Sunday, Apr 24, 2016 at 17:44
Oh boy yes! Watch it around the WA border! We came unstuck on 3 unexpected corrugations that bounced us beautifully (and landed us not-so-beautifully!) and almost broke our trailer's axle.
The delays in patching it up and the miscalculation of jerry cans we'd require meant we had to spend the night in Billiluna.. We'd calculated 2 but would've skimmed it through easier on 3 cans. Not sure of the Sorento's fuel tank size.
Even though we'd read that there was fuel available (in limited hours) in Billiluna, the FIFO nurse that we spoke to said that they really preferred to consider themselves a closed community...
The next morning we were lucky to get fuel because the guy who ran the servo was just filling up a couple of trail bikes and was about to hit Wolfe Creek for the day. Another 15 minutes later and we would've missed our fuel chances and would've been in "town" for a whole extra day!
We filled up in Alice, then Tilmouth, then
Yuendumu - and that would've seen us to
Halls Creek in 2 days/4 petrol stops if all had gone to plan.
We stayed the night at Tilmouth Wells
camp ground and only had the company of one other couple. It was lovely and their dinners were very very nice. It was actually one of the waitresses who'd cooked because they voted to give the
cook the night off!
Filling up at
Yuendumu was an interesting exercise- first find where the petrol is sold and then work out that you have to swipe your card first, then pump the fuel...
Apart from the WA side's lack of grading and having to carefully work out your fuel stops/jerry cans, the road was "just" a corrugated gravel one. There was the occasional passing vehicle for company.
:)
AnswerID:
599096
Follow Up By: LAZYLUX16 - Friday, Apr 29, 2016 at 19:45
Friday, Apr 29, 2016 at 19:45
What were fuel costs .I lived in Balgo Hills and only paid 10cents more than
Alice Springs for fuel.And interesting about Nurse saying Billinuna prefers to be closed community..Balgo Hills had accomodation if you wanted to stay.And the Aboriginals never really cared one way another about outsiders coming in .I had close relationships with many people in that community and eventually excepted as if I were one of the family.It was actually the Caucasians who did not welcome me..
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868559