Happy Birthday Alex

Greetings Alex now 9 is having a ball at Melrose SA mountain biking up Mt Remarkable and DOWN. We attempted Oodnadatta track past Ochre Pits and then another 5km os so when BB had Kittens and turned back. the track was very rutted and water on the side of the track. with more rain on the horizon he was just not willing to take the chance. I am very sad as always  i have desired to drive this but on the other hand we have had the opportunity to see more of the Flinders and Mt Remarkable. Stayed at parachilna at the Prarie Hotel and had the best night with ëating Feral Road Kill platter. Emu pate, camel sausage and the like. Quongdong pie for desert.. yummo. There was live music and the kids had a ball except for the flies. Parachilna Gorge was beautiful and thanks to the Mellors for the suggestion to go there. Could Sally please thank them for us.
We went on the Pitchi Ritchi railway in Quorn and now we are riding and wine tasting at Melrose.
Tomorrow we head the other way to Coober Pedy via Woomera and will be there by Friday. Some outback bush camping on the way. Winny is having a few problems the fridge only working off gas not power and the loo is leaking..... thank goodness clean water not dirty. But we have had some freezing nights so the heater has been well used as we all have had night time coughs.
Signing off
Happydazers

PS we have had some lovely encounters with wildlife. Saw a mother emu and 6 chicks 2 metres away and hand fed a wallaby and her joey. Shame we then ate their rellies that night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also can't fix this upload problem with the photos sorry

Wilpena Pound

The weather is warming up here. I guess in a few weeks I will regret asking for hot weather. We are at Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges SA. Yesterday Alex and I flew over the pound and surrounding ranges and salt lakes.. very spectacular. We have also done some hikes and lots of mountain biking as that trails are great. The park is full of kids and we have found a big screen to watch the AFL this arvo all punters here are ST Kilda fans though!!! sorry Labbads we will cheer loud for you here.. go the crows!
Lots of wildlife and even more flowers. We think we will can the OOdnadatta idea as BB is afraid of rattling the Winny too much after the rains. Instead we think we maight go to Parachilna and some gorges then back down to Melrose which is north of the Clare and through to Coober Pedy via Pt Augusta and Woomera as people here say there is lots to do that way and some wineries etc..
Now some photos firstly for the mad max fans the cars they use. We think there is a new film being made here at Silverton as there is a lot of activity aty the moment. Also of our campsite at Wilpena complete with life's drugeries   washing and a photo of the Pound.
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1st photos

hey hey we are in Broken Hill and Silverton about to head off to SA and the Flinders Ranges today so we have a few minutes of communication. There is so much water around and the flowers are spectacular. We loved the Royal Flying doctor Service and an undergroung mine tour.Alex could have worked there in years gone by as they employed 8 yr olds. We have attached some photos of Winnie in Wilcannia(such a depressed town) and some flowers even Opium and Hops are growing wild around the mine areas as they were widely used.
Due to recent rain we may not get on Oodnadatta track but so much else to see.
Bought some nice wine in orange on the way out and no we didn't see Julia in Bathurst!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love to all

xoxo

mud mad

hey here is a rough mud map of the planned trip. hope it is legible. xo

6 days to go

Hi everyone
You obviously have taken the plunge after reading your email inviting you to be part of our MAD adventure and located this blog. I apologise for the strange photos in the archives; just me playing and seeing if I can REALLY do this techno thing. Mind you my friends and I are rather adept at male model cake sculpting eh!!!!!!!
Any way we leave Sat 18th Sept and head for Nyngan QUICKLY then to Broken Hill for a few days. I or rather WE will try and update when time or communication allows us also once we are comfy and a bit settled.
Hope some of you can send us a message from time to time either via this or email.
love SBAC xo

another photo

test to see if this works