Entry 11 – 2024 – Darwin to Adelaide
We spent a couple of nights, camped at Robbie Robbins
Reserve, located about 15 minutes’ drive from the central business precinct of
Darwin. It was ok, though there was constant traffic noise from the nearby Stuart
Highway including during the night. About a month prior we had stayed at the
Coolalinga Caravan Park about another 15 minutes further out, still on the Stuart
Highway. There was noticeably less traffic noise and we thought this to be a
better location for our next Darwin visit.
Whilst at Darwin we viewed the World War II storage
tunnels. It was mostly reading the provided information located within the
large underground tunnels. Due to the excessive humidity from the constant
water seepage within the tunnels, our bodies were only able to tolerate about
45 minutes of time within the tunnels
We splashed out enjoying a couple of meals at
different restaurants and a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service tourist
facility.
We had previously spent extended time in Darwin and
nothing sparked enough interest for a re-visit. We did visit new locations for
us, leaving some other un-visited locations for our next stopover.
It was time to head south. We spent more time at Nitmiluk
National Park - Leliyn Edith Falls campground. There was a marked increase in
the water temperatures in the upper falls pool and the lower main pool water.
Our bodies still appreciated the refreshing cool waters, then without the initial,
oh-wow, shivery effect. There was also less water flow. It was much easier to
swim against the flow of water at the base of the water falls. The water level in both pools had dropped by
about 10-20 centimetres from our visit a couple of months prior. The main pool
now with an additional step out of the water at its entry point and the upper
pool rock walls displaying a dark colouring at its previous water line height.
Over the last few weeks, the day time temperatures had
increased by several degrees. Day after day the temperature hovered between 38
to 40 C. Our bodies had initially coped, but eventually they succumbed to the
oppressive heat. We continued south with wishful thoughts for some more
tolerable temperatures.
A check on the weather bureau climate predictions
along our route showed to expect it to be hot for about another week. Some
locations were experiencing 16-degree temperatures above their average at the
time.
We propped at Mataranka for a dip in the Bitter
Springs waters. It was so refreshing we decided to stay at the nearby caravan
park for a couple of nights and some more.
We were provided with a beautiful shady site at the
caravan park. Access to electricity to power our air conditioner was
appreciated. It was nice to run the power-hungry air conditioner without the
need to monitor the power drainage on our batteries.
In between our walks to Bitter Springs and its
pleasurable waters, our bodies much appreciated, the coldish temperature within
our caravan. In these circumstances we didn’t grumble about caravan park fees!
During our third morning at Mataranka Steve
experienced a bit of a medical issue. We asked google for an answer and Mary
said she wasn’t happy with the possible diagnosis. After a couple of phone
calls we obtained a doctor’s appointment available in an hour. The only other
option was a couple of weeks away.
Steve quickly disconnected the caravan from the tow
tug and we were on our way back to Katherine, around 100 kilometres up the
road. Of interest our overall average fuel consumption kept dropping during our
drive to Katherine, even travelling at the speed limit of 130 kph. Towing a
caravan certainly increases fuel consumption.
The doctor’s prognosis showed Steve had suffered a inguinal
hernia which needed an operation for fixing. Steve required an ultrasound for
confirmation of prognosis. Unfortunately, the staff at Katherine Hospital were
unhelpful. A couple of months prior we had attended Katherine Hospital to
obtain a blood test. Staff claimed they were too busy and that was with only
one person waiting in the emergency department for treatment. The blood test
was obtained at another clinic, by different staff under sufferance. At the
time of recording these events our home doctor had not been notified of the
results. This was after two additional phone calls to the blood analysing
company requesting for our doctor to be notified of results. Grrr.
If you are in need of medical assistance whilst in the
Northern Territory? It would be best to consider other more populated locations
with a better health system. We decided it to be pertinent for us to drive the
around 3,000 kilometres to Adelaide to seek out a satisfactory resolution.
We decided to head express to Adelaide, naturally
monitoring Steve’s comfort level along the way.
Ironically during one of our overnight stops, another
traveller was doing exactly the same thing after a similar experience at
another nearby medical facility.
Our first couple of days travelling south the daily
outside temperature hovered mostly at the 36 C. It was lovely and cool within
the confines of the tow tug. When we stopped to change driver’s, it felt like
our lungs were burning from the excessive outside heat. It certainly helped
with appreciating our tow tugs effective air conditioner.
At one stage we were both feeling weary and stopped
for a bit of a siesta. The first thing we did was to turn on the caravan’s air
conditioner, stretch out on the lovely comfortable bed and we were both soon
asleep. We do love our modern-day conveniences. Quite different from our
younger days, holidays in a tent with kids. Lots of huffing and puffing
inflating air mattresses for beds, the heat and the cold. They were great times
then and now look at us.
We were wishing we were back at Litchfield National
Park. Missing its cooling waters and most satisfying scenery. The closest we
could do was to view some of our recent photographs.
There were still the deliberately lit fires burning in
the country side to contend with. The below pictures taken from one of our
nightly, road side rest area stops. We kept an eye on the fire during the
night. At sunset the fire looked like it was a good 10-20 kilometres away and
seemed to be travelling away from us. It seemed to be getting closer during the
night and by morning it was less than a kilometre from us from an obvious
change in the wind direction. We experienced some nervousness, each time we woke
during the night. We were on the off side of the road which provided a good
width fire break between us and the fire if it had crept up on us. If we had
been on the near side to the fire, we would not have stayed.
A couple of hundred kilometres down the road we came
across another fire on the road edge. Steve thought he spotted where it may
have originated, at a location on the edge of the road. Of interest there were
many birds of prey, “Whistling Kites,” circling the edge of the fire front on
the lookout for any fleeing animals suitable for their diet.
We were expecting around a week’s duration of “just
driving,” during day time hours with nights spent at various road side rest
areas along our route.
Around Alice Springs we said good-bye to the red
centre colours of Australia. We welcomed a drop in daily temperatures of about
10 degrees, south of Alice Springs.
The “just driving,” can be monotonous. To help stay
alert we would listen to audio books via the tow tugs stereo, listen to music
or simply talk with one another. There would be regular changing of drivers and
stopping to stretch out to assist with protesting body parts. If there was a
change of scenery from the predominate flat, uninteresting landscape we would
stop for a look to provide a spark to our well-being. Like some receding wet
lands we had heard about at Newcastle Waters.
While travelling through central Australia, we do enjoy
time spent at rest stops alongside dried creek beds, lined with beautiful
trees. The background noise of various chirping birds can be delightful
listening.
We had no set itinerary. It was all about our
well-being on the day. We generally commenced our days drive anywhere between 7
- 9 am. One day we decided at 12.30 pm to drive no more. Other days we were
content to drive to around 5 pm.
Where-ever possible when with-in the confines of our
caravan we have no coverings over our windows. Especially when camped in a
beautiful bush setting. Our feel-good neurotransmitters were tantalised by our
surroundings, camped out back in Australia with its striking bush settings.
From the nice warm comforts of our bed, we love to watch the morning rising sun
and the changing colours of the landscape around us.
We were within 100 kilometres of the township of
Coober Pedy. When travelling north through Coober Pedy back in May we saw many
wedged tail eagles. It was now September and we were on our return journey. It
was early morning and we were within 100 kilometres of Coober Pedy.
We were on heightened alert, watching closely the
nearby country side for sightings of the large, grand looking wedged tail eagle
birds.
We were travelling along the Stuart Highway which has
many abandoned, wrecked cars alongside it. We try to identify the make of each
abandoned car, another tactic we use to break up the monotony of the boring
drive. We both spotted a car in the bush off to the side of the road. When we
drove by, we both burst out with laughter. It was a setting we hadn’t
previously experienced. It warranted the execution of a U turn to obtain a
photograph. It was a photograph taken at speed as it was unsafe to stop till
much further down the road.
A little bit further along, in the distance, we
spotted the iconic Ghan Train travelling parallel with us. It was another
high-light, breaking up the monotony of driving through the day.
We arrived at Coober Pedy with zero eagle sightings.
Of note we didn’t see any deceased kangaroos, nearby the road side, something
which attracts birds of prey.
We parked up for the night at Coober Pedy. It is a
desolate looking location. We had a look at the Big Bucket and enjoyed a
freshly made pizza from one of the local shops for our evening meal.
The following day we topped up the tow tugs fuel tank.
At $240 for about 100 litres of diesel. We continued south, driving in very
windy conditions. Rarely does the wind affect us. On this day we were getting
moved about by strong gusts of wind. Our fuel consumption was up around 50% on
normal and not diminishing. We made the call to stop for the day after about 45
kilometres. There was no need to waste an extra $120 above our normal fuel
consumption. More importantly there was the consideration for our safety, to
avoid driving in atrocious conditions.
We pulled into a roadside rest area and followed a
track for about a kilometre into the desert plains. We parked up for the day
with the caravan rocking about from the strong winds. For us it was a perfect
desolate setting, delightful with our nearest neighbour a kilometre away back
at the roadside rest area. We spent the day gazing across our setting from
within the comforts of our caravan.
The following morning, we opened our eyes to be
greeted by a stunning Australian bush sunrise. It tickled all our feel-good
neurotransmitter receptacles, instantly awakening us in a delightful way.
We continued driving south. The wind was still
present, thankfully without the ferocity of the previous day. It was pleasing
to see our average fuel consumption drop too normal.
During the day we experienced a mob of emus run across
the road in front of us, some goats and some sheep at different times adding to
some unwanted excitement. Each time you experience a heart flutter and note, to
be on the alert for the unexpected.
Driving through the Australian outback regions can be
tediously boring. We were pleased to spot a couple of the mighty looking wedged
tail eagle birds, providing enjoyable viewing.
In outback Australia, phone communications are
difficult and if there is a need for emergency services assistance, it can be a
long way away.
We stopped to assist at a car roll over with some
excitable people at the scene trying to help an injured driver. A couple of
trucks also stopped and sadly no one had access to phone communications. People
were passing along the information via the very limited two-way radio
communications requesting if anyone had the capabilities to notify ambulance
and police. Someone stopped with a star link communication system and they were
unable to get it to work.
We continued south stopping at the next fuel station
where Steve used the stations phone to notify emergency services. Thankfully by
then, they were aware of the vehicle crash.
We were travelling along the main highway between
Darwin and Adelaide. For an outback road it is quite busy. If travelling
elsewhere or those living in Australian outback regions, emergency help
could/would be challenging.
It was a reminder for us, the additional dangers of
outback travel.
Back in May we spent a night camped overlooking the
dry salt plains of Lake Hart. On our return trip in September Lake Hart was
covered by water.
Australia is a vast continent and we had spent the
last several months camped at inland settings. Since leaving the most northern
city of Australia, Darwin, we had travelled about 2,700 kilometres heading
south. After a couple of weeks with a primary focus on, just driving, at a
laid-back pace, we got to experience a night camped with an ocean setting. We
had arrived near the tip of Spencer Gulf. Spencer Gulf is of triangular shape
stretching for nearly 400 kilometres from the Southern Ocean of Australia with
a mouth width of about 200 kilometres.
Australia is surrounded by ocean waters. An indication
we were nearby the ocean regions was the green agricultural crops.
We had only been back at our home base for a few hours
and someone was already into their element.
Steve had a doctor’s appointment in the following
week, to hopefully start the process of getting his hernia fixed.
