Willem and George make it to Darwin

Submitted: Monday, Jul 30, 2007 at 22:52

ThreadID: 48255 Views:3002 Replies:10 FollowUps:10

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George (nt)

It is a balmy night here in the Tropics. Willem and I sauntered into Darwin at around 6pm. I am home again and Willem will start tomorrow prepping the truck for the return journey. Uncle MIlton will be accompanying him going south.

Our journey, a normal distance of 3000km, took exactly 5000km to complete. We left Peterborough on 4 July bound for Warraweena and left there on 11 July.

Places we visited on our journey:

Farina
Claytons Spa on the BVT
Birdsville Track
Warburton Crossing
K1 Line Simpson
French Line Simpson
Erabena Track Simpson
WAA Line Simpson
Mt Dare
Andado Stn
Mac Clark Reserve
Camps 1&2 Madigan Line and The Twins
Old Andado Road to Alice
Alice to Cattlewater Pass via the East Macs
Plenty Hwy
Sandover Hwy
Murray Downs Road
Davenport Ranges NP
Frew River Track
Kurundi Road to Stuart Hwy
Stuart Hwy to 3 Ways
3 Ways to Brunette Downs via Rockhampton Downs
Tablelands Hwy to Cape Crawford
Savannah Way to Roper Bar via Lorella Springs
Southern Lost City in Limmen NP
Lomarium Lagoon
Roper River
Rocky Bar on the Hodgson River
Hodgson River to Darwin via Mataranka, Katherine, Pine Creek and Grove Hill

No punctures!!! 6 dunes stopped us at first attempt. 2 Mega –Bogs on side of dunes but tyres clawed us out of trouble. Replaced Steering Damper in Alice and Trailer Plug in Tennant Creek

Willem will post his full report after he gets home.

Cheers

George

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Reply By: Member - Luke (SA) - Monday, Jul 30, 2007 at 23:39

Monday, Jul 30, 2007 at 23:39

Glad to hear yous made it back safely without any major hiccups. Was good to meet you at Warraweena and would be good also to meet you again somewhere else one day

Take it easy up there,

Cheers Luke

AnswerID: 255150

Follow Up By: George (NT) - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:46

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:46

Ya never know Luke. Sold those tyres yet??? LOL

Cheers

Willem

FollowupID: 516391

Reply By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 00:11

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 00:11

Hi George and Willem

Glad to hear you both had a safe and enjoyable trip....Willem sorry i didnt get to catch up with you at Roper Bar, we had to make a quick trip to Port Lincoln due to the Mother inlaw passing away........

Cheers......Dave

AnswerID: 255151

Follow Up By: George (NT) - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:48

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:48

Hi Dave

My condolences with your loss.

There were plenty fisherpeople at the Roper and one area it looked like tent city.

Cheers

Willem

FollowupID: 516392

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 07:28

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 07:28

G'day George, just know you and Willie told a few yarns every day, between cups of tea and the occasional dune. We are home but on the way to Port Augusta had a priveledged spot with you guys taking us and hearing the stories.

Glad you got through OK and with no punctures. We will be reminded of that every time MRF tyres are mentioned, no doubt. You are home now I guess and Willie's trip has a bit to run yet. Wish him safe home please.

AnswerID: 255155

Follow Up By: George (NT) - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:50

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:50

Hey Bro

Do you have Moses back from the Hospital yet?

Nice and warm here and I have worked up a sweat just getting out of the airconditioning to walk to the truck...lol

Cheers

Willem

FollowupID: 516393

Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007 at 08:33

Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007 at 08:33

Moses made a quick dash for home Wednesday night last week, getting us home about 8.40am. His GPSs made a few errors and led up up fire trails and to frighten kangaroos on it's shortest way home, but we got home safe thanks Bro. We had a two hour stop at one stage to regather our energy, and 24hour coffee houses to keep us wakeful.

Amazingly I was able to drive to Melbourne Thursday evening and have a beer or so past midnight and make sense at the meeting next day.

FollowupID: 516461

Reply By: Member - Fred L (NSW) - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 10:04

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 10:04

Hey George 'The Gateman', sounds like you had a great trip. Did Wil make u cook & cleanup as well or did he give a hand!
Good to hear you got back OK.
Cheers
Fred

AnswerID: 255177

Follow Up By: George (NT) - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:52

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:52

Hey Fred

Hoesit?

No, I did 99% of the cooking an driving and George had a holiday...but he had to open at least 100 gates.........hahaha

Cheers

Willem

FollowupID: 516394

Reply By: Member - Michael J (SA) - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 11:15

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 11:15

Mornin' George n Willem,

Sounds like you had good trip with minimum of problems.

Glad you are both home safe and sound.

George it is so nice to know that it is a 'balmy night in the tropics'..NOT...tell Willie to put his wooly underpants on when he comes back, still plurry cold here...

Cheers
Michael

AnswerID: 255184

Follow Up By: George (NT) - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:53

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:53

oung fella!

I am thinking f staying here.....lol Bugger that cold place!!!!

Cheers

Willem

FollowupID: 516396

Reply By: Hairy - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 12:39

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 12:39

Gday fellas,
Sounds like a good trip.
There is someone asking about the condition of the sandover a few posts above yours...You might be able to help?
Cheers
Hairy

AnswerID: 255196

Follow Up By: George (NT) - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:55

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:55

G'day Hairy

It was good to catch up and have a coldie with you. Yep, the trip north went well and we followed along some tracks and roads we had not been along before.

Cheers

Willem

FollowupID: 516397

Follow Up By: Hairy - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 21:55

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 21:55

Gday Willem,
You know where we are on the way home if you need a hand ( or a beer or.....)
Cheers

FollowupID: 516430

Reply By: Des Lexic - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 16:15

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 16:15

Glad you made it up there OK both of you. Sounds like your going soft in your old age by sticking to the bitumen. LOL
Tell Grumpy to take it easy coming home.

Cheers
Des

AnswerID: 255217

Follow Up By: George (NT) - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:57

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 17:57

Hey Uncle Des Donut

I am making straight for your place to get some fresh donuts on the return journey...lol

Cheers

Willem

FollowupID: 516398

Reply By: Outnabout David (SA) - Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 18:59

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 at 18:59

great to see you arrive safely,

stay up there its freezing tonite here in the Hills.
hate to say it but sounds like you had less trouble over 5,000km than a lot of the rest of us had just doing a few 100.......oh well thats 4wding ....lol

AnswerID: 255243

Follow Up By: George (NT) - Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007 at 19:33

Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007 at 19:33

David

Sorry to hear of your troubles.

Sometimes I wonder what I am doing in the cold south. Maybe I will look into a Tropical Hideaway for the winter months....lol

Cheers

Willem

FollowupID: 516526