Detour – NT Style

It was looking cloudless last night so we drove out a little and did some star gazing.

We had been warned that the Mereenie Loop Road was a bit dodgy. Corrugated, potholes, sandy and really 4WD only. Apparently a spate of blown tyres and a SUV stuck overnight was the consequence. Marjan was feeling apprehensive, so we decided on the alternative route. In the NT that means that rather than a 200k drive we have over 600k.

We had breakfast, did the basic car check stuff and headed off. Not a lot new on the road.....we had seen it before.....however we did see some camels, and a herd of brumbies with a brumbiebebe (we have decided it is only right).......a few raptors that kept leaving when we approached......black breasted buzzards, wedge tailed eagles, whistling kites, and I think and Australian hobby.

The highlights of the backtrack though were:

a) the biggest road-kill we have seen...... a camel..... it was huge lying by the side of the road....no piccies..... even at 110kph it stank

b) the best hello wave of all time from one of the drivers of a road crew truck..... he was truly happy we were there.... almost got out of the cab

We morning teaed at the junction with the Stuart Highway, where we caught up with some emails and messages, What I want to know is what are they teaching my grandson?

On to the Stuart and up to 125kph...... till we came up behind a road train. I may have worked up the courage to pass him, but I was sure he was fatigued or high. Every time something changed... a curve, a rise etc. , he would swerve a little. That means the third carriage was all over the place. We decided that pulling back to 105kph and cruising was fine.

It gave us time to appreciate the country. Hillier and more varied, so we always had something to look at. Apart from the road train driver, and the country we loved the guy with two surfboards on the roof. An optimist or a long distance surfer.

Made it to Alice Springs about lunch time, so we bought some food and stocked up for the next few picnics. Then off to the West Macs via Natmajira Drive. This has to be up there as one of Ozs more interesting drives. We, at least loved it.

We arrived at Glen Helen at threeish and checked in. We had been told it was basic, and it was. But clean and will probably prove comfortable. What we loved though was we were in the shadow of a gorge and a great swimming hole. The reflections were gorgeous. So we swam, and it was wonderful, and we had a drink watching the birds over the water. Then after dinner we sat on a mild...mild evening and watched the stars.

What was a a travel day turned out rather well in the end.