We moved to Papas's property at Elizabeth West, which although is situated in an industrial area was very quiet at nights and weekends. We used our time here to carry out several modifications and maintenance on "Lucky Pigs" as well as saving some money for our future travels. Additions we made were: Full Annexe, HitchnGo AFrame for
towing the Suzuki, rear bumper mudflaps, new TV aerial, extra water tanks, Lemair washing machine, LCD TV, bigger Waeco Fridge and extra storage bins underneath.
We ended up staying here for nearly 10 months! During our time here Lesley "bumped" into two of her old friends at the local shopping centre from many years ago!
Dannielle was an old work mate and Cheryl was her best friend from primary school days! (it is such a small world)
Leaving Ian & Sharon's place we went to transfer "Lucky Pigs" QLD Registration to SA Registration and pay stamp duty etc. Afterwhich we picked up our new Suzuki Grand Vitara which we had previously ordered. After this we arrived at Windsor Gardens Caravan Park and Lesley went to work and gave notice that night!
We spent the next couple months at Windsor Gardens getting used to living in "Lucky Pigs", in the meantime Peter got a temporary job with Galipo Foods driving refrigerated trucks. Lesley enjoyed walking Daisy everyday in the River Torrens Linear Park. We stayed at Windsor Gardens until April 26th during which time the
weekly rate went from $144.00 week to $150.00. We met some nice people who reside at this park, including Pete the Gardner who haS lived there for the last 10 years, also met Bob & Annette from Bordertown who had been on the road with their old Greyhound bus for 10 years too
Leaving the Clare Race Track we headed to Adelaide and spent the night at Ian & Sharon's place in "Lucky Pigs" parked in their driveway.
We left Melrose behind and travelled via Murraytown, Laura to Clare, where we organised with Dave the caretaker to stay until Sunday 28th with power at the Clare Horse Racing track for
a fee of $15.00 day. We met a chap called Angus who was a retired bank manager from QLD travelling & working in his Toyota Coaster. He was currently picking grapes for a contractor
around the area each day between 7am and 1pm. There was a wedding reception held at racetrack on Saturday night and we took the time out to give "Lucky Pigs" a wash. We even sat there
overlooking the valley playing "I spy with my little eye" to pass the time by.
Departing Port Augusta at 9:45am we travelled to Melrose situated on the other side of the Flinders Ranges and booked into the Melrose Caravan Park to find that we had the
whole park to ourselves for $23.00 night with power. Lots of corellas and march flies here, a the odd Kookaburra laughing at us. After a short walk into town we did some
washing at the park laundry, then went to the Melrose Hotel for the $10.00 Scnitchel night. At Dusk and Dawn the park manager cracks his stock-whip to scare off all the corellas
from the gum trees situated in the park. It worked as they all took flight for the night to somewhere else, but in the morning they took no notice at all.
We paid 20c each for a shower and left Coober Pedy at 9:15am stopping near Pimba for a coffee, and at Glendambo for lunch. We decided to carry on to Port Augusta as there
were plenty of flies at Glendambo. At Lake Hart we had a break from driving and arrived at the Shoreline Caravan Park in Port Augusta (which cost $25.00 night)for a
reviving shower before retiring for the night even with the mosquitos the view of the Flinders Ranges was impressive.
We left Agnes Creek at 9am and headed for Coober Pedy stopping at Cadney Park for small amount of diesel, as it was expensive there. Daisy started to panic when we crossed
the cattle grids with the Winnebago, even hiding after we crossed them. Only saw two horses in a paddock on the way to Coober Pedy. Arrived at Coober Pedy at 2pm.
we refuelled first then booked into Stuart Range Caravan Park for the night which cost $26.00 with power, but should have booked in first as you get a 3c litre discount on
fuel if you are staying at this caravan park - oh well! We went for swim in the park pool which was great as plenty of flies during the day here. It costs 20c for a shower,
and 20c for 40litres to refill your water tanks here as the water is from a de-salination plant. We had pizza for tea from the pizza bar located in and run by the caravan park.
Large pizza & 1.25litre Coke cost $18.00. We met a nice couple from the Netherlands who were travelling about Australia in a hired Toyota Landcruiser at $160.00 per day!
Left Heritage Caravan Park at 9am, refuelled, did some shopping then went to Kosmos Foods, where Peter had previously worked to see his workmates etc.
On the way south we stopped at the Finke River as it had water in it, but the sand was scorcing hot, so had to carry the dog to water and had a quick paddle in it.
It was so hot and stifling as we headed down the road, then as a cool change with rain appeared in front of us we decided to stop at Agnes Creek
roadside stop for the night in the middle of nowhere! Plenty of ants and flies too. We had a shower and also washed Daisy which she must have enjoyed as she went to
sleep afterwards. We had baked beans on toast for tea and we enjoyed the lightning and thunder with very dark skies and loads white cockatoos in the trees screeching
at the now distant thunderstorms. We added 1\2 hour to our time now as we were back in S.A.
We woke up early, had a shower, did some washing then just sat around trying to get used to doing nothing at all! We even played a bit of "Hangman" then just went
for a swim again. Very good caravan park, which cost $29.50 night for powered site with $50.00 refundable bond for dog.
We took Con & Joseph to see Richard's 39ft aluminium boat he was building in a shed in Alice Springs. We then dropped Con & Joseph at the Alice Springs airport
and they flew back to Adelaide. Joseph had some 2,000 photos on his iPhone to take back to Germany now! On the way back to the caravan park we did some shopping
then went for a swim in the huge swimming pool. Peter then had a sleep whilst I did some reading and washing. "Winter Olympics" was on TV at night.
We departed Tennant Creek at 8.30am and headed for Alice Springs, stopping off at the Devil's Marbles at 9.30am for a coffee break. It was very warm and loads of
flies here too. We stopped for lunch at Ti Tree, where Con bought us all a steak sandwich which we all shared with the flies! Daisy was now crook, probably from
the heat. We stopped at the Tropic of Capricorn for photos and we arrived at Alice Springs around 4:15pm. We all booked into the Heritage Caravan Park(CMCA Friendly Park),
which was about the only one that was pet friendly, but that was ok as it had an enormous swimming pool, good showers & toilets. We sent Ben & Scott messages to let
them both know that we had arrived in Alice Springs. We booked here for 3 nights as Con & Joseph were due to fly from here back to Adelaide tomorrow.
We left Daly Waters at 9am and headed for Tennant Creek, stopping at Renner Springs for only $30.00 diesel as it was very expensive there and Joseph made us all Fritz, Potato chip & tomato sauce sandwiches for lunch. We then travelled to Mary Dam just before Tennant Creek for a very
refreshing swim, except Lesley kept getting the fish nibbling and banging into her legs! We arrived at Tennant Creek about 4:30pm and we booked into the Tennant Creek Caravan Park for the night. Cost was $27.50 for our powered site. As it was very hot we didn't waste time getting into the very cold swimming pool where we met a couple from Switzerland, and Joseph was able to have a good conversation with them in German. Lots of grasshoppers and yelling aborigines at night. Peter was
crook with a sore throat probably from the water at Mataranka Hot Springs. Diesel at Tennant Creek was $1.41 litre.
We left Edith falls and travelled to Katherine, where Lesley made some chicken salad sandwiches and coffee, but after placing her coffee on the Winnebago's electric folding doorsteps saw it disappear underneath when she shut the door! we all had a laugh as the cup was just the right
height and returned on the step when the door was opened again! Our next stop was Mataranka Hot Springs where it was very hot (38deg.) and we were the only visitors, except for thousands of
"little red flying foxes" who were shitting everywhere. After a refreshing swim in the hot springs we walked down to the river, where Peter saw a 6ft long crocodile which submerged and was later seen swimming slowly across the river by Joseph. We then set off for our next stop, Daly Waters Pub. We arrived there at 4:45pm and booked a powered site for one night, which cost $20.00. We immediately grabbed a beer and jumped into the swimming pool (yes - only pool we ever heard of where this is permitted!). In the pool we met Charmaine & Tony from Croydon S.A. who were working and staying here for awhile. Charmaine had found a baby Childer's Python whilst doing some cleaning work and showed us her new pet which Lesley held for awhile! Gecko lizards were all over the walls at night as we ate our meal in the pub and they are what the python's feed on as well. After we all had tea Con played the piano in the bar accompanied by a couple of chaps on guitar and tambourine.
As Con & Joseph had to return their rental car to Darwin airport we picked them up from their and left Darwin at 9:45am. After a stop at Palmerson for Diesel, our next stop was Adelaide River for lunch. It was still very humid here. Our next stop was Pine Creek where the weather was a little
cooler. We stopped by the old train on display there and had coffee and buns under a large tree by a creek which contained frogs and even a small crab!
After leaving Pine Creek we headed to Edith Falls and saw a dingo along the way. As Edith Falls is in a National Park we paid our camping fees to the attendant at the kiosk, which cost $10.00 per head. He also warned us to be careful swimming as it was possible for them to travel into the river system
there. Anyway as it was so humid we decided to venture to the waterfall for a swim anyway, but only Peter went for a short dip. Our clothes were taking so long to dry due to the humidity. Peter cooked all a seafood pasta dish for tea. Sleeping was only achieved by running the Winnebago's generator & the airconditioner. This was only possible as there was only one other couple camped here, and it did not bother them at all.
W
e caught the bus once again to Casuina Shopping centre for some more shopping, after which we did some clothes washing at the caravan park. Later that night, Con & Joseph picked us up after they had returned from a flight over Kakadu\Arhmen Land and we had a BBQ at their caravan park
with them.
Valentines Day! and we left Bruce & Dianne in tears as we drove our new mobile home out of the yard and travelled to Casuina shopping centre in order to top up on food supplies etc. We met up with Con & Joseph, who had flown up to Darwin from Adelaide on a later flight to accompany us part way back to Adelaide only to Alice Springs, where they would fly back to Adelaide as our schedule was longer than theirs. Joseph, Con's son had only recently arrived from his home in Germany and was keen to see some of the Australian outback. After finishing our shopping we agreed to meet up
later with Con & Joseph, who were staying in another caravan park in a cabin. We then booked "Lucky Pigs" into the KOA Caravan Park for two nights. Powered site cost was $50.00 key deposit and $35.00 per night, we had our own en-suite bathroom\toilet but the frogs and insects
worried Lesley a bit! As we had enjoyed the meal previously at the "Trailer Boat Club", we agreed that we all should once again have dinner and celebrate there once again, afterwhich we all had a look around Darwin with Con & Joseph in their rental car.
After spending night at Joe's place we arrived at Adelaide airport and flew to Darwin via QANTAS, and met a very nice hostess in flight who after hearing our story, supplied us with some small bottles of champagne & nibbles to enjoy in the Winnebago when we arrived in Darwin.
Upon being met at Darwin airport by Bruce, we went to familiarise ourselves with the Winnebago and then accompany Bruce, Dianne, daughter Tina, and her son Joshua for a wonderful dinner at the "Trailer Boat Club". We spent our first night in "Lucky Pigs" which was parked at Dianne's brother's industrial sheetmetal yard in Winnelie.
Settlement day for the sale of our house was today. We left the house and spent the night at Joe's place. We had already ordered a new Suzuki Grand Vitara 3 door which we planned to flat tow behind our 28ft. Winnebago Alpine, "Lucky Pigs" which we had purchased from Bruce & Dianne Symons in Darwin. The delivery date for the Suzuki was to be 1st March when we planned to return with the Winnebago to Adelaide from Darwin, as we planned to live in the Winnebago in Adelaide for six months in order to get used to the changes in our lives. We therefore made a booking for six months from 1st March with the Windsor Gardens Caravan Park in Adelaide. Cost was to be $144.00 per week.
We ended up staying here for nearly 10 months! During our time here Lesley "bumped" into two of her old friends at the local shopping centre from many years ago! 
We spent the next couple months at Windsor Gardens getting used to living in "Lucky Pigs", in the meantime Peter got a temporary job with Galipo Foods driving refrigerated trucks. Lesley enjoyed walking Daisy everyday in the River Torrens Linear Park. We stayed at Windsor Gardens until April 26th during which time the 
We left Melrose behind and travelled via Murraytown, Laura to Clare, where we organised with Dave the caretaker to stay until Sunday 28th with power at the Clare Horse Racing track for
It was so hot and stifling as we headed down the road, then as a cool change with rain appeared in front of us we decided to stop at Agnes Creek
the heat. We stopped at the Tropic of Capricorn for photos and we arrived at Alice Springs around 4:15pm. We all booked into the Heritage Caravan Park(CMCA Friendly Park), 
