Friday 8th August – Warm Sunny some clouds – it’s still windy

We packed up from The G’Day Caravan Park, it was very noisy there, so next time we will look for a quieter park.

 

 We headed north out of Alice Springs and caught up with a triple tanker heading north.  We didn’t bother trying to overtake him as we only had a couple of kilometres until we turned west on the Tanami Rd.

 

 

 

What the???

He’s taking our turn off   :(

He did pull over and let us pass him

 

 

We thought that we would be on the dirt almost immediately, but it was bitumen all the way to Tilmouth Well.  They are endeavouring to seal this road all the way to Hall’s Creek.  It is for defence and the economics of transport to the north west.  It would save 1100 klms off the journey and will have a huge financial benefit.

 

  This is our mud maps program there are lots of interesting snippets.  We knew when we crossed the tropic of capricorn again.  How’s this for something you would really want to know…..  we passed by (within 50 klms) of the tidal center of Australia, again “what the”.  Maybe someone can email me and let me know what this is about…. The best part is the identification of the mountain ranges etc.

Rembrandt Rock          Refuelling at Tilmouth Well Roadhouse

We had lunch at the roadhouse and a French backpacker served us.  We ordered bacon & egg rolls and  I bought a post card and asked her if they took mail, she looked blank and we said letters, she then proceeded to add lettuce to our order :) 

  This guy is riding a push bike, he said hello to Glen and Glen thought he is probably German or Dutch.  He refilled a squashed 2L water and squashed 1.25L container. We figure at best if he is riding all day that he achieving around 80 klms a day.  We will catch him before Halls Creek or find his body.  He can’t possibly carry enough water or food to properly sustain riding a bike in this terrain.

 

We drove at least 50 klms in a straight line west, the road looked the same both ways.  It looks desolate, but stop and there are heaps of plants flowering.  We also saw camel tracks.

Notice the sky, yep it is wonderful weather.

 

 

 

 

    This plant was covered in these little blue purple flowers, which looked like butterflies all over the plant

 

 

The plant above has it flowers underneath the plant.  They look like kangaroo paw flowers on runners under the canopy of the plant.

     Central Wedge Mountain                           Home Range

A very determined Ghost Gum     Desert Oaks

We’re here and set up, a good road all the way in.  Hot Showers and Toilets.  There is even a fresh clean bath mat for the showers and hand towel.  We’re in heaven.

They provide you with a A4 book full of self guided tours, a list of all of the wildlife.  It has detailed maps and full colour photographs, you just hand it in when you leave – good idea.

 

A brown honeyeater.