Planning 'A-Head' (Bean)

So with only a couple of weeks to go we are still working out all the things that we think we need but probably, most likely, almost definitely as a matter of fact might not actually need.
Still, who cares.
Here are some tools for when we go hunting wood. After chasing it down we can then use the axe and saw to tidy up nature's fuel so we can fit it in Oscar if we need to. (National Parks encourage one to take wood into them rather than hunt the stuff in there. Fair enough).



Also as one gets a bit older we may wonder if our hairs will last. Sometimes I believe it can thin and fall out. (In my case the new growth seems to have taken refuge in my ears. I''m going to label the experience as 'exciting' rather than 'depressing')

So what better way to have fun with it. May I present Dr Al Cornrows!

You go girl!



All her own hair too!

That's it for now. This post was all done using only what we'll be using when we travel. So it was a  bit of a test run. It also reminded me of how much I hate iTunes.

Header picture should be of cold winter sky from the other night.

The meaning of cold (Al)

Bright and Chillois . . . so the first test of the ‘emergency’ pop up tent (Poppy) happened on the first weekend central Australia hit the zeros and minuses temperature wise.



Combined with the fact of a bit of a tiring work week for us both, there was a definite, ‘shall we just trial it at home’ vibe happening Saturday morning.  But, we did it, and it was definitely worth it (though at only 9.11pm while I'm writing this,  and with the sub zero night ahead, perhaps that’s a little bit optimistic).

We played around with our new table (let's call it the desk) that was definitely worth the trouble to wangle open (apart from the entertainment value for sniggering onlookers . . . looking at you, spouse!) . . . not just a nerdy laptop support, but our dining table and awesome 'shall we put it on the ground, no let's put it on the other table'  option.  Surprisingly well used.







So we went for a walk up the hill with a couple of cups of coffee . . . from which the above pics were shot (gotta love the panorama mode hey).



and enjoyed the fire (on an old wheel thingy, very clever).  But really, bloody hell was it cold!



The next morning I went for just about the coldest run I think I've done:  not temp wise as I think it was prob only about zero but in terms of not being able to feel my hands or face (apart from occasional moments of intense 'I'm looking after icecubes' moments) it was quite something.  Lovely sunrise.  And great that Oscar's heating helped thaw out the hands and feel on the drive home.  Ran past a woman who was walking . . . back to Alice?  She had a big bag with her.  When we drove past an hour or so later she was sat by the side of the road, not hitching ... all sorts of encounters.

So...... Nullarbor and the Southern Ocean winds in 4 weeks . . . Yay . . . mnnnnn :)

Ross River Resort Poppy Test (Bean)

Right, so we decided that we needed to test our pop-up tent. This is for use when there is either little space to pitch The BT or if it's raining on arrival etc etc. It's the size of a massive disc when packed. Note to self: always check what the packed version looks like in the catalogue.

Anyway it was very easy to pitch. (Packing it is entirely another matter).


We set up camp at a paid site. Ross River is about 85 km away so a pleasant short drive. Lots of people there on arrival. Apparently they had a wedding on there and we were told it might get noisy at night. It didn't though. Just the sound of the generators in the distance and the wolves howling.

Al had some difficulty with our new table which came in extremely useful: (The table not her having a difficulty).


I helped by calling out advice and taking pictures of her - a risky thing to do since she could have used the tripod as a weapon.

The We also had our new fridge with us - ironic really since the outside temp probably ended up being lower than it. Anyway this is the Evakool fridge/freezer (Eva) being powered by the Engel Battery box.


Al went for a stroll up the hill and got some amazing shots of the surroundings. I took TC up but hadn't realised she was up on the range otherwise I could have taken some footage of her - ah well. This is looking back towards the homestead - it's actually around the corner on the right, hidden from view.


Here we have signs of a happy camper and a relaxing camper. (Funny word camper. Say it lots of times, camper camper camper campercampercamper. Weird that.) Anyway:



The night was very cold. Down to below freezing. Thermals and baked potatoes helped us to keep warm. (Obviously we ate one and wore the other - but due to the wine it was a close call).

Luckily they had fire pits there and so we settled down for the ever cooling evening and then freezing night.


Then the stars appeared:


Slept quite well despite the cold. I thought I heard a Polar Bear sniffing around but then I realised it was my head rubbing the side of the tent wall.

The packing and unpacking still takes a bit of time but that should speed up the more we do it. Or not.

(I have just found out that you can't do draft posts when offline - well with pictures anyway. This could be a problem down the track so speak but we'll see).