The Overlander's Way

2360kms. Plus roughly 100 more from the Daintree. One week of solid driving.

That was us. We made it to 3 ways. The 'T' junction of the Stuart Highway that leads you to or from Queensland, Darwin, or Alice Springs. Then today we arrived in Alice Springs. 

But let us back up to the beginning of this particular journey. The first day of outback driving involved buying lots of supplies in Townsville. I'm not a complainer when it comes to an excuse to go shopping. But this time it was strictly practical. Long life food and A2 milk. Posting parcels to a lucky few. Pasta, cans and eggs. Lots of eggs.

The car was newly serviced, as was the caravan. We were full of petrol and ready to go....

It wasn't long before the scenery started to transform. The trees grew less dense and lush. The earth gave up the yellow sand and green grass for more rocky, red dirt.

At first, the traffic was thick, but once we had passed Charters Towers it began to thin out considerably. Charters Towers is roughly 100kms from Townsville. Back in the day it was the town that supported the beginning life of Townsville. It was an old town, with a bustling community. But we didn't stay long. 

We drove for a few more hours and eventually stopped at our planned destination for the night: Campaspe. A humble little roadside stop where we could have a fire! The temperature dropped enough to even consider such a thing as heating the air. So the kids lit one and we sat around it, as the temperature continued to drop and the mozzies realised a buffet had arrived.

It took 4 days to cross a third of the continent. We drove for around 4-5 hours each day. The petrol cost kept going up at each place we came across. The scenery became bare. At one point there was nothing but golden grass and a few trees on the horizon. It was dead pan flat and boring, and it went on and on.

Eventually we would come to our new destination for the night;Campaspe to Julia Creek to Mount Isa to Wonarah Bore.

We made a snap decision to keep driving at Richmond and stop at Julia Creek instead. A further 200kms for the day. It led to some funny stories in the end. And they weren't good ones. We arrived and got out and it was so hot we were melting like the Wicked Witch of the East. The children started up her lament within five minutes of arriving. "I'm melting! I'm melting!"

So amidst trying to set up and not be in the direct sun, we were also trying to calm down a screaming child and four others determined to run amok. Not so fun. We realised immediately that this self-contained RV spot was the favourite haunt of the 'peace and quiet anti-kids nomad nazis'. Yep, I made that up, but it might make quiet the club name, yes? 😜

Then to add to the chaos, the camp host lady came over to check that we were "all sleeping in the caravan. Because it's a self contained place and you can't have tents." She figured that SO MANY children couldn't possibly fit in a caravan. Duncan assured her that they could and would be staying in the caravan.

We bailed the kids back in the car, as it was too hot to stick around the van and they were only going to make enemies anyways. We decided to see what Julia Creek had to offer....

A library! What could go wrong at the library?

I suppose it should be said that nothing overly wrong did happen at the library. But the lady at the library was oppressively helpful. And also thought it her job to step in as mum each time the children did something out of line in her eyes. And we couldn't escape. She was so overly involved, that it was near impossible to prise the kids back from her and once again try to bail them into the car. We got out the door and she followed us. Mandy had a meltdown because she couldn't get into her seat in the back row, after the middle row people had gotten in first. The lady stood there. OUTSIDE the library, watching us from about 1.5m away. The seconds seemed to dragggggggg ooonnnnnn. I wanted to be out of this town. Now!

Needless to say, we placated the kids for the evening, as best we could, and were incredibly glad to see the back end of Julia Creek the next day. If you're a grey nomad though, I have a feeling you'll like this town. 😜 and do say Hello to the library lady. She meant well.

After the trauma of Julia Creek, we stopped in Mount Isa. It was so hot and sticky once again and we had had enough of the endless driving. I asked Dunc if it'd be alright to have a break for the night. Split up and someone go in the van with 2 kids and someone go in a budget cabin with the other 3.

So we did. I took E, and L and A in the cabin and Dunc had C and M. We both had air-cons on tap and a bit of peace and quiet. I knew that this oasis in the desert was a real gift of God. We had a true sabbatical, not just from the driving and traveling but a break from each other, that was helpful and calming. Seven people constantly around and it can get crazy. People have a habit of coming down with irritable elbows syndrome.

Mount Isa was kind to us. We went shopping at Kmart for a few black clothes. Having learnt from my travelling friend that light clothes were not going to survive the red desert dirt. We rested. We had our own shower! Everyone had a wash, some of them twice. We got glo-sticks and had a blackout competition to see who could throw them in a bucket in the dark.

Meanwhile, C was having a Daddy date night, and M was learning to go to sleep without his travel cot! He decided he wanted to sleep down the end bed with C, and so that is how it is now. No baby cot anymore. What a relief! But my baby is a big boy now. Wow!

Our last stop before we hit 3 ways was Wonarah Bore. We had crossed the Northern Territory border about 200kms earlier. We were out of Queensland! After a two month journey through the Sunshine State, we were in the desert.

Another roadside stop in the middle of the red dirt. It was simple and all we needed. The people near us wanted to put their generator on to watch the footy. "Go for it!", we said. So we put ours on too and had air conditioning for the evening. You have to pick your moment with generators. Most folks hate them. It worked out well though, as it helped to drown out yet another meltdown. Do we quit? We thought for the 100th time....

Do they even want to do this trip?

So we sat down with them again. Got out the map. Pointed to the things they had read about: wave rock;The longest straight road;nanna and pa and a baby cousin; water slide park in Darwin. Do you want to see any of this? We won't be back here again.

Yes. Yes we do, they said.

You have to behave then, we said.

And we prayed as a family again that God who gives that peace that surpasses understanding, would give it to us all.

And He did.

So, hello NT. We are coming to meet you.