A day of driving today. We made an early start - up at 0400 (NT time - 0430 EST, 0300 WA time). Got away from our campsite at 0545. We headed for Kununurra and picked up some replacement fruit and veg that we had stolen from us at the border quarantine. After a fuel stop and blog stop - that's where we stop on the side of the road and update the blog while we have Next-G reception. Les managed to find replacement latches for his tail gate so he fitted them there while I was blogging and we all had smoko. The tailgate became a must do after our trip back out from our previous campsite yielded a copious amount of dust ingress all over the storage of Les' and Barb's trailer. At the supermarket getting grocery supplies, we ran into 'Roothy' where Les bailed him up for a chat. Les was like he had met Santa for the first time - just tickled pink. For those of you who don't know, Roothy is a legend in the 4WD and Caravaning world. He has regular articles in several magazines such as '4WD Action' and 'Caravan & Motorhome' and has many DVD's of his adventures around this great land. Some of which Les has in the back of his car traveling with him. Anyway, he's a nice unassuming bloke and only too willing to oblige for a chat while he packed his groceries in the back of 'Milo', his truck. What a rocket!!! He was obliging to a couple of kids (and us) to have a photo taken with him.We set off from Kununurra for the Bungle Bungles. The drive had some breath taking scenery lining each side of the road. Huge mountain ranges with a unique appearance - some with large escarpments and some that look like a pile of boulders that have been stacked by some large bugger. There have been some recent fires through some of this country and it's interesting to note that the Boabs - and there are trillions of these things out here, seem to be resilient to bush fires. They appear virtually untouched where the fire has been all around them.We intended on going into the camp grounds at the Bungle Bungles but when we got to the front gate just off the road, we found they were full and requiring 48 hr prior bookings. That not being the way we roll, we pulled up stumps in a non-powered (and no amenities) area in the back of a caravan park nearer to the highway. Tomorrow, we will take a a drive down to the Bungle Bungles - we're told it's a pretty ordinary road so we'll get as much time in as we can by leaving at 0600. Les and Judy and I are booked on a chopper flight in the afternoon. I'm told it's the best way to take in this marvelous place. $250 for a 30 min flight I thought was reasonable and a must do having driven 3000 km to see the place - too hard to pass up. So I'll report back on how it all goes tomorrow.
Links:Google Maps reference is -17 26.49, 127 59.8833See more images at... https://picasaweb.google.com/106361511620108780730/Day0612072012
Well, today is Barb's and Les' anniversary (31 yrs - but don't tell them I told you). It's also Jude's birthday. Happy Birthday, Sue!!! For those of you not familiar with our family, Sue is Judy's twin sister - I won't tell you how old Judy is or she'll kill me. But Sue is 51 today. The day started off with a fresh morning - 13 deg. at sunrise and maxed out at 38 deg. - pretty hot for a winter's day! As I said yesterday, the intention today was to do very little - that we did.
A very relaxing day was had by all. We finished the day off with a beautiful roast dinner. Early start tomorrow (Thursday) because we're planning to get to the Bungle Bungles by around midday if we can so we'll have to get away by about 0600.
See more images at... https://picasaweb.google.com/106361511620108780730/Day0511072012
Sunrise at about 0700 over here (NT time). Small drive today - 330km. Being at a van park, we grabbed the opportunity to top up our water tanks and a delayed start after some grocery shopping. We set off about 1030.
The drive here was sensational with wall to wall escarpments of red weather worn rock cliffs I'd estimate to be 100's of metres high. Photos don't do these justice.
Our destination was the Gregory National park at a small camping area near the Bullita Station homestead (S 16 deg 6' 46"; E 130 deg 25' 25"). Google Maps reference is -16 6.7667,130 25.4167
It's at the end of a pretty dusty, rocky and bumpy 50km road. We dropped our tyre pressures which made a difference to the bone shakin going on. I can say our van has now been through the elements after having been to Fraser Island in the sand, salt and heavy rain. It has now been christened with dirt and dust so it's right of passage is complete and ready to take on the Gibb River Road in a couple of weeks time. We were please to find no dust leaks, however, the outside of our rig looks like it's been in the NT now.
The intention is to stay here for two nights so we can spend the day in between just chillin'. The campsite is on the banks of the East Baines River which have quite prominant signs alerting to the fact that crocs inhabit the area. Judy and I will be safe - not so sure about Barb and Les - they pitched their tent probably about 30 metres from water's edge.
The temp had climbed to 31 deg by day's end but dropped to the high teens by bedtime at around 2200.
A beautiful moonless but starry night ended the day.
See more images at... https://picasaweb.google.com/106361511620108780730/Day0410072012
Covered a lot of territory today - about 820km. We are holed up at Katherine tonight. We are not seeing any signs of winter right now - it's about 30 deg at 6:30pm. Hope it cools a bit tonight. Even this morning was only about 15 deg when we started out.
Not much to talk about today other than that we saw a lot of white lines and straight roads. Some dramatic changes in landscape along the way.
There are a lot of WWII historical sites up this way which I guess is to be expected.
Also can't get over the number of vans, campers and motorhomes in the NT. I'd hazard a guess that only about 25% of the vehicles that we have encountered have been single vehicles.
We've had the privilege of having our own defence force escort since Camooweal yesterday. A convoy of Army trucks has been keeping pace with us for two days. I think we've overtaken them at least six times. Then they get to overtake us when we're having a break and so it goes around. We noticed them at Katherine again this afternoon when we got here. However, we'll part ways tomorrow as we head west - I expect they'll go North.
We stopped into Mataranka to have a dip in the Thermal Pools. It was very nice but probably would have been more welcoming if the temperature was in the teens rather than the 30's.
While we were enjoying our dip, some grub nicked the cover off our van's hot water vent.
Ha! Funny thing happened tonight...
Judy was catching up with some washing and was digging in the peg bag. We have a plastic bag to carry clothes pegs in. It turns out that Les thought it was a rubbish bag and had been throwing his empty beer cans in it. Our pegs and washing will probably smell like a brewery now - Thanks Les.
See more photos at... https://picasaweb.google.com/106361511620108780730/Day0309072012
Today, we got off to a later start at 0730. Stopped off in Mt Isa for a few supplies. Les needed to find a replacement part for his camper tailgate. Being Sunday, the chances were slim. He went to Supercheap and found the doors closed with a sign showing opening hours from 0830. At this stage it was around 0840. Not waiting any longer, we all went to Bunnings. The lady at Bunnings informed Barb that it was pretty normal around these parts. Sometimes they might not open at all if they don't feel like it. That's Mt Isa time!!!
Anyway, we headed west.
We topped up our fuel tanks at Camooweal because we expected that it might be much dearer as we go further west. As it turned out, the fuel at Barkley Homestead was the same price as Camooweal - so we didn't gain anything there. We couldn't apply my 'drive by' theory as there were no second choices.
Just as we were leaving. Les got roped into help a couple of 'damsels in distress', with a tyre with a separated tread.
Les bein' a good samaritan.
As you can see here, the horizon in NT is not horizontal - strange phenomenon I know but that's what happens when you get a stranger to take the photo...
We pulled up for the day at a large rest area called T & W Bore Rest Area - 140km east of the Three Ways junction. Found a nice little patch of dirt a fair way off the highway. Witnessed a pretty decent sunset and a relaxing evening led into a beautiful starry night that makes living in the bush a unique experience.
See more images at....https://picasaweb.google.com/106361511620108780730/Day0208072012#
