Tanami Track - we did it!!

At the end of the Tanami Track

Wraps for lunch

Roadside mechanic!

Egg bread for breakfast

Bob looking for spares!

Outback sunset

Roadside lunch

Washing up team

Tuesday 19/7 - We departed 'Alice' with 5 jerry cans of fuel and a full tank. We commenced our assault on the infamous Tanami Track of 1100 kms. Rumous about burnt-out 4wds and deserted trailers abound! The first 200 kms are sealed to Tilmouth Well Roadhouse, an oasis for sure. Then the gravel challenged us with bulldust and corrugations. We drove into Yuendumu Aboriginal Community and topped up our fuel - several good-looking buildings here including a Baptist Church. After enjoying fresh sald wraps on the side of the road, lovingly provided by our catering 'girls', we drove on to Chilla Wells in search of a campsite but we found only a deserted aboriginal outstation. Up the road a bit we stopped about 5pm to set up our tent city complete with porta pottie in it's own tent for the night.

Wednesday 20/7 - Our longest stretch between fuel supplies is 600 kms. Up with the sparrows after a beautiful starry night we breakfasted, dismantled our gear, packed it all into our compact rig of Landrover and trailer and headed for the NT/WA border. Enroute we met a lone cyclist promoting "Bikes 4 Life" - he is cycling around the world for 5 years - and we thought we were doing it tough! On to Billiluna Aboriginal community for fuela and hot shower, but no 'dongas' - so it's tent city on the roadside again tonight. Bob, the good Samaritan, sold his one spear trailer wheel bearing to a young bloke in desperate need. And so to another flawless starry night with delicous cooked "what do you call this Darl?" meal!

Thursday 21/7 - Our third and last day on the Tanami Track. We soon came upon a young Mum and her 3 boys next to a stranded, one-wheeled "Johnno's" trailer - the ssame trailer we heard about yesterday. Husband/father, Seamus, turned up very frustrated - Bob's bearing was tghe wrong size. Then a moment of inspiration - they realised that the spare wheel had a bearing that would do the job. Bob soon had his tool box out and the new bearing installed and well greased! wassa played AFL footie with the boys. By midday we made it to the Great Northern Highway. We and our rig had survived the Tanami Track!

Our all-female crew then took over the cockpit and steared us the 270 kms of beautiful bitumen road to Fitzroy River Lodge, where we are luxuriating in a very comfortable Safari Tent complete with ensuite fo9r 2 nights! Off to see Geikie Gorge tomorrow - we are finally in the Kimberley!

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