved their company

We made a few roadside stops along the way, the Tropic of Capricorn, Ti Tree where we the kids all collected some sticks and we fuelled up our little fireplace and had sausages and bread by the road, Aileron Roadhouse and a few other roadside rests.

Aileron Roadhouse stop - at the bar from left to right Djarra, Bono, Tyrheanna, Beaudine, Eloura, Me, Kiana, Brock, Peter and out front from left:  Lola, Kiana,,Beaudine, Nadine, Djara, Tyrheanna, Brock, Bono, Peter, Eloura

Arriving at Karlu Karlu, I think around 3am, the kids decided to stay up and watch the sunrise while exploring around the marbles.  Exahusted from driving and keeping a constant sharp eye on the temperature gauge, we went to bed.

It was really very bloody hot staying at the marbles, so the next afternoon we headed down the road to the Wauchope Hotel and decided to move there and stay in the caravan park with some solid aircon running and swimming in the pool.

So hot, we all jumped in as soon as we could after arriving

Time to say goodbye for now, until we meet again.  The kids carried Lola into the bus and we bid a rather sad farewell. 

Some more fantastic new friendships we've all made, we are keeping in touch and can't wait to catch up again, somewhere on the bus.