Wednesday 6th August – Fine Sunny Windy Clouds - Warm

We left Tobermorey just after 7am and initially we were aiming for Gem Tree.

The highway changes names at the border – on the Queensland side it is the Donoghue Highway and on the NT side it is the Plenty Highway.  The road was in good condition but we did hit some rough spots along the way.  There are signs on both sides of the border that this road is strictly high clearance 4WD only.

 

 

 

We could see light rain falling in the distance.

 

 

We had one last budgie escort just out of Tobermorey, the country side changed and we didn’t see any more budgies at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped quite a few times, as we do and I had been thinking of a dramatic dead tree in black and white photo and got the opportunity in this one.

Some of these trees are half dead, have white ants and are still growing and flowering – very determined survivalists.  The weathered timber is actually really attractive with knots, grains and holes.

Glen heard a noise coming from one of the wheels, so we stopped and tried to figure out what was going on.  It’s hard running beside our car trying to hear it at our age – we both had a go -   Glen’s not good keeping up at 20kph, I don’t understand.  Whilst we were sorting this out, we had three road trains come by.  Glen spotted the problem the guard behind the right rear wheel had come loose and was rubbing on the tyre.  This guard protects our fuel lines so missing it would have been a problem.  Glen repaired it cow cocky style with bits of wire from our destroyed mudflap mesh.  We had run out of zip ties – now on our shopping list in Alice.

 

Harts Range -  a great fossicking spot for Garnet.  We camped there last trip.  We went down Cattle Water Pass which has now closed, so we will be on new road going into Gem Tree.

 

 

Nearly there, we decided that we could make Alice Springs by 5pm, so rather than do a one night at Gem Tree, we pushed for Alice Springs. This is our first time driving into Alice Springs from the north.  We also got to view the East McDonnell ranges from the north as well.  They are as spectacular as the West McDonnell.

We’re here !  arrived just on 5pm.  We have booked into the G’Day Mate Caravan Park where we stayed last time.  The owners had just taken over the park then, and have now risen to No.1 park in Alice Springs.  Very professionally run.  Very welcoming.  They even advised where we could get the grease and oil change done.  We have managed to get in at 7.30am tomorrow, so it will be a busy day.  We will now only have to stay 2 nights and can be on our way to Newhaven Bird Conservation Park on the Tanami Track.  This will be a 4.5 hr drive from Alice Springs.  Once on the Tanami we will be out of contact for a week at least, we have no idea if we will get internet at Halls Creek.