Bye Corona – On the Road Again

After three months in lockdown due to Coronavirus restrictions, the autumn 1C chill in the air in Alice Springs prompted us to head North to the Top End for balmy tropical temperatures. Before we left, we had a farewell happy hour with our circle of fellow campers and permies.

Our hosts, Bill and Linda popped in for a chat about Bill’s tour guiding on the Canning Stock Route and foodie hints for when we visit southeast Victoria. Our neighbours, Cat the midwife, hubbie Simon and their 10-year old twins, shared their early years of travel and want to keep in touch because they have similar plans to us. Michele and David, our camp neighbours, have been on the road from Hervey Bay (Qld) for four years. They occasionally work in the campsite and their Jack Russell, Toby, visits to lick our toes. Gary the American who has lived 50 years in Australia, had arrived just a week earlier from Darwin with plans to go gold prospecting at Arltunga. Biosecurity restrictions closed the road and thwarted his intent. He told us where the biosecurity checkpoints were. A man of many talents as he sipped a beer he explained the difference between a mule and a jenny. He also passionately recounted his soon to be published theories on the meaning of numbers in the Bible. 

Our friend, a wild ring-necked parakeet, also joined us for a Mexican treat.

Meanwhile, during our lockdown time at G'day Mate, Robert celebrated his 67th birthday with a homemade salmon, dill and soured cream pancake decorated with sparklers.

Our escape North took us through 4 makeshift checkpoints. Police and army were friendly, commented on our vehicle and its large solar panels, and obligingly waved us through. 

Towering above the side of the Stuart Highway at Aileron, are giant statues, including this impressive one of a goanna, and mother with child.

An impressive 17-metre high, 8 ton sculpture of an Aboriginal man sits on a hill overlooking the town. It's based on a traditional man from the local Anmatjere tribe. Locals hope the statue will help bring in tourists and maybe even a little rain.

Barrow Creek, a truckstop beside the road, had a faded charm with quirky and dilapidated seating plus signs from yesteryear. 

Our first night was spent in a caravan park in Tennant Creek where the local Aborigines had a shouting match in the middle of the night.

Just outside Tennant Creek, we revisited the old Telegraph Station and its Pioneer Cemetery.

Threeways truckstop had a clever, 3D truck painting with real bullbar on the outside wall. 

On our second night, we camped at the Hi-Way Inn at Birdum, which totally surprised us with a herd of bison grazing in the field beside us.

As a detour next morning, we ducked into Daly Waters, an historic droving settlement with a couple of buildings surrounding the iconic Daly Waters Pub which has oodles of character. Signs outside welcomed travellers and drovers at noon that day when the NT government had agreed to officially open pubs again after months of thirsty Coronavirus lockdown. 

At Larrimah, we popped in to the Pink Panther park with its quirky displays.

We stayed at the Mataranka Homestead Park and spent lazy time in the thermal pool. A big change from last time, was that the bats had gone and were no longer bombing us with droppings.