Darwin Trip Part 1

Darwin Trip 2011

Hi everyone, we are currently in Daly Waters near the old pub.
We have had a pretty uneventful trip so far, but there are always
things on the road that amuse me.

Day one:
We made it all the way to Surat on day one. We camped in the same
place as last year, but this time there were no young people launching
their boat at midnight. I think I scared them off last year with my
don’t f—k with me look!


Day Two.

Up to Blackall and more free/cheap camping. My kind of place!
Only $5 per camp.
The best thing about this place is that you can get a free hot shower
that is fed from the Great Artesian Basin.  It is very hot and when
mixed with cold water, it makes a very relaxing shower after 7hrs on
the road. You even don’t mind the strong sulphur odour!  The funny
thing is that I always feel fantastic after a shower here; there must
be something to this ‘thermal spa’ thing.
We spent the night at Blackall and in the morning packed up and
watched the grey nomads polishing and preening their motor homes,
ready to head out on the ‘great unwashed’ roads!

Day Three

Up to Kynuna.  Much cooler this year only 30 degrees.  We spent the
day driving through Barcaldine, Ilfracombe (where  our Governor
General was born), Longreach and Winton.
Whilst entering into Longreach, we heard on channel 40 on the UHF CB a
male enquiring about where is the best night life in town. A couple of
local truckies suggested a few places. Then this anonymous male asks
the same truckies where he could get some ‘man action’.  After a
deathly silence, one of the truckies came back with: “ This is
Longreach mate, not Broke Back Mountain!”,  as well as a few other
choice words.
We stopped at the Blue Heeler  at Kynuna. We had the whole camp
grounds to our selves. Or that’s what we thought! About 2minutes after
stopping and starting to set up, four Brolgas waked over to our camp
site. They were very intent on demanding that we find some food for
them! I called them the ‘houso’ brolgas as they all wanted was
something for nuffin. Once they realise that you have nothing, they
leave you quick smart!

Day Four.

A quick trip up to the Isa for resupply and refit.


Day Five.

Over to the Barkly Homestead.

We got to this roadhouse about 3pm and had time to set up and  do a few repairs.
After the essentials we went over to explore the dead vehicle cemetery
at the back of the roadhouse. After negotiating the ‘Grey water sewage
ponds’, we went shopping.
We were able to resupply our stock of fuses, score a Camps 4 book and
Hema Australia Maps book, plus assorted abandoned stuff.  These cars
and camper vans have either broken down, or crashed on the Barkley
Highway, and been brought back to the roadhouse to slowly rust away.
Mostly they are salvaged for parts for other travellers.  I reckon
that we probably recouped the $24 it cost to stay the night.

Day Six.

Over to Daly Waters Pub.

An early start saw us at Tennant Creek by about 10.30am. We refuelled
and headed up to Mary Anne Dam for a cuppa. This place is about 5km
north of Tennant Creek and is its main water supply. It is really a
pretty place with the cool blue water set against the red rocky
landscape.  As we were about to leave, an old SS Commodore arrives at
the picnic area. Five of the locals jump out of the dirty, dusty,
black beast.
The driver makes a quick inspection of all of the rubbish bins in the
area. He stops at one and removes a 600ml coke bottle. He then goes
over to the tap a fill it up with water. At this stage I thought that
he may be going to drink from the recently recycled bottle. But no! He
goes over to his filthy SS beast and starts pouring the water over it.
 He then goes back and fills up again, and pours more water over it.
He then says something to all of the rest of the mob, and they all
start returning with plastic bottles filled with water. They all then
start pouring water over the car and, using their hands, begin to wash
the car. As this was a Saturday, I guess this was ‘car washin’ day’.
I guess they don’t have ‘Car Lovers’ in Tennant.

Anyway, time to finish up.  I will update you all soon.

Wayne