First a couple of housekeeping items. Last night I discovered where the comments section in travel blog is. Most importantly I’d like to apologise to the UK couple who asked me in 2015 how long it would take to tow a caravan to Halligan Bay. I wouldn’t tow a caravan as you will note by the little memorial about half way to the Bay dedicated to the German lady who died of dehydration after getting bogged. I apologise for any inconvenience. Secondly I should explain the trip. I am joined by Brooksie, a great explorer and organiser who has walked from the Dig Tree to Christmas Creek, Mike Henwood, a stellar mechanic and organisation man known for his attempted circumnavigation of Australia with his wife and a toddler (no joke), Wilko, a champion snorer who knows ... read more

After our 457 visa recipient cooks an enormous breakfast spread and makes us a couple of cappuccinos we head down the Oodnadatta Track. We have a big day of driving so we don’t stop a lot just for fuel and the 3rdworst coffees so far at Marla. I may have to add Irish backpackers to the Asian barista rule. I have to show the guys Leigh Creek which is like one of those towns they build to test nuclear bombs. I think it was actually built to service the coal mine which the Government subsequently closed down. The SA Government tried to sell the town but couldn’t. We have a great run down to the turn off to the Flinders Ranges National Park. Luckily all the vanners seem to be headed South. In the late afternoon ... read more

It is the third day of my compulsory rural component of my 457 visa requirement. We are required to work hard and help Chris Whittle esq with his overland adventure. After rising early and enjoying a morning swim in the steaming warm springs we make breakfast and packed up camp including the tent and Mr Whittle’s bedding, he has organised the expedition to the finest detail and is meticulous in the packing of the transport. Before departing tent pegs are licked clean, tent poles polished, wheel nuts are tightened with in an inch of their lives due to a previous unfortunate event which was of course no fault of the meticulous Mr Whittle. We make sure Mr Whittle is comfortable in the passenger seat and I drive the onerous and precarious drive to the town of ... read more

A day of mixed emotions – we are losing a dear friend but finding a wife. Another efficient pack up – but never as quick as Rebecca! We dropped in at Ormiston Gorge and I did not swim! We timed our run to Alice Springs airport to the second after fuelling, Coles shop,Tourist bureau and Toyota dealership. Thank goodness Catherine brought two bottles of red wine as the bottle shops in Alice are not allowed to open before 2pm. I was a little nervous as I had picked our next destination all by myself. It worked out perfectly as we arrived around 4.30. A few campers but we found a perfect isolated campsite in the designated caravan area! We could not work why any of the other campers were at the sunset walk around the pillar ... read more

Given Brooksie's hopeless performance navigating yesterday he has been relegated to the back seat whilst Wilko's driving. We headed out to Lake Bennett which actually has water, checked out a great desert skink habitat but we still aren't sure which word the great refers to (skink, desert or habitat) in any event we didn't see any. Brooksie correctly identified camel poo, but personally I would have just looked at it. We were lucky enough to spot a Black Titted Plover and we were kind enough to post our observations on the black board at Newhaven complete with Lat and Long coordinates. On the way to the Namtjira Highway we passed through the aboriginal settlement of Papunya, which had many similarities of other settlements, wrecked cars, stray dogs, litter and aboriginals but surprisingly no mobile coverage. Once ... read more