Rest Days in Alice Springs – Andrew went to Vinnies to buy some dress up clothes (for the Black & White Night), then to the Transport Museum. Joy arrived, flying into Alice Springs from Sydney to be greeted by the infamous Orange Vest (“Fool of the Day”) for not being aware of a large rock in the middle of Australia – “What Rock?”. Dennis and Leanne also turned up after spending 6 days in Coober Pedy for their vehicle repairs. We all went to a fantastic restaurant, The Overlander Steakhouse, for dinner where all sorts of Aussie cuisine were on the menu (except our famous Oomidoodlebird and Hoop Snake). We wobbled boards and sang along to some good old Aussie songs – a great group bonding session. Okie, Mick and Rachelle ventured to the Casino to try their luck. The next day we went to the Alice Springs Desert Park in the morning, having a great time there. Wayne and Dennis picked up a trailer load of food in town, the additional supplies that had been sent from Sydney plus shopping in Alice for fresh supplies of meat, fruit, vegetables, etc. Whilst discussing what stupid feat it would take to wear the Vest for tomorrow, Wayne tipped his entire plate of spaghetti bolognaise all over the vest and his chair, alas, Wayne wears the Orange Vest again. Early packing wasn’t going too well, even more so when 2 vehicles (Bob & Lana plus Stu & Chrissy) were staying back for repairs.
Celebrations and hugs all round as we welcomed the dearly missed Dennis and Leanne back amongst the Foxes and Papas where they belonged. The gang’s all ‘ere! The next day was spent enjoying the freedom of our time with some heading off to the transport museum and doing the sights, while others made the most of the mechanical experience of the crew to do some repairs on the trucks and long overdue ‘spring cleaning’ of our travelling homes! Dinner was treated at the Overlander Steakhouse and what a hoot that was! The menu was a gourmet’s delight of Aussie cuisine (and much to Okie Dokie’s disappointment, minus the hoop snakes and oomidoodlebirds!) There were drinks all round with many a ‘cheers’ to friendships and good times, yoga maneuvers with Rolf Harris wobble boards and all inhibitions out the saloon doors singing like contestants on Australian Idol to some ol’ fashioned bush ballads! A mammoth good time had by all. Today the Desert Park was honoured by treating the Foxtrotters to a magnificent show and display of some of our amazing bird life & their habitat, a stroll through a kaleidoscope of desert flora, finishing off with a captivating talk on the Dreamtime and their cultural connections with this great Land of ours by one of the Elders of the area. We were also treated to a sensory experience of bush medicine, amazed yet again by the wonders of Mother Earth, She’s amazing grace! Back to camp to savour our final evening at the Alice, crawling into bed with smiles on our dials. The next morning it was decided that Bob and Lana with Stu and Chrissy, were to stay behind to book their trucks in for mechanical repairs before risking further damage and to hopefully catch up in a few days. Rachelle and Mick volunteered to stay behind with us (yippee! yippee! squeels of delight!) It worked out well as Rachelle used the opportunity to get some repairs of her own on a tooth that had been giving her grief for a few days now. With the girls out to play, the boy’s male bonded around the campers, chilling out with a few zzzz’s and Bob and Lana relaxed around the town. Once the trucks were done, we set off 2 days later with fire in our bellies and one mission on our minds…..to be back with our soul brothers and sisters that we missed being with – back on the rainbow to our pot of gold!!!
