Monday 30th June

For a change this morning, we were on the road by 0730. This came about due to photos of the sunrise being taken at Devil’s Marbles. The colours were changing by the minute. There were people up on top of the rocks to gain an early sight to the sun rise over the eastern ranges and also the colours of the night sky behind them.

We drove the 102 kms into Tennant Creek where the inevitable emptying of the toilet cassette was carried out. It only takes a few moments to carry out the whole procedure from taking it from the Karavan until it is replaced.

After that ‘job’, we had a little more of a look around the town. Our opinion had not changed overnight except to say that there are some nice and well cared for homes in the town, too. As we completed our drive around, we rejoined the Stuart Highway, northbound, for the “Three Ways Roadhouse” to have another expensive coffee and muffin. There did not appear to be much in the way of cafes in the town and that is why we returned to the Roadhouse.

When our morning coffee and muffin were consumed, we then left for the north again. AS we travelled along the highway, we passed several stations belonging to the famous Kidman Pastoral Empire.

By lunch time, we had reached Renner Springs, 161 kms north of Tennant Creek. We contemplated staying there in the caravan park but decided it was a bit too basic. So we had lunch there in the Renner Springs Desert Hotel/Motel. Food was good and quite reasonable but diesel was $2.28 cents per litre. The Bravo still has enough to; hopefully, get us to somewhat cheaper fuel.

Renner Springs, we learnt, was named after Dr. Frederick Renner who was Medical Officer to the workers on the Overland Telegraph Line. It was also used by the military during the Second World War as a meal location for troops going north or south, usually for lunch or dinner. There is a spring there and is visible. Otherwise, the surrounding area is covered in low scrub and some trees with lots of stony ground, too.

We then drove on a further 90 kms to Elliott, which has now put us about 252 kms north of Tennant Creek. It is the second largest town on the Barkly after Tennant Creek. It was named after an Army Captain Reginald Douglas Elliott, MBE. This area was a staging camp during WWII. The town originally was a service centre to the pastoral stations in the region especially during the droving days which have now gone due to the introduction of road trains. It is a bit tidier than Tennant Creek. There is even a golf course, not that we will be using it.

Tonight we are setup in the Midland Caravan Park in Elliott. The Office has a store and post office as well as selling fuel. There is a pool here that Prue has had a swim in. The temperature is around 30 degrees. This is winter and there is no humidity. Very different to home.