DeSERT WANDERINGS TRAVELING
Desert wandering travellers.
(I'll add photos once home.)
Our group is travelling well together. We have Brett, Heather ,Bethany and Tim as our leaders. Travelling in their Land Cruiser and hard floor camper that Brett designed/made. This has been on Brett's bucket list to travel these roads. With Heather they planned the trip, including obtaining the necessary permits to travel the roads. They led the pack and we ate their dirt!! Easy going people, they are full of desert knowledge and experience, fantastic company. Bethany, 10 years, and the only girl amongst the kids has been looking out for Xavier and plays with Tim, Josh,and Mitch in different combinations or all together. Tim, 9 years, and Josh have been like two peas in a pod. They play well together and seem to have their own language happening.
Frank and Jessie, seasoned travellers, in their Land Cruiser and soft floor camper. The only petrol vehicle the first stop cost over $800 to fill up!! Frank very experienced in recovery, 12v, mechanics and anything needing fixing. Not bad for an IT man!! Frank energetic, always the first to explore either by foot , roof of car or off the track! The boys loved playing with Frank and Jess was completely welcoming and engaging to all us Elkin's.
Mark and Lisa, travelling with their Land Cruiser with a slide on camper they have only got into 4WD in the last few years but have many years of experience with camping,hiking, kayaking adventures. Great stories of their travels.
Audrey and CheeHong, travelling in a landcruiser and sleeping in a tent like is. Beautiful people, seeing the positive in everything. Xavier took a real liking to them, as did they to him. Xavier even teaching Audrey how to be a 'legendary sword ninja'.
Joe and Silva, as limited experience to desert and 4WD as us, this was a new experience in their Prado towing a Black Series Camper. They are lucky enough to be retired and travelling until 2019. Silva seemed to have an endless supply of lollies for the kids, running down the line of cars to make sure all the kids got at least one!
We also have a million extra unwanted guests. The flies. They are everywhere!!
The camping
Most nights we have been camping along side the roads, finding a clearing big enough for all of use, shade if we were lucky!
We might be camping but we have a luxury, an ensuite toilet! A hole dug with an actual toilet seat and tent for privacy.
At times we camped in designated camp grounds, flushing toilets, showers and washing machine a luxury that was well received.
Campfires
Whenever we could a camp fire was started. Usually Brett and Heather's source of cooking their dinner, we learnt alot about camp ovens and enjoyed some meals ourselves.
Desert skies
They are out of this world. With complete darkness the sky lights up. My boys were always trying to be the first to see the first star. Billions of stars, and very visible milky way every night (with exception of a couple of cloudier nights).
The roads or highways as they are known as.
Most of these highways we travelled were constructed by Len Beadell and his construction party in the 1950's and 1960's. Len would go ahead and shine a mirror where the grader would then make the road. This was often very narrow and definitely only room for one way traffic. Corregations, sandy roads and spinifex are the modern day challenges today.
Shops
There really weren't many options to purchase and whn there was the store was limited and expensive. We enjoyed a few luxuries at these times, a burger at Tjukayirla roadhouse and ice creams at times. I didn't miss the shops and felt well prepared except for both Mitch and Xavier's shoes falling apart during the trip!
(I'll add photos once home.)
Our group is travelling well together. We have Brett, Heather ,Bethany and Tim as our leaders. Travelling in their Land Cruiser and hard floor camper that Brett designed/made. This has been on Brett's bucket list to travel these roads. With Heather they planned the trip, including obtaining the necessary permits to travel the roads. They led the pack and we ate their dirt!! Easy going people, they are full of desert knowledge and experience, fantastic company. Bethany, 10 years, and the only girl amongst the kids has been looking out for Xavier and plays with Tim, Josh,and Mitch in different combinations or all together. Tim, 9 years, and Josh have been like two peas in a pod. They play well together and seem to have their own language happening.
Frank and Jessie, seasoned travellers, in their Land Cruiser and soft floor camper. The only petrol vehicle the first stop cost over $800 to fill up!! Frank very experienced in recovery, 12v, mechanics and anything needing fixing. Not bad for an IT man!! Frank energetic, always the first to explore either by foot , roof of car or off the track! The boys loved playing with Frank and Jess was completely welcoming and engaging to all us Elkin's.
Mark and Lisa, travelling with their Land Cruiser with a slide on camper they have only got into 4WD in the last few years but have many years of experience with camping,hiking, kayaking adventures. Great stories of their travels.
Audrey and CheeHong, travelling in a landcruiser and sleeping in a tent like is. Beautiful people, seeing the positive in everything. Xavier took a real liking to them, as did they to him. Xavier even teaching Audrey how to be a 'legendary sword ninja'.
Joe and Silva, as limited experience to desert and 4WD as us, this was a new experience in their Prado towing a Black Series Camper. They are lucky enough to be retired and travelling until 2019. Silva seemed to have an endless supply of lollies for the kids, running down the line of cars to make sure all the kids got at least one!
We also have a million extra unwanted guests. The flies. They are everywhere!!
The camping
Most nights we have been camping along side the roads, finding a clearing big enough for all of use, shade if we were lucky!
We might be camping but we have a luxury, an ensuite toilet! A hole dug with an actual toilet seat and tent for privacy.
At times we camped in designated camp grounds, flushing toilets, showers and washing machine a luxury that was well received.
Campfires
Whenever we could a camp fire was started. Usually Brett and Heather's source of cooking their dinner, we learnt alot about camp ovens and enjoyed some meals ourselves.
Desert skies
They are out of this world. With complete darkness the sky lights up. My boys were always trying to be the first to see the first star. Billions of stars, and very visible milky way every night (with exception of a couple of cloudier nights).
The roads or highways as they are known as.
Most of these highways we travelled were constructed by Len Beadell and his construction party in the 1950's and 1960's. Len would go ahead and shine a mirror where the grader would then make the road. This was often very narrow and definitely only room for one way traffic. Corregations, sandy roads and spinifex are the modern day challenges today.
Shops
There really weren't many options to purchase and whn there was the store was limited and expensive. We enjoyed a few luxuries at these times, a burger at Tjukayirla roadhouse and ice creams at times. I didn't miss the shops and felt well prepared except for both Mitch and Xavier's shoes falling apart during the trip!
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