¬¬¬¬¬We have now been amping ourselves up for a whole week to drive up the Tanami. Nic has checked everything over twice on the delica (although no need really as it is an indestructible beast) and I have organised and checked our fuel and night stops as well as organising delicious Tanami cuisine for our 1000km dirt track journey.
At around 9am, we were all set and ready to go. Only one last thing to do... ring the Halls Creek visitors centre and check the North side state of the road.
Ba-bow…
“Na love its closed. Bin rain’in ere all week. Roads bin shut since Mundy.” I was told in a very okka accent.
“Still raining there now?”
“Yeeh, cats ‘n dogs… doesn’t look like its gonna stop anytime soon, eh.”
Damn.
Nic and I both looked at each other… bugger bugger bugger. We were both so amped to do this track and yet (or yit as Halls creek info would say) we didn’t want to get stuck up at the north end of the Tanami for days while we waited for the mud to dry up. We have only just over a week left to go. We’re gonna have to drive the long way round.
(Sorry Tim, no Rabbit Flat Roadhouse stubbie holder for you.)
And when I mean the long way, by God… It has been such a MASSIVE journey. From Alice we have had to take the Stuart Hwy north to Dunmarra, were we were able to turn off on a short cut along the Buchanan HWY to take us through to Top Springs where we paid $2.20per/L for diesel (and where I have to say were the MOST grossest toilets EVER! Locusts, flooding loos and no paper). This then took us to Timber Creek and the Victorian HWY which we followed to Kununarra. After a quick stop at the supermarket and a café for coffee we then took the Noerthern HWY down to good old Halls Creek. In total 1835kms, or there abouts. 3 solid days driving (at around 90kms/hr) – uuurgh!
Some highlights from the journey:
Zoe nearly killing the car when the radiator bottle lid popped off in the 36degree heat and resulted in a luminous green liquid explosion across the dash.
Arriving at Devils Marbles at Dusk – beeeeutiful.
Spotting our first snake (although cousin Nic, it was sadly not alive but on the side of the road half squashed to smitherines).
Stopping at Victoria River Roadhouse for the night, where we camped under a little Boab tree and had the best snags and mash ever.
Zoe passed her first, four long, road train.
Seeing the biggest bull in the world which was almost as tall as the car (and his giant balls – Nic)
Hitting the sun, and the Kimberleys on the way to Halls Creek.
Having to pull over while 5 x 55m road trains past us on a dirt track creating mini dust storms after each.
Nics interesting shower where he spotted a tiny crack in the wall and a tiny frog in the crack.
Getting all of our fruit, veggies and un-used honey taken off us as we crossed the border into WA.
(now the photo's here have loaded back to front... Sorry people! Goodness only knows why)
The Rivere at Kunnanurra
BEWARE OF CROCS
Goodbye fruit!
$2.20per/L for diesel at Top Springs!!! Thank Goodness we still had half a tank!
Top Springs... Choice.
Driving through cattle on the dirt
Nic's altercation with the mosquito coil holder at Victoria River
Our campsite at Victoria River
Road train coming!
closer...
closer....!
whoof!
Termite mounds on the side of the road
hitting the dirt again
Devils Marbles at sunset
50pts for spotting a car wreck.
On the road again...
Yum... Fresh fruit!
Camping right outside the gents at Alice... Stylin it!
Disaster hair...
Need to go! Hurry up and take the bloody photo!!!
Three hours in... Intense boredom obviously!
