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Dirt Roads Across Australia
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Dirt Roads Across Australia

Heading to the most remote Aboriginal Community in Australia weaving our way across remote deserts to WA and back again! Leer más
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  • Inicio del viaje
    17 de julio de 2024
    Rell01Dirt Roads Across AustraliaRell01

    Off we go again!

    17 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    Day 1

    Well here we are off on another outback adventure! I truly wasn’t in the mindset to do this trip but now I am in the wilderness so can see the positives!

    Sadly the Van Iattie’s can come which does make my heart feel sad! Their big 4x4 truck broke down over a week ago in Mt Isa snd it’s been shipped to Townsville! Need today when I checked was it’s Gear Box is stuffed they will send a new one from Japan who knows when! So that’s it no Dave and Sheryl to give us good company, a laugh and directions as Sheryl does the best side track planning!
    So it’s just Bill Storer and Us that’ll be fun for me 2 guys!

    We left at 10 am after a few shotgun starts! We forgot a couple of things then decided to make our own coffee then there was another thing we dashed back for luckily we didn’t set off just kept starting the car then realizing more things each time! 🤔🤔🤔😫😫

    Of we set made it to Moura as I forgot to buy John sone bread! Had a Quick Look at the Memorial Park walk to the fallen mine works over a 63 yr period! So many lives lost through mine accidents or underground mines blowing up.
    Off we set was about 30k outside Moura when I was sure I saw Axel my nieces husband fixing s truck n the side of the Hwy! Was hoping it wasn’t his truck after all his issues snd having to buy another new truck! John was driving so fast we couldn’t have stopped even if had wanted to!

    Next stop was Rolleston such a bad road heading to there! Black soil has made the road so uneven! Had lunch at the pub as it’s the state of origin tonight they were getting the pub ready for a big night! Had a chat to the girl who looked like she was the manager! A couple from either Belgium or Germany were the bar staff d and chef!!!!

    Then off to Springsure to buy a new car USB adapter charger as ours was playing up! So off to Mitre 10 he went! I headed up the street to Decadance a gift shop owned but Axel’s mother Louisa Opperman!

    As I approached the shop an older lady was sitting in the sun out front having her soup! Turns out she is Axel’s grandmother who helps look after the shop! I went into this treasure trove of so much stuff I didn’t know where to look! Had a chat yo Axels gran and it turns out it was Axe and his father trying to fix up Stephens hired broken truck! 🛻 he had hired this one because his had broken down now this one was cactus as well! Axe s as md apparently his brother by phone were trying to fix the issue!
    I bought some lovely smelly hand cream…. Winter kills my hands so nothing like good quality hand cream to stop them cracking! Gran also gave me a little gift of another small tube of hand cream to help the issue! So lovely of her!

    We set off towards Tambo making it to the camp site Stove Waterhole! Just off the Hwy we can still see cars snd trucks going by! The waterhole had a little amount in it! Thrr e’d ground above it is flat and even a good camp spot!

    We set up our camper first, then our Starlink for the first time out bush! Set up a campfire 🔥! Called Dad on FB messages no phone reception out here! I had pre prepared some meals before we set off! Tonight we had pea and ham soup as it’s very cool and windy! The soup around the fire 🔥 did the trick! Finding things we forgot to put in so it’s improvise as best as you can! Being off grid for s as big part of this trip will be the way it’s planned! See how we go! U think off to bed early tonight!    Leer más

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    Frozen Brain

    18 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Day 2

    What a night so so cold! One weather map said 2c another said 0.3c 🥶 either way it was cold! A very slow start! We didn’t get away until 10am!
    John had cut some wood 🪵 for us to take off fires, all ticket up into big hardy vags, off we set!
    Still a dirt road from thick wooded forests to open plains! A massive range came into view! The closer we get to it the more intriguing the features of it became! After coming across a grid we could see the range from a fantastic vantage point, so we stopped to make a cuppa! The wind had come up just before we set off and was blowing well and truly once we stopped! We did get the kettle to boil eventually. Had a cuppa and a bite off we set to Tambo!

    The Range we come to find out was Drummond Ranges sone truly spectacular features along its huge stone walls as we drive along. Sadly so many of the features were sadly behind Forrest wall that meant I couldn’t get good shots!

    We arrived at Tambo as we drove into town we could see a huge open field of a free camp area but with the wind blowing as it us at present, it wouldn’t have any shelter to protect our tent on wheels!
    We drove buy into town finding a servo straight up as John had run the fuel tight out we were coasteering in on air I think k by the time he filled up! He had already used one of the fuel Jerry’s to top up this morning before we left.

    It was $208.9 per L, $217 t op fill up, certainly changes the face of travel in the Outback and will get dearer!

    From here we headed up to book to a van park the first one was full so onto the next only 2 in town! It had only had someone cancel their spot so we could have it! We were placed against a back fence which I had hoped the wind wouldn’t be blowing as much! But sadly it was! So after setting up I decided to make lunch! Thee we wind have Mr hell as I tried to cook soup gif me and s as toasted sandwich for John! What s as battle eventually I gave up it was what it was!

    After lunch we had a look at Tambo going for a drive to the Qantas Crash site! From here we followed Pathways winding through the forest parkland connecting into a nature walk along the Barcoo River. Interesting set up which we ended up on the other side of around the back end of the town! Having to back track as there were some very wet boggy sections which we didn’t want to have to fight!
    Out the other side of town that went to Augathella nothing out that way! Back to the Foodworks storer to buy a new bucket after 30yrs of using the same buckets 🪣 they are cracking down the sides! I think our little old buckets have truly done their job after all these years! We found one, then across the road to the Grasslands Gallery! They were having an Art Competition we had to vote on ! Did our votes looked around, then off to the Camper to have a shower before an early dinner at the pub!
    We had our showers once finished I saw a shuttle picking up tourists to go to Royal Carrangarra Hotel that had Chicken Racing! There were so many on the first shuttle ride they had to come back, we were able to get a lift up with the second round! We got to the Pub ohh my goodness people everywhere! It certainly is a huge pull for people to see the coloured chooks racing!

    The guy commenting the publican owner was a real character!

    We didn’t see the whole race. John had an early work Zoom meeting so we had to eat early! When we asked to order dinner they told us we couldn’t eat until after the race! With the huge crowd we knew we would t get our meal into late, so off up the Street to the other Tambo Tavern! It was a very different old pub as well! Warm as toast inside! Chatted to another couple of travellers heading north very sensible compared to us heading west where it’s still cold! The meal was a 2 foot sausage and mash! We shared this very tasty! Back to our tent on wheels John had the little electric heater’….the joys of having a powered site!

    Another early night way too bad a day for 2nd day!

    History below!
    (QANTAS Crash SitePrint Page Print this page

    06-July-2020 (John Huth)
    06-July-2020 (John Huth)
    06-July-2020 (John Huth)21-September-2015 (Bob Rogers) 05-August-2016 (Sue Smith)05-August-2016 (Sue Smith)06-July-2020 (John Huth)06-July-2020 (John Huth)06-July-2020 (John Huth)

    Photographs supplied by Bob Rogers / Sue Smith / John Huth
    The monument marks the site of first crash of a QANTAS aeroplane in 1927.

    On 24 March 1927 the DH9C G-AUED was on a regular route between Charleville and Mount Isa with Tambo as its secondary destination. It intended landing on the clay-pan that serves as Tambo’s airstrip when it was seen to dive suddenly into the ground. Mystery surrounds why the crash occurred but it was determined the aeroplane had landed at a nearby station to undertake repairs. The three men on board were buried at the Tambo cemetery.

    After just over six years' operation during which over 450,000 miles have been flown without injury to either personnel or passengers, disaster befell one of the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service aeroplanes at Tambo this morning. The pilot, D. Davidson, of Richmond, and A. W. N. Bell, owner of Belmont Station Winton, who accompanied him as passenger, were killed, while the other passenger, J. Donaldson, manager of Rocklands Station, Camooweal, was so severely injured that he succumbed some hours after the accident. It was the pilot's first trip.
    Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), 25th March 1927.)    Leer más

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    Blackall Run

    19 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Day 3

    Stayed at Tambo caravan park last night. Had a powered sight $35 so we could run the electric heater all night. Good nights sleep we got near zero degrees last night. Water frozen. Had breakfast and packed up. We are getting better at it. We were able to get away at 9am. Not that we are rushing in the mornings. Have to unfreeze first. We then headed off to Blackall at a steady pace there are hundreds of vans in the road, heading in both directions. 100 K’s down the road we arrived at Blackall. Went and checked out the Black Stump. Apparently a surveyors point. So that’s why beyond the Black Stump. Then down town and found a park in the centre to visit the chemist and hardware store. Then it was off the the coffee shop for guess what! A coffee. A quick look as we drive out at the Rollie Polly art and the big B sign. Then another 100 K’s to Lara Wetlands. We have stayed here before, it is a beautiful spot about 13 K’s off the bitumen along a dirt road. Artesian fed waterhole then feeds into a wetlands area. $30/night staying two nights. We set up on the lake grabbed a fire pit and bought some wood. Then after setup it was book in for dinner tomorrow and sit and have drinks before dinner. Could be another cool one tonight. Planing on taking it easy tomorrow. See you in the morning.Leer más

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    Lara Wetlands

    20 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Day 4

    Was cool last night but I don’t think we got to the zero’s. The sun is beautiful and warm a good way to start the day. Great day today the weather was nice and sunny. Even got hot sitting in the sun. So today was a rest day so Rell and I both did some reading and catch up on the internet. We also both caught up on some sleep as well. I went and had a swim in the thermal pool it was great. You can only stay in for 15-20min. It was early showers so we could get ready for the music at 5pm and bush dinner at 6pm. Not a fan of country but it was a good night and then back to sit by the fire. You can’t beat this. Rell was a little unwell from the meal and sweets so that spoiled her night a bit. Anyway a good night by the lake and the Bronco’s won so that’s a bonus. See you in the morning.Leer más

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    11

    Heading to Yaraka via Barky.

    21 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Day 5

    We are heading to Yaraka today but taking a detour via Barcaldine so we can get some more cash. Not to many ATM’s out this way. So it will be a long pack up and slow start this morning. Left about 9am and a nice non eventful drive to Barcaldine. Here we had a look around, plenty to see around here. We went to the ATM ands got out some cash, we are going to need it from here. The to the bakery for morning tea and coffee. Monster apple turnover and Rell had the large sausage roll. Then off to fuel up, this will be the last of the cheap fuel @ $2.07. Then we took the back road to Isisford. The roads are great and the wild life is prolific. Emu’s, goats, Roo’s and Birds galore. Arrived at Isisford and had a look around, looks like they have a fishing comp on next weekend and every man and his dog are already camped there ready for it. There are some beautiful spots on the river for camping. They have the Big Yellow Belly fish here. Great little town. Then onto Yaraka. We had lunch at a water hole on the Barcoo rive. A bit of a weir and boat ramp. Had a chat with some visitors before we headed on our way. Pulled up in Yaraka and a guy gave us directions to the Hall and said find a spot. Power and water available along with showers and toilets. $5/night. Can’t complain about that and they do dinner at the Pub so that kept Rell happy.Leer más

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    Betoota is Alive.

    23 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Day 7

    A cool start to the morning, we didn’t use the heater. Slow start also stayed bed for awhile. So by the time we were ready to go Bill had caught up with us. He stayed at Coppers creek last night. Had a chat and we headed off. Not long after leaving we came across some Native Wells details below:
    The Native Wells, located approximately 90 kilometres west of Windorah on the Diamantina Development Road, offer a quick stop by the side of the road and an opportunity to view the native wells, and read a little bit about them on the Information board available. Native Wells in Australia have been used for centuries by Aboriginal people as a water source. Wells in outback Queensland are dry most of the time, however during a wet season, the water is filtered through cap rock and pools in the natural depressions, that are then used by people and animals alike.

    Aboriginal people maintained the wells by making sure debris was cleaned out and certainly no animals stuck in them. Traditionally, the well would have a stick in it to allow animals such as goanna's and kangaroo's, to be able to climb out. Lengths of timber were often placed across the wells to prevent debris and animals from falling in and contaminating them.
    Continued on from the wells we checked out the lookouts extra on the way. The scenery etc was beautiful on the way. Haven’t seen it this green before. Checked out the Serpent on the rocks, plenty of things to see and do. Then we headed to Batoota hotel. The last time we came through it was a ruin so we were keen to check it out. It is back up and running and looking good. Not much food during lunch so we had a couple of pies. The beers here were only $5, trying to get customers. So I bought a carton will be cheaper than Birdsville. They charge $9 a beer. So after that we head off for the long haul to Birdsville. Got here and booked into the caravan park. It is so green around Birdsville and water everywhere. Never seen it like this. It will be interesting in the desert. So now booked in and set up had a great shower and feel like a new man. Time for a beer in Birdsville. Had a quite night and dinner. Time for bed, see you in the morning.    Leer más

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    Day in Birdsville

    24 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    Day 8

    Cool morning again but it is getting better, we had power so the heater is on this morning. Washing day started early so we could get it done. We will be looking around Birdsville today and will have to catch up on some admin. We will also make sure we have everything ready to head west. Yes so we did all the washing and started sorting things. Then we headed to the bakery for morning tea. Walked around town and checked out a couple of places. Rell had some admin to do and I had a few things to tidy up with the vehicle. We booked into the Birdsville Pub for dinner. Off we head about 5:45pm to the pub and it was already quite busy. The meal was okay but the drinks were better, quite dear as well. Talked to a few locals and headed home. Unreal the amount of plane flying in and out. They are running flight tours out of here now and they start up before the sun. Noisy mob wake everyone up. Anyway off to bed for a big day tomorrow.Leer más

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    Starting the Desert Run.

    25 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Day 9-1 Hay River Track

    Up early this morning and start the packing. Morning routine and when everything was packed off the the servo for fuel $2.72/Lt. Rell picked up a couple of ham and chess croissants 🥐 for morning tea. The we checked out the bore that supplies town and the thermo generated power station. From here to the bakery for bred and coffee, of course. The back to the tourist info centre because we missed it yesterday. Now we are ready to go I think. Just let me check with Rell. Yes we are on our way and guess what it is bitumen all the way out the Big Red. On arrival there were a few cars getting ready to hit the desert. We pulled up and let down the tires. I was concerned about the first few dues after Big Red silent the tires down to less than 18 psi. Went to far on a couple and had to pump them back up a bit. On went the flags and we were ready to go. Bill was the tour lead and the first communication office. He had to do all the radio coms when coming to the dunes. Rell was second coms office for when Bill didn’t get it right or missed a call. Also when she had something to say. The track to Big Red was rough and slow from all the wet weather. Got to Big Red and Bill attacked the east track on the easy side. But he concord Big Red and got the photos. He did come down the harder track. Then it was off the attack the dunes. It was a lot easier than I thought with the camper. So we could take the ties up a bit. Then we had a slow comfortable ride. It was like Queen street mall. There were that many cars and tag a long groups. We must have passed about 30-40 cars. The track was good as far as water was concerned but there was heaps of water everywhere. We crossed Eyre creek at an alternate point. Plenty of water but okay to cross. Had smoko and lunch on the way it was a great day. Slower than we thought so we didn’t make it the the QLD/NT border so we will make that and Popels corner tomorrow. Found a camping place of the track. The wind was blowing a bit so we had to tuck in behind trees. Great day finished off by the campfire. Well done tour guide Bill. By the way Bill is in the front only if we needed to get pulled out of the sand dunes. Good night.Leer más

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    First Camp in Desert

    26 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Day 10-2 Hay River Track

    Woke up this morning to the birds singing and an overcast day. We had a sprinkling of rain last night. We are hoping it stays that way. Set off this morning passing vehicles in both directions from the start. We are heading for the QLD/NT border. Arrived there around smoko time so we pulled up for smoko and to air up our tires. We passed a hose float laying wrecked on the QAA Line. After smoko we took the K1 line to Popels corner. This was along the salt lake western edge and we could sit on around 60 k’s an hour. Once again many cars. Got to Poppels Corner and there were about a dozen cars there already. Everyone having there photo taken at the Corner of the three states. From here we took the alternate route back to the QLD border to continue our run north along the Hay River track. We met a few cars along here as well. The track condition changed to more like rig roads. Until we hit the dune section again. On the dune sect we ran into three Explorer trucks set up with their campers on the back. They were some pretty flash setups. One was even towing a trailer. We had to get off the road for them because they were too big to move their asses off the road. Anyway it was a contentious issue I should have taken Rell’s advise and moved off the road earlier. Anyway it all went well and we all passed. We then headed for our camp for the night. When we finally selected one there was already an Isuzus truck setup like Sheryl and Dave’s camped there. The area was a bit tight so we decided to move on a little and find a roadside stop. Well the area we selected wasn’t the best but we put up with it and setup for the night. We had a nice dinner and while sitting around the fire a fox strolled in as if he owned the place. Wasn’t real worried about us. We had to shoo him away. He will probably be back while we sleep. Good night.Leer más

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    Wet Morning on the Hay Track

    27 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Day 11-3 Hay River Track

    Okay now that I have my days sorted out, we had a rain for most of the night last night. Lucky for us it wasn’t to heavy. I got up this morning between rain showers and made the coffees. Then later on we packed up with most things wet made Breakfast and headed off about 08:30am. Very overcast morning but the weather forecast was for sunny days so we were hopeful. We only past one vehicle on the road today. A lady with a camper on the back of a cruiser. She must have started early this morning. We past a group that were still camped up in their tents. About three cars. Looked like they were drying out. The road was slow again today and we only made 110 K’s but that’s okay enjoying the scenery and drive. We came across the Magellan track, camps and junction. Other than that it was a great drive with finches and other birds. Long day. We parked up around 4pm to open everything up and dry out. All good by night fall and had a good dinner. Sitting around the camp fire again. Good night.Leer más

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    Travelling the Hay River Track.

    28 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    Day 12-4 Hay River Track

    A nice cool morning to wake up to today. Think it is around 7-8 degrees, but it feels less than that. Thank god for gas heaters. Today we will continue heading along the Hay River track taking our time and seeing where we get to. To long a drive yesterday, we need to stop and smell the roses 🌹 or in this case the yellow sun flowers and Mula Mala. Anyway got to get out in the cold soon so catch you later. We headed off and checked out the Aboriginal locations and camping areas. A lot of great scenery. Slow driving again today. We were heading for Dingo Well. Another project that is not working we were heading to the camp area north of that but it had campers already there and they were taking up the hole area. So we headed back down the track and found another camp site by the river. Great spot and we spent the night by the fire.Leer más

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    Final Day on the Hay River Track

    29 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Day 13-5 Hay River Track

    Up again this morning to the bloody cold weather. Anyway it makes you get up and go quicker to warm up. A bit late getting away Rell had to wash her hair and we had to put in fuel. Still got away at 9:15am. The people that were at the camp site were still packing up when we left. Not long out we ran into a tag a long tour heading in the opposite direction. They told us we should be right to get out today but they said there was about 70K’s of bloody terrible 😣 corrugations on the last big of the track. So for we went and checked out the Tropic of Capricorn, couple of different signs here. Then onto Barton Camp. This place was run by the Aboriginals and they have shut it down and walked away. Supposable for repairs and upgrade but looks like they have walked away. Place is a mess. The camp area would be pretty good if someone put some work into it. We checked out the Mountain before the camp as well. We caught up we a couple of cars at Batton Hill they were towing campers and had just come in. He told me the track was badly corrugated and he had cooked his shockies on his camper. We off we went to cover the last 70-80K’s and yes it was as bad as they said. Within the first 10K’s I had cooked two shockies on the camper. Nothing to be done until we get out. The roof rack had shaken loose and there were rattled everywhere. After repairs it was off again but this time at around 20K’s an hour. What a slow trip but at least the car stayed together. We could speed up in some places but not many. We eventually got to the Plenty Hwy and stayed at the camping area near Jervious Stn. Cool again to night so is spent by the fire.Leer más

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    Heading to Gem Tree

    30 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌙 4 °C

    Day 14

    This morning is a little cool down around 1-2 degrees. So a very slow start getting out of bed and the heater struggling this morning. We are camped near Jervious Station and from here we will travel to Gem Tree caravan park. This is about 200K’s on the Plenty Hwy. so should be a lot quicker and better than what we have been on.
    Well the trip to Gem Tree caravan park was quite and easy. There was about 100K’s of bitumen a ok it looks like they are trying the bitumen the Plenty Hwy all the way through. If they do this will be a well used road through to Alice. Had smoko along the road and arrived at Gem Tree around 1:00pm. Booked in and did the dinner and garnet tour for tomorrow. Looks like we have to be out of bed early. When we tried to book Bill in on-line it told us there were no sites available, got here and there were plenty. So Bill was all booked in as well. When we got to Gem Tree we found I had two shockies on the camper snapped in half. They blew out on the corrugation and dropped all their oil. Then on the dirt roads today they just snapped them. Anyway had a couple of spares so I threw those on and we will see if we can get a couple of new ones in Alice. Had a great shower and now sitting and having a couple of drinks. Rell it trying to catch up on emails etc. starting to get cool now so we may have to start fire 🔥    Leer más

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    Prospecting Day

    31 de julio de 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌙 4 °C

    Day 15

    Cool morning again but we need to get up early to go on our garnet prospecting tour. So we will see if we come back millionaires.
    Well we aren’t millionaires but we had a great day prospecting for the garnets. We found some 3&4mm stones and it was more the excitement than anything else. We must have been playing around for around 4-5 hours.Leer más

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    Off to Alice Springs

    1 de agosto de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    Day 16

    Heading to Alice today after an enjoyable stay at Gem Tree. Should only be a couple of hours on the road. Bill is heading off early to get there for a dental appointment. We will take it easily and arrive later. Drove to Alice and checked out a monument on the way. We had a great look at the wild flowers along the Hwy as well. Headed off about 9:30am. Got to the Stuart hwy the traffic increased 100 fold with caravans everywhere. Things are getting busy on our way into town. We headed to get fuel first up but they were Hi Flow bowsers and this would have caused me major dramas. So left the refuelling and we headed to Kmart. Here we pick up a few items we needed before catching up with Bill, after he had been to see the dentist. Then we went to a cafe in the centre of town for lunch. Not the best but food. Then it was off to see if we could get shockies for the camper. This turns out to be a bit of a saga and I will get onto that tomorrow. Then I dropped off Rell at Woolies while checking out a few other locations for shockies. Before that we went to Super Cheap for a couple of items as well. So when I got back to Woolies I noticed a policeman at the BWS store checking license. I noticed he turned a couple of Aboriginal guys away. Apparently they had bought alcohol yesterday so not today. They were pissed off. So when we went in they asked for owe licenses and asked where we were taking the alcohol. Just told him we were taking them back to caravan park and that was okay. It was all good. But it was pay day so there were a lot of people around town. Anyway before all this we dropped off the camper at the caravan park. We got a site with an ensuite this time so this was good. Another day tomorrow.Leer más

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    A Day in Alice

    2 de agosto de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Day 17

    Today was a fix everything day. Had breakfast and started repairs. First up transferring water in the water tanks and then filling up. Bill and I came up with some major contraptions. Then it was pull a Shockie off the camper so we could get some new ones. Then off into town for shopping and parts. Rell had heaps of work to do at the van so it was Bill and I heading off. We started our saga looking for shockies. Went to about six places no luck so eventually bitting the bullet, went back to Pedders suspension and bought two. $560 later we headed off to fuel up. So now I had a big funnel, we went to the depot bowsers. Hi flow diesel pumps. Filled the car and three black jerrycans and one yellow. The yellow wine took 10min. So that was it. Pulled up stumps and headed for servo to make it easier. Put in about $450 worth of fuel. Then off the the cheap shop with my list. Well they didn’t have what we wanted, so off to Woollies. Then to Kmart grading a bit to eat before coming home around three. Took ages down town. Then it was the repairs to the camper, the camera, air compressor and a heap of other minor things. Later we had to do another grog run before heading to dinner at the local football club. Gillens club. Meal was okay but as usual Rell tummy didn’t agree.Leer más

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    Heading West of Alice

    3 de agosto de 2024, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Day 18

    Time to head off this morning on our westward adventure to the most remote community in Australia 🇦🇺. So after breakfast and a pack up it’s off to the post office and get some bread. Then hopefully meet up with Bill at Hermannsburge. Looks like this parrot 🦜 was having someone breakfast this morning.
    Well everything didn’t quite go as planned. First up it’s Saturday and the post office is not open. So got some bread from bakery and headed off to Hermmansburg. Caught up with Bill and we had morning tea there and a look around. Then off to Goodes Bluff. This is soused to be a meteor creator. Looks amazing. Here we had lunch and the ⛰️ in this area are fantastic. From here up to a lookout before commencing our run on the dirt western road. This took us toward another Bluff and a large cross on a hill. Apparently 20m high and it lights at night. From here we turned right and headed toward the Garry Junction road. Once there we turned left heading to Papunya community. There we topped up with fuel at $2.80. Not to bad for out here. Then we headed out to find somewhere to camp. Want to get a little distance between us and town. We found a nice spot tucked away behind the hills for the night and set up camp. Good to be out in the country with a camp fire going. Time for another beer with my mates the flies.    Leer más

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    A Windy Day on Garry Juction Rd

    4 de agosto de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Day 19

    A rough night last night. Not much rain but plenty of wind. Very windy this morning so it is going to be interesting to pack up. Rell and I will have to hold everything down while packing the camper. Let’s see how we go.
    We packed up early this morning because it was raining lightly and everything was grr we tying wet. Got everything done and then had breakfast. Started our drive along the track and the road wasn’t too bad. The scenery was fantastic with major hills and rock formations. We went past other aboriginal communities and came to Rocky water hole. This was a flag are of rock between sand dunes. It have holes in the rock that were full with water. Then it was onto Kintore Aboriginal community. 9 klm of bitumen into the community and we filled up with fuel $2.95 not too bad. Then from there to the NT/WA boarder. From here we went another 50 K’s to a road camp area for the night. We have Kiwirrkurra the remotest community in front of use tomorrow about 100K’s. So we are packed down for the night and will talk in the morning.    Leer más

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    The Most Remote Community in Australia

    5 de agosto de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Day 20

    A nice sunny morning. Looks like we had a bit of rain last night. I didn’t hear a thing. Anyway everything is a bit wet. Will have to wait for the dry out. We are visiting Kiwirrkurra community today, which happens to be the most remote community in Australia. The reasons for our trip. We will let you know how that goes.
    Well the first thing we came to was a roadside grave and the flowers that were growing around it were fantastic. See in pics. Then it was the original site were Len Beddels ration truck burnt out when they were constructing the Garry Junction road. From here it was to the most remote community in Australia. When we got they we read on a sign that we had to contact the Council office before entering. So off we went and when we got there we walked into the office and there was one guy there on a computer. He looked very busy not sure what he was doing. He then asked what we needed. I said the sign down the road said we had to drop in. He said his name was Tim and thanked us very much for the visit. We told him we had permits and everything but that we just wanted fuel etc. he wasn’t even worried about permits. No one seems to even worry about permits etc. after that we went to the shop for fuel. When we walked in there was a confrontation going on between the shop manager (white) and one of the local females (black). Apparently there was a death the week before and the aboriginal lady was organising things and was pretty upset. Anyway the manager sent an aboriginal guy to help us with the fuel and it was cheaper than of the other communities we had been too $2.70. So we both filled up. Then we checked out the burnt out ration truck in town. Tis is where a car load of aboriginals pulled up and asked Bill if he wanted to buy painting. Rell also had a look. Sadly no paintings purchased. Then it was time to head off again, we went to a place called Niynmi abandoned community. There were about nine two room units each with a detached shower block and thunder box. Looked like there was also a generator container, a windmill and water tank. There was also an airstrip or at least a helicopter landing pad. Anyway we don’t know the story around this place but it looked okay. Then onto another Len Beddele marker just out of the town. From here we went to Jupiter well. This was a She or Desert Oak grove. So we decided to stay the night this was a beautiful spot.    Leer más

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    Crossing the CSR

    6 de agosto de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    Day 21

    Another cool morning in the Gibson Desert. A great camping spot here at Jupiter Wells/Bore, what ever. It will be a long day today, we need to get some K’s up We will be crossing the CSR today before continuing on toward Marble Bar.
    We headed off on a long drive this morning with the first stop being Garry Junction road road junction. This is where there is a four way junction. North is Well 35, to the west is Well 33 and the Aboriginal community and to the south is the Garry Hwy. here we had a late smoko. Then it was onto the CSR & Well 33. Took Bill to see Well 33 and once again the corrugations were ridiculous, but it was great to see the Well again. The community looked nearly deserted. After our visit we left and headed out toward Marble Bar. After lunch along the road we continued past lake Dora. A salt lake. We eventually got to see Rell’s camels 🐪. We saw a big male by himself earlier in the day and then when driving by the salt lake we saw another two grazing on the edge. So now Rell is happy that she got to see them. We continued on into the late afternoon. Until we found a gravel pit for our nightly camp.    Leer más

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    More Corrugations again Today

    7 de agosto de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Day 22

    Had a good camp ⛺️ at our gravel pit last night. Today we continue on to Marble Bar past Telfer Mining operations. So the road will improve from there. We will see how we go and what else is on the way.
    Well the road didn’t improve much, still a lot of corrugations. Mostly driving today although we did check out another salt lake and a windmill stop on the way. We went past Telfer Mine and yes the road improved greatly. On que a road train came on the road just before we got there and yes we were in a cloud of dust. Eventually we hit the bitumen and we were suppose to stay the night at a gorge but there was a sign in the way in saying there was a major event and it was recommended to stay somewhere else. So we ended up on a river camp beside the main road and causeway. Very noisey. But beggars can’t be choosers. So we had a good night around the campfire.    Leer más

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    Marble Bar & Eighty Mile Beach

    8 de agosto de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Day 23

    A warmer morning this morning coming out of the colder weather. So a good nights camp on the river crossing where the road trains cross about ever 15min. I only heard a couple during the night so I must have slept well. Today is off to Marble Bar for smoko and then followed up with a drive to Eighty Mile Beach. So talk soon.
    Well we headed off a little late and it was a straight run into Marble bar. Got there and stopped at the information area. Had a chat with a view people or Rell did anyway and then a quite look around town at the older sandstone buildings. Then it was time to fill up with fuel and we headed back to the bakery to pickup an apricot roll and lamington. From here we headed out to Chinaman Pool for smoko. Beautiful grasses are and a couple of tables and chairs with a few other people around. Then a look at Marble Bar Pool before heading off. This time we decided to head to Pardoo roadhouse and stay the night. Shorter distance and only $30/night. On the way dirt road again we past another Aboriginal community and then onto Carleecarleethong pool for lunch. This was a beautiful camping spot. Green grass on the riverbank overlooking the water. From here we made our way to an abandoned town Goldsworthy. Looks like an old mining town, but nothing there anymore except the signs of mining. From here a shortcut to the Hwy and onto Pardoo roadhouse. In the middle of nowhere but it had green grass and showers. This is heaven, dinner in the roadhouse set it off well. Forward to Eighty Mile Beach tomorrow.

    Marble Bar has been described as "the centre of the Pilbara back in the early 1900s".[3] The town predates Port Hedland, Newman, and Karratha.[3]
    It was gazetted in 1893 following the discovery of gold in the area in 1890 by a prospector named Francis Jenkins who is remembered by the name of the town's main street.[4] The name Marble Bar was derived from a nearby jasper bar mistaken for marble and now known as Marble Bar, which runs across the bed of the Coongan River.[4]
    In 1891 the town boasted a population in excess of 5,000 as it experienced a rush on the goldfields.[5] Several large gold nuggets were discovered as a result of the goldrush. The 333 ounce Little Hero nugget,[6] the 413 ounce Bobby Dazzler and the 332 ounce General Gordon nugget were all found in the goldfields around the town.[7]
    By 1895 the town had its Government offices built; these are now National Trust buildings.[citation needed] Cut from local stone, the buildings still stand today.[citation needed] The town's Ironclad Hotel was built in the 1890s, and has been listed on the Western Australian register of heritage places since 2006.[8] It is constructed of corrugated iron, and was given its name by American miners who were reminded of the Ironclad ships from the United States.[citation needed]
    A Telegraph line was proposed during discussion of the Estimates in January 1893 to link Condon to Marble Bar.[citation needed] After approval, many basic administrative errors delayed or interrupted construction of the line to an area in which very significant gold finds were being mined.[citation needed] These mines needed communication with other centres – including to England.[citation needed] Finally the line was completed at the end of July 1894 - to the satisfaction of an increasingly irate community.[citation needed] A Post and Telegraph Office was opened on 25 August 1894.[9]
    During World War II, United States Army Air Forces and Royal Australian Air Force heavy bombers were based 25 kilometres (16 mi) away as the crow flies at Corunna Downs Airfield.[citation needed] Allied airmen from the base attacked Japanese forces as far away as Borneo.[citation needed]
    The Port Hedland to Marble Bar Railway opened on 15 July 1911, costing around £300,000 to build.[10][11] Due to low traffic and high financial losses, the railway closed from 31 May 1951.[12] This railway could be seen as a narrow gauge precursor to the network of standard gauge iron-ore railways that have since been created across the Pilbara.[citation needed]    Leer más

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    The Coast & Warm Weather

    9 de agosto de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Day 24

    Hi guys today is a beautiful morning on a grassy site. A bit cool but it will definitely warm up. Today we will be heading for a look at Eighty Mile Beach and then north toward Broom. Some long driving. The first thing is breakfast and packing up. Did I mention it was great to have a shower and that it was a bit noisy here. Talk later.
    First stop was Eighty Mile Beach. Dirt road in but the beach was beautiful. We only had a quick stop here and then headed off. The amount of caravans on the road is unreal. We stopped at a rest area for smoko and then the same for lunch. Arriving at Broome Gateway Caravan Park at around 3:30pm. Very disappointed with the park. Dirty, dusty, windy and no grass. The showers and the washing machines where okay and allowed us to get everything done. Bill and us had dinner together tonight. While we waited for our washing to dry. Into look at Broome tomorrow so good night.    Leer más

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    Broome Tour

    10 de agosto de 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Day 25

    Nice bright sunny morning in the Broome area. Definitely not to cold around here, looking at temperatures of around 35 degrees today. We will be having breakfast and heading into Broome for a visit today.
    Set off for Broome and the first stop was the port to see the locals fishing and the cattle being loaded onto ships for transport. Also see the rocks and the yacht club where we were standing last time and there was an earth quake. Here we heard the buildings rattle. Then it was to the national park to check out the beaches. The red sand cliffs and the blue, blue water. Fantastic views. From here into town to check out the old style of buildings done in corrugated iron to keep all the buildings in the old style.    Leer más

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    The Journey East

    11 de agosto de 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Day 26

    We have finished our little re-visit to Broome. We head off today to Derby and into Windjana Gorge. All this after breakfast, packing up and fuelling up.
    So many caravans on the the road it is unreal. So the ride to Derby was east along the all bitumen road. On the way into Derby we came to the Prison Boab and one of the longest watering troughs for cattle in the world. Just as we were getting there a bus load of tourists turned up. So we had to race in and beat them to it. After that we thought we would go to the bottle shop until we realised it was Sunday and they were all shut. Just have to use what we have. Then out to the harbour to check out the jetty and to compete with the APT mob. From here we checked out the sculptures on the mudflat lakes. There are some places in Derby that are kept so green it is great. Forgot to mention we stopped along the way at Willare for smoko at a great coffee shop. Then it was time for lunch about 15K’s out of Derby. Where Bill and I did some minor repairs on his 12volt system. Then off to Winbjina. 20K’s of corrugations on this stretch but not enough to worry about. Got there and had to race through registration because so many people turning up. It end up costing about $40 for park entry and camping fees. They did have hot showers and toilets. We went for a walk in the gorge in the afternoon as the sun was setting and the views were fantastic. Saw no crocs. That night we sat around the camp fire. We only had a small amount of wood so when Max came around (the camp ground manager) he said that won’t last long. So he must have told someone else and they brought us some more wood. Thanks to those people. Then Rell asked our neighbours ina caravan over to sit around the fire. A great night had by all. They were from the Sunshine Coast.Leer más

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