Halls Creek

Early in the morning for the first time it has given a few drops. Surprisingly, the temperature remained at the usual height. We drove off already at 7.00 clock back and took 588 km beneath the wheels. En route we made a short stop in Fitzroy Crossing. This place is not invited to stay on and we drove on. On the following route we saw a bush fire that raged 1 km north of the road.

The sky to the south, it was quite overcast and clouds piled on. Just before the goal for the day, we drove past the turnoff Tanami Track. An off-road route which is 1040 km long and leads to Alice Springs. In this season, but the odds are good that it is open. So we came to after 6 hours of driving in Halls Creek and headed first to the information center. This was very friendly and asked lots of arts and crafts from the locals. The nice gentleman at the counter we described our concerns to the Tanami route. He got bright eyes and began to rave about the adventurous route. Unfortunately it was closed down for two days due to heavy rains. But he can see what we can do. First, he reviewed our four-wheel camper. It would certainly be feasible, he said. However, you should better go with two spare wheels. But that would certainly. He'll see what we can do.

In short, he called into the office "Shire of Halls Creek," and described the concerns of young couples. He began to shine and said we had an appointment with Andrew Vonarx. We should go there at the counter and say that we would expect from him. We should not scare, he said, still with a smile, he was a little militarily.

So we went to the office and said he welcomed us. He listed some of the dangers that one may encounter. Water fords if you misjudge it can go 5 meters in depth, stones in the road, washed out traces and more queasy-making story. In the end we had to fill out a form for the grant and promise that we still call the jurisdiction of the Northern Territory to inquire about the other part of the route. The jurisdiction of Western Australia'm just a small part of the track, but this is the part with the worst conditions. It turned out to have the Lord Vonarx the 5th Generation of a family that emigrated from the German-speaking Switzerland.

So we went with the permission back to the Information Centre and made off with the Lord at the counter for the next morning to the rest of the clarifications to be made. I read the contract by the Apollo Campers again and noticed that for the Tanami Track, a special permit from Apollo are needed, you must claim in writing prior to departure. Since we did not have this, I showed the clause to the Lord at the front desk and he just said, with a fax containing the license that we had and that his words would work even then. Tomorrow morning we would regulate.

Good mood, we left the information center and made us the shopping list of what it would outback for 4 days (12 days outback emergency) all you need. Some of it we bought ourselves today.

On the way to the campsite the sky darkened and the wind became more and more stormy. In no time we had a violent thunderstorm. Currently we are sitting in the car in front because it is not yet the stormy thunderstorms permits to raise the roof of the camper. Yes, this rain our plan could already make a spanner in the works. Because the route can be flooded quickly and then the big detour via the Stuart Highway tarred announced. But just as the saying goes: No worries.