Day 92 (18 October) – Katherine Discovery Caravan Park
A telehealth call where I confirmed the diagnosis of COVID from the Katherine Hospital last night and then a script sent to my phone with the instructions are to stay put for 3 days and rest. Today I rested (sleeping for most of the day). The Katherine Discovery caravan park team were great when they were advised I had COVID. They dedicated one of the 3 ensuites to me and locked everyone else out to prevent contamination.
Lyn had a swim, went and got the scripts then a very quiet day. Another trip to the shops in the afternoon and I’m back on the computer for a while.
Day 93 (19 October) – Katherine Discovery Caravan Park
Another day of doing almost nothing however this time I stayed awake for almost the entire day. I felt a bit lethargic but significantly better than the previous 2 days. It was a challenge avoiding Lyn. I was still sleeping in the bed above the cabin and trying to maintain a social distance from Lyn whilst sharing a relatively cramped motorhome (for social distancing).
Lyn had a few swims, went into the town for some shopping and we had a generally quiet day.
We did notice something sticking out in front of the passenger side front wheel and found that the mud guard had come disconnected and rubbed on the tyre. On inspecting the driver side I found the same thing (without tyre damage). All the retaining screws were missing. I used Gorilla tape to tape the mudguard section to the vehicle body.
Day 94 (20 October) – Katherine Discovery Caravan Park to Threeways Roadhouse (again)
I got up, went to my dedicated ensuite, had a shower then did a basic clean of the ensuite. I was feeling significantly better so we packed up and headed South around 08:30 after refuelling at the Caltex truck stop in Katherine.
We had a look at a couple of places but decided not to stop. Our first major stop was at the Daly Waters pub – an eclectic and quaint area with Jim’s antique memorabilia on display. On arrival the sign said slow down – animals and children. As we pulled up, we saw horses and donkeys in the street. We noticed the fuel price was $2.30 per litre which we thought was high but when we went to the fuel stop a couple of kms down the road, we found the same price and so filled up.
On to Elliott where Lyn took over the driving, then to Renner Springs where I took over again. The final leg of our 675 km drive to Threeways Roadhouse was next. I finally pulled in, refuelled and then parked on the same site we had a couple of weeks before. Our friend’s caravan was still in the caravan park; however, they had flown back to Newcastle as their car was put on a tray truck to be driven back to Newcastle for repairs.
Another decent meal in the roadhouse then reading and relaxing before an early night.
Day 95 (21 October) – Threeways Roadhouse to Alice Springs Wintersun Caravan Park
A slow start as Lyn had a swim first whilst I finished my book. The book was Whip Hand by Dick Francis and was written nearly 50 years ago. It was interesting reading about all the activities that have changed since then such as him having to get film developed and no mobile phones.
South to the Devils Marbles. These are fascinating wind eroded and rounded blocks that have weathered into generally rounded shapes. I thought I had been there before but certainly didn’t recognise the area.
Further South to Barrow Creek where even the bloke at the fuel pump ($2.90 per litre) suggested we continue further to Ti Tree to refuel. On to Ti Tree (aren’t we obedient) where we refuelled. The service station was $2.60 per litre but we found a fuel pod at $2.47 per litre.
As we left Barrow Creek, I called Iveco about the mud guard problem and was connected to RK Diesel in Alice Springs. They couldn’t help that day but said I could come in at 14:00 the next day where they would look at the problem. So, with that we booked in to Wintersun Caravan Park in Alice Springs for 2 nights.
Next to Aileron. With a name like that, I had to stop. A fascinating little wayside stop with two incredible statues – one near the road and the other on a nearby hill. None of the buildings were open despite all the signage. A brief stop only, then on towards Alice Springs.
We checked in to Wintersun Caravan Park and they appeared to charge us more (Lyn and I remembered that we were quoted $30.00 per night but we were charged $50.00 [$45.00 with the G’day discount] per night). I disconnected the Jimny out front as we needed to register the two vehicles separately through the gates so the gates would allow us through in each vehicle. We then set up for the evening.
A quick travel around town checking out the local attractions then back for dinner in the motorhome. I did a RAT and got a negative result. We decided it better for me to have another night in the bed above the cabin (as it would take time to rearrange everything).
Day 96 (22 October) – Alice Springs Wintersun Caravan Park
I did some work on the vehicles – cleaning the windows – whilst Lyn did a load of washing.
We then went for a drive out towards the Larapinta Trail and had a look at Simpsons Gap before returning and having lunch in a heavily fortified hotel in the city centre.
I rearranged the loads in the motorhome and Jimny and disconnected the Jimny for the service then took the vehicle to RK Diesel. It was at RK Diesel we realised that the problem had been caused by the removal and reconnection of the front bumper bar when they installed the nudge bar. I was a bit frustrated that this lack of tightening of items had happened again (driving lights came off earlier) and that it cost $50.00 to have 5 small screws fitted by RK Diesel to re-attach the mud guard internals.
Back to the caravan park where I had a nap (yes, still getting over the COVID), then out to dinner at the Eastside Club – a very mixed clientele.
As we were returning, I got a note from the Bacchus Marsh Aero Club that all club operations were suspended. Contacting James – he has better access to incident information – and he advised that a Cessna 150 had crashed that morning at Bacchus Marsh killing the young pilot. I checked the logs and found that his name was Jake Jager and that it was the first time he had flown that aircraft (VH-EYU) whereas he’d previously been flying a C152 over the previous month. Unfortunately, it looks like pilot error – possibly due to the unfamiliar aircraft. We’ll wait and see what is determined to be the problem by CASA and the ATSB.
Updating the blog, then back into the main bed for a better night’s sleep.
Day 97 (23 October) – Alice Springs Wintersun Caravan Park to Coober Pedy Big 4 Caravan & Tourist Park
Time to move on from Alice Springs. I can’t explain why, but I half coupled the Jimny to the motorhome and, as we were leaving, the A-frame came off the tow bar damaging the safety cables and breaking the 7-pin plug socket off the underside of the motorhome. (I later discovered that I’d also left our water filter attached to the tap – at least it had been well used). I reconnected the A-frame and checked that there wasn’t any damage that would prevent us from driving. We left for Coober Pedy and travelled to the Stuart Wells Camel Farm – no life there – a brief coffee at the roadhouse then onwards.
Next stop Kulgera for fuel a quaint outback rest stop.
We then crossed the South Australia/Northern Territory border – no quarantine stops even though Lyn ate all her fruit salad at Kulgera. On to Marla for a brief stop. Marla is the Northernmost entry/exit point for the Oodnadatta Track famous as an outback WD track.
Finally, on to the Coober Pedy Big 4 Caravan & Tourist Park. The trip in was very windy with the motorhome swaying extensively. Very windy in the caravan park also – no way we could put up the awning there. A look around town in the Jimny then dinner at the Outback Bar and Grill. It was interesting to see the owners call the police due to an indigenous man making a lot of noise and apparently attacking someone. We didn’t see the attack but were there when the police arrived.
Day 98 (24 October) – Coober Pedy Big 4 Caravan & Tourist Park
Nothing on today so we drove around town, went out to the golf course – Lyn loved the first tee around 30 m above the surrounding countryside.
Then in to the Umoona Opal Museum where I purchased a tea towel and Lyn bought some opal earrings. The museum and displays were pretty good and well worth a visit.
Back to the Outback Bar and Grill for the same meal. Back to the caravan park to prepare for our trip in the afternoon to the Breakaways and other attractions North of Coober Pedy.
That afternoon we took the Jimny and drove out along the highway to the 4WD track to the Breakaways. Pictures and words don’t do this area justice. The breakaways are sections of a higher plateau with significant erosion down to an extended plain. However, the colours were breathtaking from greys to deep ochre and each colour hue blending into the next colour. We walked out onto the promontory at the main lookout then drove the vehicle around the top of the high-level plateau.
Once finished there we drove down towards the dingo fence and to the ‘Two Dogs’ hills – one was white, the other various shades of sand/ochre colour, reminiscent of dingos that inhabited the area.
Next, we drove along the 4WD track and along the dingo fence – the longest fence in the world. The fence was put in place to keep the dingos away from the sheep being farmed on the Eastern side. The fence stretches across South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland and is around 2500 km long.
I’d managed to find the correct 7-pin socket for the motorhome as it was a bit unusual having two additional lugs that identify when a trailer is attached so the reversing beeps don’t occur. I managed to rewire the trailer plug and re-attach the new one to the motorhome while Lyn went for a swim in the largish pool at the caravan park.
Back into town where we refuelled the Jimny after finding the cheapest fuel in town on the North-East side then drove round to find the Big Winch. Back to the camping ground to freshen up then back to the Big Winch for dinner. Then to the caravan park where I continued reading the book Lyn gave me after she had finished it earlier. I’d read around half a dozen books as well as writing the blog and financial administration during the trip as well as all the adventures and sight-seeing. Lyn and I don’t tend to just sit around and enjoy the ambiance.
Day 99 (25 October) – Coober Pedy Big 4 Caravan & Tourist Park to Port Augusta Big 4 Caravan Park
Off to the bakery first as Lyn liked the coffee and then on to the Caltex refuelling station with the cheap fuel. It’s the last of a breed where the pump attendant comes out, fills the vehicle, writes the fuel amount and cost on a piece of paper then takes you inside to pay for the fuel. Not very talkative but around 20c a litre cheaper than anywhere else.
So, after refuelling it was back to the Stuart Highway heading South and into week 15.
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