Sunday, June 08, 2014

Day 16 - Hell's Gate to Borroloola

Last night was our coolest night for a while so we had a lovely sleep - even under the doona for a change! Waking refreshed and ready to tackle a big day's driving. We were breakfasted and packed up by just after 9am.

We had been warned that the last bit of road before the Northern Territory border was bad, because the government couldn't be bothered coming out this far to maintain it. We had 50km to go before the border and we soon found this to be true. After bouncing along lots of corrugations, we passed a camper trailer coming the other way who slowed for a chat. He assured us the road got better once we were in the Northern Territory. He was right - the grader was just over the border!

Once the road got better, and we were cruising, I looked up ahead and said to Greg " I can see a crocoodile crossing the road!". Upon closer inspection, it turns out it was a massive dark green goanna! A bit further up the road, I could see cattle. Nothing unusual about that - until we got closer and the bull was walking down the road towards us - and it turned out to be water buffalo!

However, this peaceful driving didn't last for the remaining 270km to Borroloola. Today was all about corrugations and river crossings. We have mastered the latter but let us tell you about corrugations. When you bounce along so much your teeth are shaking in their root canals, flabby body parts wobble, I was glad I was wearing a sports bra and we felt like the car the was surfing the larger corrugations. It really wasn't much fun. And there wasn't even much scenery to keep me amused, or to describe to Greg. So we listened to a book, then because it's Sunday, had a podcast of Macca on Australia All Over.

About to cross the Robinson River.
 
Wobbling your way down the road takes much longer (especially if you still want a car by the end of the trip - and a caravan) so it took us seven hours to travel the 320 kilometres. We pulled into the first caravan park we saw in Borroloola and lo and behold, even have reception so we can catch up on the happenings of the world since our last connection five days ago. Oh, and update this blog!

posted by Tracey @ 9:26 pm

3 Comments:

At 12:57 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The adventure sounds amazing - I love that we can "experience" it with you. Keep the stories, animal count & pictures coming :)
Joc, Paul & Elliot

 
At 2:23 pm, Anonymous Jude said...

Glad that you are back in range so that I can enjoy your blog! It brings back so many memories. I forgot to tell you about the sports bra. Sorry!

 
At 6:26 pm, Anonymous Neill and Jude said...

While driving back from Fairhaven we have just shared your blog again. You are doing a great job and we are enjoying all your stories.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home