Where are Mulder and Scully?

Back onto the Stuart Highway we head. As we get closer to the top of the Northern Territory we notice that there are more places to stop and visit, and wow what interesting and quirky places they are. First stop at 135 kms north of Alice Springs is a place called Aileron.

Perched up on a hill overlooking the town is a 17 metre Aboriginal man. He is based on the traditional man from the local Anmatjere Tribe.

Down the bottom of the hill is a female Anmatjere Aboriginal woman and child. She was created as the Aboriginal women of the Anmatjere tribe asked them to do so. That is Timna standing up next to the womans leg.

It continues to amaze us how many beautiful and different wild flowers we are seeing. It also continues to blow Robbie away, as he had imagined arid desert through the centre.

On the road again......the country side is forever changing. More evidence of either recent back burning or bush fires. We are learning more about the importance of back burning for conservation reasons.  

Next stop was at a very quirky place called Barrow Creek. It was recently in the headlines as the place that Peter Falconio was kidnapped. For us it was the pub/roadhouse that kept us entertained for far longer than we had planned. From the pile of garbage bags and empty grog bottles......think the garbos might not reach Barrow Creek all that frequently!!

 The pub/cafe/petrol station/grocery was covered with writing over its walls, filled with pieces of the towns history as well as well as bits and pieces of those who have travelled through. As well as very entertaining signs.

Back in the car. We drive through Elliot. Here we filled up and purchased a few items from the grocery store, including a new CD for the kids. There is now a bit of pressure between the back seat travellers and the driver over the music. They wish for constant repetition of the same songs, so as they can take it in turns singing along with the words. This annoys the poor long suffering driver no end. So occasionally we have a ban on music to give the poor driver a rest. Only for the back seat travellers to continue singing at the tops of their blessed hearts acapella style. They will continue this for hours. Aaaarrgghhhh!!

We finally arrive at the UFO capital of Australia, Wycliffe Wells. This place has the 5th most recorded sightings of UFOs world wide. It is also well known for having an extremely large array of local and international beers available for purchase. Do you think there might be a connection???

The campground is hilarious. Alien paraphernalia is all over the park. 

Mulder and Scully where are you????.

These guys greet you at the front of the roadhouse/reception/pub/local grocery store.

 Area 51

You can also buy insurance here against being kidnapped by aliens.

We felt safe with the Incredible Hulk watching over us at night.

About 20 klms up the road is the amazing Devils Marbles. Karlu Karlu is its Aboriginal name.

They were formed from the remnants of a solid mass of granite and are the result of breaking down rather than building up.

The 'onion skin' weathering is caused by water filtering into the outer layers of the granite and oxidising  the iron minerals causing a red-brown colouring. The weathered outer layer then peels off along fine fracture lines. 

We never tire of the beautiful sunsets.

                                                                                 

On packing day, we found someone who wanted to join us for the rest of our trip.

Could have made good schnitzel outa her!!

After seeing the amazing Devils Marbles, we decided to should check out the, somewhat less amazing, Devils Pebbles. This is known to the Aborigines as Kunjarra, the place of Munga Munga dreaming. It is an important place for Aboriginal women to come for ceremony and dance.

We thoroughly enjoyed the change in terrain once more.

                                      

More unexpected colour.

Back on the road to head to Banka Banka station for the night.

      As soon as we arrive it is time to give the car and caravan an overdue clean from the Red Centre's dust. A neighbour remarks that its just a waste of time "cos its only gonna get dirty again!" How right he was!!   

Boaz makes friends with the wildlife.

An impromptu game of cricket with a lovely family from a neighbouring caravan. One of the best things about travelling is the meeting of new people who quickly become friends. Sadly these encounters are all too fleeting but, Pete and Jen, we thoroughly enjoyed your company and wish you safe travels. 

Next stop for us is Mataranka, of We of the Never Never fame.