|
|
|
|
| 2020 |
2021 |
2022
|
| 1.
Mallee & Mt. Gambier |
2. The Flood
|
3. Cultured Out! |
4.
Across Arnhem Land - 1
|
5.
Across Arnhem Land - 2 |
6.
Vietnam |
7.Driving
North - South Australia
|
|
|
While driving up the Stuart
Highway into Alice Springs, we thought the
country looked very unfamiliar (as well it m ay, as
it's 26 years since we drove up this way)
until we realised that last time, in Big Red
on the way to the Simpson Desert, we had
gone on the 4WD track up the Finke River,
and we'd never been on this section at all!
We drove straight out to Trephina Gorge, in
the East McDonnell Ranges. We had heard that
the West McDonnells, where the Larapinta
Trail is, is very full of people
and tourist buses. And  went
on a walk we remembered fondly from years
ago, the Ridgetop walk which goes up, along,
and then descends through the "Chain of
Ponds" gorge. It was as good as we
remembered it. though this time we had to do
an extra 8km to get back to the White House.
Last time, we had a lift.
|
On leaving Alice Springs, we decided on a
70km detour, out the Plenty Highway, to
Gemtree - a gem fossicking area. Alison went
on a gem fossicking tour, while I sayed
"home" and went for a bike ride. For
exercise. The only appropriate road to use
was the Plenty Highway, so I rode 15km east
before turning around and riding back again.
Alison and I were apart for ~5hours, which
is ~50 times longer than it has been
previously on this trip.
|
Then, is was a fairly straight, direct trip
up to Katherine - during which we had a
strong tail wind, which helped give us
excellent fuel economy - 9.2l/100km! Aided
also by us dawdling along at 80km/hour,
which meant that we never had to pass
anyone! Very relaxing. And because the roads
were quite quiet, we never had to get
stressed about vehicles behind us; even
caravans, and road trains, were able to pass
us with little trouble.
 When we got to
Mataranka we slowed down a bit, and the
weather got warmer as well. We've spent only
a few nights in caravan parks; most have
been free spots, some of which have been
excellent. We walked up to Sweetwater Pool,
4km above Edith Falls, and the last campsite
on the Jatbula Track. We have good memories
of Sweetwater, but now (along with many
other places) it is much more crowded than
it used to  be;
but it is still a lovely place.
And then on to Girraween, just south of
Darwin, where we are staying with Alison's
sister Gae for a few days. The skies are
blue and the temperatures in the low to mid
30's. Very pleasant.
Simon's
Journal
|
|
|
