Cloudy skies and an ominous weather report predicting rain in the area surrounding us made us rethink the couple of days camp we had planned. The road, while in good condition, would quickly turn into a problem with only a small amount of water on it. With some 330k to transverse to Alice Springs, we decided the best thing to do was to go now while the road was still dry and hope we beat the rain.
The dusty road was reassuring, even with rain clouds on the horizon. Being in good condition, we made good time along the gravel road. Unlike us, we kept going and the Ks rolled by. Passing through a few light showers it seemed we were in for a wet time of it. Fortunately, the outskirts of Alice came into view, and we made it without incident.
Camped up behind the Road Transport Hall of Fame, we waited and watched the forecasts. It wasn’t looking good, unseasonal heavy rain was sweeping across the top end of Aus again, and Alice was in for it too.
Feeling the need to get out of town, we headed up the highway to a rest area on the tropic of Capricorn. The next few days were very cold and wet. Hunkering down we closed up and put the diesel heater on and waited it out.
Clearing skies gave hope and the forecasts said we were over the worst of the weather. But, the Tanami road was closed due to flooding, this was the road we had come so far to travel down. It wasn’t going to open anytime soon, so, plans had to change.
Instead of attacking the Canning from the north, it was decided, we would go from the south. This would give the north end time to dry out before we got to it, and we could get to Wiluna from Alice by going west.
A friend we met in Tassie worked at a mining exploration camp as a cook for the workers at Wingellina, right at Surveyor Generals Corner, where Northern Territory, South Australia, and Western Australia meet. Before we left Tassie he said if we were ever about when he was on shift we were welcome to go and camp up at the camp.
With a phone call and a chat, it was confirmed he was indeed at work, and he said come on over.
It was a plan then, go to Uluru then onto the Great Central Road to Docker River, then south along the Giles Mulga Park road to Wingellina and the corner. From there we could travel west to Warberton and then onto the Gunbarrel all the way to Wiluna. A plan.
The weather, having cleared up, let us go back to town and get the supplies needed, as this would be the largest town we would encounter for a very long time.
With a truck load, literally, of food,fuel,water, and anything we could think of,the road out of town beckoned, so off we went. We had it all, except for beer!!!!!!!, the licensing laws don’t allow alcohol outlets to open earlier than 3:oo pm and it was still early in the morning. So I resigned myself to a dry trip for the time being, probably do good.
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